Queries submitted in the last eight days: 16
Rejections received in the last eight hours: 2
I'd say this calls for some wine and yoga (although not necessarily in that order). Yes, I did get an acceptance email just the other day and one of the editors explained that she'd just assigned a similar story, but rejection still stings. Period. Lest anyone worry that I’m actually going to spend the weekend in a merlot-induced haze, here are a few ideas on how to cope with disappointment (because today it was me, but who knows what might happen tomorrow?):
Buy yourself some bling. Ok, I'm just kidding on this one, but if you can afford a new diamond pendant, then more power to you. In my moment of weakness, I opted to browse Amazon for some upbeat, (hopefully) career-enhancing reads.
Space out your queries. I blatantly disregarded this sage bit of advice, and now I'm a cautionary tale about a writer who pounded out a dozen queries over a two day blitzkrieg. It is far wiser to pace yourself so that you won't come home to a mailbox stuffed with rejection letters. Over time you'll have articles in every stage of the process, which will remind you of your success.
Fugged about it. Easier said than done, I know. Before I got really focused on querying, I'd send out a couple pieces, forget about them, and be pleasantly surprised a month later when I got an acceptance letter and writer's agreement. Step away from the iMac from time to time, and you'll be able to keep things in perspective.
Write a snappy comeback. No, not something snarky and malicious that will get you on every editor's black list. Try this: "Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Here's another idea you might consider..." Often I've had more success on my second try, and hopefully you will, too.
Have a Plan B. For the record, this one has nothing to do with reproductive rights. It's much simpler than that: keep a list of other publications that might be a fit for your fabulous idea, and you won't get bogged down by a few rejections.
Friday, January 19, 2007
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4 comments:
I enjoyed this --- I'm debating whether to have a drink myself tonight... attempting to get some work done.
I like your point about spacing out the queries - I have a bad habit of spending a day or two putting the query letters together and then sending them all out at once, usually on Monday, and then spending the next couple of days biting my nails and becoming a compulsive email checker. Liz
Liz, I know just what you mean, and a writer teacher told me that wasn't the way to do it. But you know... old habits die hard.
One Sunday night I decided to send a follow up to each of my queries under the logic that the editor would respond first thing Monday morning.
Never again.
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