A Writer’s Life: Insults and Rejections

Just about every writer receives multiple rejections often for each piece of work they send out. Perhaps writers are gluttons for punishment, but most of us wipe away the tears and re-submit somewhere else until we find someone willing to take a chance. We have all been treated to the stories of how M.A.S.H. (based on Richard Hooker’s novel) was turned down dozens of times before becoming a hit novel, movie and long-running TV series. J.K. Rowling, E.E. Cummings and Stephen King were also rejected many times in their careers.

While the rejection form letter is a normal part of the writing life, there are also personalized rejections. Sometimes an editor will provide a reason for the rejection and if that reason has to do with content or style, it may be good to consider the comments honestly. However there are some editors who seem to take a particular glee in criticism “just because they can”. These responses may arrive unsolicited save for the simple submission of work. These are the letters that can do the most damage if we let them.

Now before I open the doors to scores of angry responses from editors, let me clarify. When an editor takes the time to offer constructive criticism, it should be welcomed; while the criticisms offered may or may not be fitting, it behooves the writer to take an impartial and thorough look at the work and consider the recommendations made. I am not saying you have to make the suggested changes, but by all means look at it seriously. Professional critiques can cost big bucks and if you have received one for free that is indeed a bonus, give it some consideration.

Some writers may make nuisances of themselves. Some may counter an otherwise helpful rejection with a nasty comeback. And some may have done everything but follow the guidelines for submission or may make unreasonable demands in their cover letters. These are certainly instances that invite testy responses from editors. Then again, some editors are just testy.

Twice in my career I have received nasty rejection letters to work I have submitted. The first time was from a magazine that said they would accept unsolicited manuscripts. I followed the guidelines to the best of my ability. And I waited. About a week beyond the time the magazine said they would respond, I received a large envelope. My article was inside the envelope (this goes a long way back when all submissions were made in hard copies), a personalized rejection letter accompanied it. This letter did not start off with the customary “Thank you for your submission but…”; instead it said my manuscript was being returned and that “maybe you should go back to school and learn about the English language”! I was a new writer, I was devastated. I brought my manuscript to several friends including two high school English teachers and to this day cannot figure out what the editor was referring to.

More recently, I submitted a manuscript to an editor via email as per the submission guidelines after the response to my query letter was positive. The listed guidelines on the website stated that a response would be made within 6 to 8 weeks IF they were interested. Three months after my submission I still hadn’t heard anything so I sent the manuscript to another source. My work was accepted in less than a week. Long story short, two-plus months later, after my work was already in print, I received a response from the first submission. The letter included phrases like “hodge-podge” and “head-hopping”. It finished up with “The time required to properly edit this work is more than we are willing to invest.”

Writers must develop a thick skin, but not to the point of ignoring help when it is offered with good intentions. Part of the job is to learn the difference between constructive and destructive criticism and not to allow yourself to be defeated by unkind words. Most editors who take the time to personally critique work are trying to help you, most are not just spewing venom for the pure sake of it. But there are some…

A writer friend recently said she has to constantly remind herself that she doesn’t like every book in her local bookstore so she can’t expect everyone to like her writing. That is a good thought that will help keep you going.