I considered entitling this article, “The dreaded rejection letter,” “the anticipated rejection letter,” and “the beautiful rejection letter,” but I settled on “the Inevitable Rejection Letter” because it is most fitting for this article.
For some writers, the rejection letter from a publisher they pitched to is dreaded. It tells them that, for some silly reason or the other, their precious work was once again not chosen for publication.
For other writers, the rejection letter is anticipated. They know that it is “essential” to storm through a hurricane of rejection letters before finally landing that signed contract.
Yet for others the rejection letter is beautiful. It is professionally printed on quality paper with a beautiful letterhead from a professional publisher. It is sign of being recognized, of being acknowledged. It shows that the publishing house took the time to read their book proposal, think about it and then go to lengths to respond. The publisher got down to typing a personal letter to them by filling in their name and address and then sending a personalized letter. They had to print it, sign it, seal the envelop, put on postage stamp and drop it into the mailbox. Yes, that meant going at least “somewhere” in the glorious world of book publishing.
Opinions will vary and perspectives will vary as to how really a rejection letter should be described, but it is the true writer who knows that a rejection letter is all of those things described above, and, most of all, inevitable.
That’s right. Inevitable. For all the aspiring writers out there seeking a contract with big name publishers, a rejection is practically inevitable. It must come, and its contents must be taken with a grain of sold.
Indeed, in the glorious world of book publishing, opportunity and money is titled in favor of the publishing houses. They are the ones who receive piles upon piles of book proposals by talented writers, sometimes much more than they are able to digest.
But the true writer, knowing this, pushes on. And with each proposal sent out, he or she looks forward with anticipation to the beautiful, dreaded, inevitable rejection letter which inevitably comes before inevitable success.