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Comments on: Coping With Rejection http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/ Fri, 29 Oct 2010 11:47:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Simon Temprell http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-136894 Simon Temprell Thu, 17 Apr 2008 23:18:25 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-136894 Daniel: Writers need as much support and guidance as they can get and it is enormously important for us all to realize that rejection is part-and-parcel of being a writer. It is demoralizing and, at times, it almost makes you quit. But perseverance is the only hope we have of finding a home for our work and somebody should create an on-line support group for writers who are struggling to get published. I have had three novels published by Macmillan but when they failed to renew my contract due to unsatisfactory sales I was devastated. I didn't write anything new for three years and yet the desire to write gnawed incessantly at me until I finally plucked up sufficient courage to try again. My latest novel, INTENTS & PURPOSES, has not yet found a home and I have received almost twenty rejection letters from UK agents and publishing houses. Somehow it is doubly shameful to be rejected when you KNOW that you CAN do it! Writing is a joy and it is sometimes a curse but to give-up in the face of adversity is to fail intrinsically as a writer. Daniel: Writers need as much support and guidance as they can get and it is enormously important for us all to realize that rejection is part-and-parcel of being a writer. It is demoralizing and, at times, it almost makes you quit. But perseverance is the only hope we have of finding a home for our work and somebody should create an on-line support group for writers who are struggling to get published. I have had three novels published by Macmillan but when they failed to renew my contract due to unsatisfactory sales I was devastated. I didn’t write anything new for three years and yet the desire to write gnawed incessantly at me until I finally plucked up sufficient courage to try again. My latest novel, INTENTS & PURPOSES, has not yet found a home and I have received almost twenty rejection letters from UK agents and publishing houses. Somehow it is doubly shameful to be rejected when you KNOW that you CAN do it! Writing is a joy and it is sometimes a curse but to give-up in the face of adversity is to fail intrinsically as a writer.

]]> By: Natalie http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-136474 Natalie Wed, 16 Apr 2008 02:12:54 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-136474 This is a very interesting and inspiring article, thanks Daniel. I actually Googled "Coping with rejection" because i am just graduating from an acting MA and despite going to a really good school and having interest from agents, i am already hearing lots of unsettling talk about my chances of making it in the theatre industry. it's an odd situation to be in, because for the past six years I've worked as a freelance writer on various magazines, and i actually had a book published in 2007. So I've faced the "thanks but not thanks" barrier several times before, when i was establishing as a writer. But now that I've made a career change, I'm back at the beginning again, hearing the same negative tidings. And it's harder to stay positive this time because a little voice inside keeps telling me that I've no right to expect success in yet another highly competitive and over-subscribed industry. I just hope that I develop a thick skin, fast, and that I have half as much conviction and belief in my own talents as Daniel had in his. This is a very interesting and inspiring article, thanks Daniel. I actually Googled “Coping with rejection” because i am just graduating from an acting MA and despite going to a really good school and having interest from agents, i am already hearing lots of unsettling talk about my chances of making it in the theatre industry. it’s an odd situation to be in, because for the past six years I’ve worked as a freelance writer on various magazines, and i actually had a book published in 2007. So I’ve faced the “thanks but not thanks” barrier several times before, when i was establishing as a writer. But now that I’ve made a career change, I’m back at the beginning again, hearing the same negative tidings. And it’s harder to stay positive this time because a little voice inside keeps telling me that I’ve no right to expect success in yet another highly competitive and over-subscribed industry. I just hope that I develop a thick skin, fast, and that I have half as much conviction and belief in my own talents as Daniel had in his.

]]> By: donna http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-135504 donna Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:00:33 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-135504 hi daniel, sorry, i've been having problems with my email, it's fixed now and would be gratefull if you could find the time to resend the email you sent me, thanx. hi daniel, sorry, i’ve been having problems with my email, it’s fixed now and would be gratefull if you could find the time to resend the email you sent me, thanx.

]]> By: Daniel Clay http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-134040 Daniel Clay Sat, 05 Apr 2008 04:43:58 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-134040 Hi Donna, I've sent you an e-mail. Best wishes, Daniel. Hi Donna,

I’ve sent you an e-mail.

Best wishes,

Daniel.

]]> By: donna http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-133985 donna Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:16:51 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-133985 I wrote a manuscript over a year ago and can't even find an agent as I can't afford one.I am now starting to wish I hadn't wasted nearly a year of my life writing it.What drove you on? I'm am 26 years old and have at last found something I enjoy doing.I would love to become a published author but it seems to be impossible.do you have any advice? I wrote a manuscript over a year ago and can’t even find an agent as I can’t afford one.I am now starting to wish I hadn’t wasted nearly a year of my life writing it.What drove you on? I’m am 26 years old and have at last found something I enjoy doing.I would love to become a published author but it seems to be impossible.do you have any advice?

]]> By: sophie http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-128766 sophie Mon, 17 Mar 2008 11:29:24 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-128766 Thanks, very helpful. I have the frustration of having got an agent immediately but then my first book rejected by everyone. I was fine about that because I didn't believe in it in the end - but the second one! I had such hopes as did my very well respected agent. I have had lots of near misses but in the end they don't feel it would sell in the amounts they need. It is with small publishers now. I think I have to write another whilst not quite giving up on this one.. Thanks, very helpful. I have the frustration of having got an agent immediately but then my first book rejected by everyone. I was fine about that because I didn’t believe in it in the end – but the second one! I had such hopes as did my very well respected agent. I have had lots of near misses but in the end they don’t feel it would sell in the amounts they need. It is with small publishers now. I think I have to write another whilst not quite giving up on this one..

]]> By: Paul W http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-114260 Paul W Mon, 04 Feb 2008 09:59:20 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-114260 Glad you stuck with it too; I've just written a review of the proof for Amazon's preview programme (Amazon Vine) and enjoyed it very much. Particularly as I liked Skunk Anansie too (though I think it's spelled "Anasie" in the proof?). Cheers Paul Glad you stuck with it too; I’ve just written a review of the proof for Amazon’s preview programme (Amazon Vine) and enjoyed it very much. Particularly as I liked Skunk Anansie too (though I think it’s spelled “Anasie” in the proof?).

Cheers

Paul

]]> By: Clare Hey http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-102830 Clare Hey Thu, 03 Jan 2008 10:28:02 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-102830 Hi Daniel, I for one am very glad you persevered. I read a proof copy of Broken (I work for HC) over the holiday and loved it. The characters were completely real to me and I found the end incredibly moving. Good luck with publication and releasing it to the world. Clare Hi Daniel,
I for one am very glad you persevered. I read a proof copy of Broken (I work for HC) over the holiday and loved it. The characters were completely real to me and I found the end incredibly moving. Good luck with publication and releasing it to the world.
Clare

]]> By: John Leek http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-100037 John Leek Wed, 26 Dec 2007 23:01:01 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-100037 Beatrix Potter was rejected some 80 times before Warnes took the gamble. These days she's not just a famous author, she's a national industry. It just goes to show that sometimes persistence pays off. I had a script consigned to the 'dead' pile despite having good reviews from two BBC 'readers'. After 18 months of getting nowhere I chanced a three line pitch to an independent production company, which has resulted in the script being called in. Doesn't mean it's been accepted, but you can add it to the plus pile! The important thing is to try not to get too emotionally involved. As often as not they'll reject something just because it doesn't fit in with their budget for the coming year. It's just business. Beatrix Potter was rejected some 80 times before Warnes took the gamble.

These days she’s not just a famous author, she’s a national industry. It just goes to show that sometimes persistence pays off.

I had a script consigned to the ‘dead’ pile despite having good reviews from two BBC ‘readers’. After 18 months of getting nowhere I chanced a three line pitch to an independent production company, which has resulted in the script being called in. Doesn’t mean it’s been accepted, but you can add it to the plus pile!

The important thing is to try not to get too emotionally involved. As often as not they’ll reject something just because it doesn’t fit in with their budget for the coming year. It’s just business.

]]> By: terena http://www.fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-98571 terena Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:54:01 +0000 http://fifthestate.co.uk/2007/12/coping-with-rejection/#comment-98571 Thank you for sharing this. I had the exact same rejection as you from an agent who said she liked my writing but passed on one project. "I'd love to see something else." I pitched her my next idea and she got really excited and said, "send it when it's done." I did, then waited 7 months, only to receive a rejection. Agian, she liked my writing, but the project, "didn't excite me." But the record for me was three rejections in one day! I keep plugging away, keep trying, keep writing, and keep sending out my novel. Thanks for your words of encouragment. Thank you for sharing this. I had the exact same rejection as you from an agent who said she liked my writing but passed on one project. “I’d love to see something else.” I pitched her my next idea and she got really excited and said, “send it when it’s done.” I did, then waited 7 months, only to receive a rejection. Agian, she liked my writing, but the project, “didn’t excite me.” But the record for me was three rejections in one day! I keep plugging away, keep trying, keep writing, and keep sending out my novel. Thanks for your words of encouragment.

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