First off, I must share some terrific news – Rock Paper Tiger by Lisa Brackmann (who you may of course know as commenter Other Lisa) was just named one of the Top 10 Novels of 2010 by Amazon!! And, if that’s not enough, keep an eye out for a terrific review in Sunday’s edition of the New York Times Book Review. Congrats, Lisa!
Transition.
Once you, the author, is fortunate enough to have your book out on submission to editors, there is somewhat of a decision to make. Would you prefer to see the rejections as they come in? Would you simply want to be notified of their existence? Would you prefer to think said letters do not exist and only be notified when there is good news?
As an agent I usually err on the side of sharing, because quite often the editors’ thoughts may spark ideas for revisions and quite often are extremely complimentary of the author even when it’s not a perfect fit.
On the other hand, as previously chronicled, even though I know how this process works, when my novel was on submission the process turned me into a quivering mass of Scaredauthor in a week and a half. But I still wanted to read the letters. Basically, if I’m ever taken hostage, all anyone has to do is wave rejection letters under my nose and refuse to show them to me and I’ll crack faster than you can say, “It just wasn’t for us and we’re sure someone else will snatch this up before you know it.”
Whether you’ve been on submission with editors or not, which way would you prefer?
To know or not to know? That is today’s question.
I would want to know just so I could know my agent was actually submitting my project! And just in case there was any feedback. If the letters were coming in infrequently, I'd like an as-they-come update, but if a whole bunch are coming in at once, I'd probably be fine with batch updates. ("Fine", I say–OK I wouldn't be thrilled.)
Ten years ago I would have said yes, I want to know.
But now I'd rather hear good news.
I'm such a glutton for punishment that every rejection that mentions any reason, means I will immediately do 10,000 words of rewrites.
I would definitely want to know. Knowing that someone won't take your book is hard, but not knowing is a lot worse.
Very possibly, the most important thing to consider when making this decision is that the rejection isn't personal – regardless of how it feels.
An agent or publisher is rejecting your work, not you personally.
There are probably a zillion reasons he rejection and not a single one has anything to do with you personally.
So, yes, I'd want to know every single word, no matter the cost to my ego, because I understand it isn't personal.
"You want the truth?"
"I want the truth!"
"You can't handle the truth!"
(Really, though, I can. Swearsies.)
And congrats to Lisa! That's fantastic. Well deserved, too. It's a great book.
Definitely want to know. It's like queries… I tell myself every no gets me one step closer to yes. But if the editor has feedback, that's a bonus! That gives me something to work on, something I can change to get me to yes.
I would definitely want to know.
those letters are interesting at first, until #6-8 arrive, at which point, they become instantly depressing.
Interesting in that reading an editor's rejection can be, as you point out, laced with a suggestion or two. I didn't find any of them useful.
and the point at which the passes become depressing .. self explanatory. easy to stop to: all I had to do was ask.
Is this a trick question? To know.
I've never seen an editor's rejection of my manuscript. I assume that my agent received some since he sent it out to eleven and in the end, we ended up working with just the one. 🙂
I actually liked the way we set it up. He did the submission stuff and I focused on not thinking about what was going on with the submission stuff. It was great to have him taking care of things after all the rejections I received during my agent search.
I would want to know by breaking-it-to-me-gently way. I am not that good at criticisms or rejections, so I may want to know the general rejection than go into horrid details of why I got rejected…:)
I'd ask to see them all if for no other reason than to be certain that the agent is doing his/her job! At least I'd know it's being submitted and not, "yeah, I'm gettin' it out there, I'll let you know…" kinda thing.
Hit me with your best shot
To know, to know! But I'm super organized even when reduced to a slobbering pile of fear over rejection: I still get up and add the "yes" or "no" to my spreadsheet… 🙂
I'd want to know because it kills me to not hear anything at all. Actually, huh, that's the part I hate about querying too…
That's great news for your client Lisa, and doesn't hurt your agenting prowess either, Nathan.
As for the question of the day — I would prefer to know about the feedback from the editors and what suggestions were given. I like that you share this with your clients. I'm the curious type.
Definitely I want to know. In fact I need to. After all it was me who asked, "Is this good enough or not?" Hearing it isn't sends me back to the drawing board. Of course it is a blow to be "rejected" but hey – I've been "accepted" many times and in much more important ways. Balance and self worth can not be based on whether or not the first 30 pages are satisfactory. So reject away when necessary Nathan… it's a part of your job.
Like the last two times with my books. I'd rather know something. Even if it's a bunch of laughing smiley faces.
[Okay unprofessional yes, but you get the idea.]
Most of the time, I want to know what my rejection letter has to say. The learning curve for me is mostly credited to one, reading what others have to say about my writing and secondly; what the reason is for their “no thank you” if I am fortunate enough to be informed of their reason for not accepting my work. However, then there are those days that I just don't want to open the envelope or email and I don't. My pride is in need of deep repair on some of those days, thus avoiding the obvious, letting me regroup. During my regroup phase, I read a book that I have already read because it gives me hope. I know my book is as fantastic and someday it will be out there for all those to enjoy as I enjoy whatever it is I am reading. I open the envelope or email a few days later with refreshed vision and perspective.
I want to know. If everyone makes similar comments you know what to do to fix it. Besides, it's difficult to let go–you feel as if you've dropped your ms down a well. Give me something!
Judy Douglas Knauer here, published first (without a rejection or agent) by Berkley/Jove's Second Chance at Romance line, editor Carolyn Nichols. Third romance I wrote, never got a rejection and life just don't happen that way – unless of course you were born breech as I and have done everything ass-backwards since! (I became an award-winning journalist AFTER I sold the novel.) I WANT to see the rejections though I hate them the first read through. But after about a week and the third read, I actually see what they are telling me and I strive to make changes – unless they tell me they'd like to see something else I've done – which I have several of those and never followed up. I've got a list of excuses for that. Anyway, never toss your rejections: 1. You want them for tax purposes to show you're serious about the writing business; and 2. When you're dead that gigantic folder like mine is with all those rejections will demonstrate to your heirs that you considered yourself both professional and persistent. I read the rejection, file it and send the ms out to the next name on the list – still w/o an agent but I'm a couple months away from completing a thriller and soliciting rejections;~)
I've always been a 'to know' gal, no matter what it involves. For me, ignorance isn't bliss–it's torture.
I want to know because it can't hurt to hear the objections. It can hurt to be in the dark and continue stumbling into walls.
Yes, knowing, even bad news is better than not knowing. Besides the fact that when you don't hear back you might just assume it was lost and resend it, which causes more work for publishers/agents and their assistants.
I would also like honesty from said editors or agents, the truth might hurt, but at least you can try and "fix" "learn" to improve your skill.
I prefer to know.
It's painful, yes, especially when there's nothing constructive offered…or you get the feeling they like YOU okay, but think as a writer, you should take up gardening.
But like Nathan said, there's always a shot something will click–that even a well-placed ", but…" or "and" will flip on that lightbulb of creativity. And you'll say, "Yes, I see it now." or "Thaaaat's right. I had that idea two years ago and forgot to write it down and it would have made this story great and…oh, the editor just read a nearly identical book (except for that direction I didn't take) and loved it. Bestseller. I should pick it up, he says." Well, you could still retool.
But I suppose the short version is, You Never Know. So don't shield yourself from an easy reality. Learn all you can. And send out another letter.
I've been on submission for over a year (you sold your book and a week and a half?!). My agent shares the replies as she gets them, and that's exactly how I want it. The comments are usually pretty nice and when they aren't, they're constructive.
Been there, done that, and the comments are rarely illuminating.
I'm certain I'll regret this someday, but I'd prefer to know. Especially if they had useful feedback for me.
That's how I feel with agents, anyway.
I always prefer to know. I like to know what my mss is doing, how it's doing, and what my agent is doing with or about it.
My first agent, Ray Puechner, used to always kindly let me know more specifically (from conversation) why a certain publisher rejected something. His wife, Barb, continued the practice as well as his firm after he died. I recently discovered in some papers in my attic a rejection from my first attempt from Thomas Crowell in 1979, and Ray's remarks that the publisher was looking for a better focus, though supposedly was impressed with my writing and craft (I was 20 at the time). I recently discovered a similar note, from Bantam, I think it was, on a Texas mystery I'd written around 10 years later. Barb had kindly written that the same editor at Bantam had recently just purchased another mystery series set in Texas, and "otherwise" would have taken my novel. The editor was Joe Blades.
I prefer to know when a project is rejected, so I can gauge or decide if any more action on my part–another revision, greater focus, or set it away and finish something else first–is warranted.
But I prefer my agent to let me know in supportive, encouraging terms, rather than, say, try one place, get a rejection, and stop sending the project around.
And @Mira: took a quick look at your profile. Have you ever read "Straight Dope" or "More Straight Dope," a collection of the columns of Cecil Adams? He answers questions such as those you'd love to ask, for "the teeming millions." Great fun, especially when you've got some time to just read a couple at a time…:)
I would so want to know.
Oh, and please let me add to the hearty and heart-felt congratulations to both you (Ms. Bijur) and Other Lisa for the continuing success of Rock Paper etc.
Still have no idea what that actually feels like (having your book take off and be reviewed by the NYT etc.
But look forward to it as I have nonetheless for years…:)
And in place of a margarita, I'll take a single-malt scotch, Lagavulin if you have it, neat–or in this heat, an ice-cold Mojito from Havana Central…:)
A rejection can crush you, or inspire you. Your work can't grow without inspiration. It's the author's choice. I choose to grow. Bring on the play-by-play.
I would want to know. They would obviously exist and not knowing would drive me a bit bonkers.
Whole-heartedly-want-to-know.
BTW, purchased Rock Paper Tiger yesterday from amazon.com. I think my purchase put Lisa's novel into the amazon.com top ten list for this year.
I would want to know.
@Terin. No! Never heard of him. I'll check him out. 🙂 In exchange, I looked at YOUR profile. Wow. Seriously good reviews on your book. Awesome. 🙂
@Other Lisa – ditch the tequilla. Time to break out champagne!
I would want to know. No, I would have to know!
Information is gold dust — even if it's poop.
As nerve-wracking as it is, I would want to know.
Even the smallest comment could lead me to making edits that will benefit the story, or at the very least make me approach my story in a different light. Bad news can be helpful, even if it doesn't seem that way at first!
It's best to know why work is rejected. It's the subjectivity I find worrying, also decoding – what does 'I loved your writing but the story wasn't special enough for us' mean?
That's why your sample critiques are so useful, Nathan.
I think, like most people choosing a career in writing, I would want to know. Are we gluttons for punishment? Maybe. All I know is that knowledge is worth having, and if it is about MY work, then hell yes I want to see!