tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post346033803713303769..comments2023-12-29T11:39:14.271-06:00Comments on 4RV Reading, Writing, & Art News: How to React to RejectionsVivian Zabelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06129178812565073972noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-88647749986336327422014-06-06T18:19:34.232-05:002014-06-06T18:19:34.232-05:00Good advice, Vivian. I can't believe such unpr...Good advice, Vivian. I can't believe such unprofessional conduct by the author who wrote that e-mail. I would've been overwhelmed with suggestions on how to improve the manuscript. That's rarely done, these days.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17406103471551171672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-91353943916426341662014-05-31T08:55:23.360-05:002014-05-31T08:55:23.360-05:00I'm glad that her blog is still out there to e...I'm glad that her blog is still out there to entertain and enlighten! At least it hasn't just vanished, like so many other things we want to keep. (Ironic how "the Internet is forever" when it comes to the embarrassing and mundane, but at the same time, gems such as Miss Snark's blog often disappear.)Holly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-2884138162370144502014-05-31T08:53:08.314-05:002014-05-31T08:53:08.314-05:00Amen to that. I refuse to write reviews for author...Amen to that. I refuse to write reviews for authors who even suggest that they are only interested in positive reviews. That tells me they're too thin skinned and I don't want to deal with the fallout. REVIEWS are not for the author; reviews are for the BUYER. A glowing review of a bad or mediocre work is unfair to the buyer and will lead only to distrust of the whole process. Once you put your "baby" out there for sale, the only review you should criticize is the one that is obviously not about your book, written by someone who clearly never laid eyes on your book. Because that's fraud. But it's none of your business if a reader liked or didn't like your book, once it's for sale. Hope all you like, but at that point, it really is between reader and potential buyers. Holly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-87169111637225825012014-05-31T08:49:00.557-05:002014-05-31T08:49:00.557-05:00We'd all like to know why. Until we know why. ...We'd all like to know why. Until we know why. :) Not telling an author why saves on time, angst, and arguments. And treats everyone fairly and equally. It's not your job - you're not the writers' teacher and they're not paying you to edit. You are a potential *customer* and *buyer* - nothing more or less. That's the thing writers need to understand - when publishers get so many more submissions than they could possibly afford or use in a year, it's not personal. The competition really does come down to what they need, what they can use, and what they can pay for. I do wish this business of "no simultaneous submissions" would go away - I get the business need, but there should be a strict time limit if exercised. Serial submissions are not a great way to keep cereal on the table, for a working writer. Holly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-27209350220955188282014-05-31T06:44:52.789-05:002014-05-31T06:44:52.789-05:00I remember about a year or so ago a reviewer poste...I remember about a year or so ago a reviewer posted a rather flattering review of a book on her blog. At the end she mentioned that a grammar, spelling, and punctuation edit would have helped improve the text. The author left hateful comments. Others tried to "educate" the author, stating that the review was overall good, but the reviewer needed to be honest. Oh, my, the firestorm. No, the "fight" wasn't about a rejection, but the mentality of that author is much like some authors react to their submission being rejected. We have become a society where no one is supposed to lose and everyone should be rewarded even for mediocre work. Sad.Vivian Zabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06129178812565073972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-81169149491534494822014-05-31T06:39:16.780-05:002014-05-31T06:39:16.780-05:00So true, Holly. I never thought to argue with anyo...So true, Holly. I never thought to argue with anyone who rejected my submissions, but I would have liked to know why so I could avoid some mistakes in the future.Vivian Zabelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06129178812565073972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-55037961232986769302014-05-29T08:08:24.192-05:002014-05-29T08:08:24.192-05:00Like Joan, I'm sorry you had that unfortunate ...Like Joan, I'm sorry you had that unfortunate experience, but it's good to share it and get it out there. It hurts when someone says no to "your baby," but if you don't turn the feedback around and make a positive out of it, then you're only doing a disservice to yourself. <br /><br />Holly, I miss Miss Snark, too. She was incrediably entertaining. :)<br />Smiles<br />StephStephanie Burkhart https://www.blogger.com/profile/16952130018587727063noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-54699567820576939212014-05-28T07:10:21.402-05:002014-05-28T07:10:21.402-05:00So sorry you had that unfortunate experience.
Cel...So sorry you had that unfortunate experience.<br /><br />Celebrate you<br />Never Give Up<br />Joan Y. EdwardsJoan Y. Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03346512397339463586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925401174378785919.post-59610794303298099902014-05-27T09:15:20.107-05:002014-05-27T09:15:20.107-05:00There are a few things I've discovered, to my ...There are a few things I've discovered, to my delight, over the years: If you can spell and write a declarative sentence, properly punctuated, you have just leaped over about 80% of the over-the-transom submissions right there. Getting published is hard, but it is not really akin to winning the lottery. Beginning your cover letter with "Dear [name of acquisitions editor if provided in writers' guidelines]," helps in ways that "To whom it may concern:" never will.<br /><br />It is important writerly etiquette to understand that "This does not meet our needs at this time; we wish you success in placing it elsewhere," is a tactful way of saying any of the following, and does not invite argument:<br /><br />"Utter cow patties."<br />"Is English your native language?"<br />"Have you, perhaps, mistaken us for a vanity press?"<br />"Do you honestly believe that submitting your 2,145 page magnum opus on scented pink paper will somehow increase your odds of getting this monstrosity published?"<br />"You'd understand why I can't eat your grandma's home-baked cookies if you could see how many death threats I get, each week."<br />"This doesn't meet our needs at this time."<br /><br />Always interpret it as the latter, and everyone can go home happy. You may have a nagging, burning curiosity as to what the editor really thought of your work, but it is, perhaps, best not to know. Knowing is what drives some writers to drink or take drugs.<br /><br />The world needs another Miss Snark: http://misssnark.blogspot.com/ (No new posts since 2007, but there's plenty of entertainment and enlightenment in the old ones.) Holly Jahangirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08034708581256314628noreply@blogger.com