Rejection letters can knock you on your butt. And that’s okay, it happens, stuff hurts, rejection sucks. But you can’t stay on the floor, rubbing your a**.
1. Get your butt off the floor and go do something nice for yourself. Take a walk, draw, watch a comedy, play with your kids or pet. This includes eating or drinking-5 minute limit. Put on the timer.
After 30+ ‘thank you, but no thank you’ emails on one manuscript and going on 20 for another, I’ve numbed out when I begin reading text that begins with “Dear Author.” (As I type, I swear another ‘Dear Author’ email blurb popped up on my screen).
Mona AlvaradoFrazier-Dear Author
2. Don’t stuff your feelings. I usually say, “Ah, crap,” or “Pftttt.” Sometimes I whine, “I’m never going to get published….” You can ‘wau-wau’ ‘boo-boo,’ but only for five minutes-again, put on the timer.
3. Think of the ‘no thank you,’ like James Lee Burke (his novels have been made into films):
“Every rejection is incremental payment on your dues that in some way will be translated back into your work.”
—James Lee Burke
I’ve also had many more emails that begin with my actual name and say some nice things before the ‘NO’ comes. The agent tries to soften the blow. Bless his/her little heart.
4. With each rejection, I file the email in my little folder and then I either re-read the MS, or ask my writing sisters for more critique. Keep trying.
Twice, out of 50+ times, I’ve had what felt like B-12 shots to the heart.
“I’d love to read more, please send the entire manuscript…”
Six weeks later I get another type of shot, one in the butt.
“After careful consideration….Uh, no.” Well that’s not entirely true. One rejection felt like that while the other was thoughtful.
5. If someone gives you specific criticism, regard it as a gift. Let them know you appreciate their comments.
This agent took the time to explain why she didn’t accept the MS. She supplied some examples, some suggestions, all in a couple of paragraphs. I felt respected, overjoyed, and then grateful.
I shared the agents comments with my writing sisters. They were happy for me. Why? Because I know, we know, that I am much farther along the road to getting an acceptance than I once thought. I’m going to work on those weak areas for the next month or until I get it right.
“An absolutely necessary part of a writer’s equipment, almost as necessary as talent, is the ability to stand up under punishment, both the punishment the world hands out and the punishment he inflicts upon himself.”
—Irwin Shaw
Rejection letters are part of the process of writing. That’s just the way it is, for writers, for everybody. It takes a strong woman/man, a bien chingona to keep writing pass the hill of rejection letters.
6. Turn your rejection around and see what you can gain. Go get the timer again. Shut off your computer. Now, write out your feelings, huff and puff, or boo-hoo on paper. Rip it to shreds if you want. Slam dunk it into the wastebasket. Or put it away for when you need that kind of emotion in one of your stories or poems.
7. Keep growing. Attend a critique group. Enroll in online or offline classes. Keep reading. Attend at least one conference a year. Spend more time on your writing work than on social media. (You can devote more time to that area after you’re published).
Yesterday I talked about the first half of Pat Fry’s workshop. Today I’ll list her 10 ways to promote your book and include some information from other sources that fall into Pat’s listed categories. By now the newbie writer knows that promoting (selling) their book can be more difficult than writing their novel. That’s the purpose of blogging this kind of information. It’s not to discourage, it’s to educate one in the realities… not to beat you up but beef you up. It’s the author’s responsibility to promote the book. Okay, so celebrities of all sorts (movies, TV, radio) get an easy ride. All they have to do is show up at their own book signing, tweet about it, or hold up their book while on the Today show and droves of readers run to the bookstores or make a few clicks online. The book can be drivel, violate all rules of grammar, or shift in the point of view until the eyes cross, but it still gets the attention and the sales. But for the rest of us, there are some concrete things to do to promote your book, short of doing what the photo below suggests.
Let’s get started:
1. Build promotion into your non-fiction: interview people, name them and they will want to see your book in print. Involve products with permission and promote book in that type of business: i.e. motorcycles, computer software, tourism bureaus or tourist locations. 2. Public speaking: Yes you may have to brush up on your presentation skills and step outside your comfort zone. Be flexible, be an actor, be ready to go this route as part of promotion. 3. Build a meaningful blog, website or both. Did you catch that word “meaningful?” Keep up the site, do regular maintenance, keep it fresh and professional. There are so many writers, agents, and publishers who share valuable information. Get into that spirit of generosity. Blogs are an integral part of the writing community, participate. 4. Connect with your audience: join a club, group or several blogs that write in your genre. Collect contact info from writing groups, bookstores, other authors. 5. Get book reviews: An agent can help in this area or you can send out your book to get reviews before you are published. Use those contacts from clubs, groups, Publisher’s Weekly, and other sources. 6. Book signings: Go to writer conferences, book festivals, cultural events that relate to your subject or genre, contact independent bookstores, local colleges, professional organizations if the subject relates to their group. 7. Write articles and/or stories for local or national magazines. 8. Use social media: use this for special prices or pre-sales of your book, virtual booktours, and give-aways. 9. Join organizations that are specific to your genre: historical fiction, mystery, romance, Christian and all sub-genres. 10.Spy on other authors: how are they promoting their book, what conference are they attending, read their blogs.
If all this seems too daunting, not your style, or you don’t want to be bothered, your book may die a quick death. Not necessarily because it’s not a good story, but because it didn’t get noticed.
Or you can get out the megaphone, put on the red shoes, go to a talk show and stand outside waving your book, until a security guard escorts you away. You have to get publicity some way, right?
Tomorrow, I’ll go over the third workshop I attended, “Working with the Media.”
alvaradofrazier.com 