 |
| Debbie Lynne Costello |
**********************
Embracing
Rejection - What You Can Learn
I often wonder if there is a profession that is more
discouraging and in need of as much encouragement as the career writer. If you’ve been serious about writing for any
amount of time you’ve heard the words, Just
hang in there. Don’t give up. It’s a tough business, but if you stay with it
your day will come.
But waiting for your day is another story! How many times I
thought that’s easy for you to say, you
have an agent. It’s frustrating when you send query after query out and
keep getting rejections or worse–no answer at all! But those people were doing
their best to boost my flagging spirits.
It’s all about God’s timing. Now don’t roll your eyes at me.
It’s true and as much as we’d all like it on our timing I can assure you that
you’ll be happier on God’s. You know before Tamela took me on I thought, if I
can only get an agent so I can get my manuscript before publishers I’ll be
happy. Well, at the time I was ready to take any agent because my dream agent
had rejected me. After about 20 rejections I finally heard what agents were
saying thanks to Laurie Alice Eakes. I kept hearing I like your writing, but the
time period is a problem. Laurie Alice listened to my moaning long enough and
told me if you want to land an agent write what they want.
But…but… give up medieval times? Laurie Alice asked me what
I liked about the time period. I love the chivalry, the Scottish men, and
castles. Her answer to me was to put those things into a time period that was
selling. I did and when I finished my manuscript I pitched it at conference,
and this time I landed my dream agent!
I encourage you to listen to what your rejection letters are
saying. If you see a pattern it might mean you need to make some changes. I’ve
found it’s always best to let the rejection sit for a week or two depending how
hard it hits me. Then go back and read it again, this time with an objective
mind.
There was one rejection I received from a publisher that
took a bit more time. The rejection was a page and a half long. It told me all
the things wrong with my manuscript. And believe me there was a lot according
to this editor. I was so upset. I set it aside and six months later I pulled it
out just for kicks. And guess what? I could see that what this editor said made
sense. Now I didn’t agree with everything, but 90% of it I did. And I also
realized that she had spent a lot of time giving me valuable feedback.
We become attached to our manuscripts. We pour ourselves
into them so hearing the truth is hard. I encourage you to give yourself some
time after a rejection. Then, after it doesn’t hurt so much read it again and
see if the suggestions will make your manuscript stronger. And always remember to just hang in there. Don’t give up. It is a tough business, but if you
stay with it your day will come.
Tweetables:
It’s true. It’s
all about God’s timing. Click to tweet.
Listen to what
your rejection letters are saying and learn from them. Click to tweet.
Don’t give up.
If you stay with it, your day will come. Click to tweet.
EXTRA!
Stop by Christian Fiction Historical Society where I am
giving away a fun book, A Biltmore Christmas PLUS a Biltmore Christmas
ornament. Let me know you stopped by here to get a second chance to win! Hope
to see you there. http://christianfictionhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2013/11/biltmore-estate-and-giveaway-christmas.html
Debbie
Lynne Costello is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the
Steve Laube Agency. She attended Heritage University, where she studied
Journalism and worked in the editing department. She has completed five full
length novels set in the Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA area in the late 19th
century and is now seeking homes for them. She and her husband have four
children. They live in upstate South Carolina with their family. In her spare
time, she sews, paints, knits, camps (in a fifth wheel) and plays with the
grandbabies.
To learn more or connect with Debbie, please visit these
sites:
