Rejection

Being that this is my first (completed in full) manuscript, my first time querying, and my first time being rejected, I’m quite surprised at how well I’m handling it, really.

Sure, when my phone makes the water-drop noise, altering me to an email, my stomach turns a little. And when I see the subject line “Query” I feel a sense of fright. And of course when I read “Thank you for your submission” I feel a momentary sense of disappointment. But here’s what I’ve learned…

A)      I love my book! I love it like a child. Technically it is my child, because that manuscript is an extension of myself. And as a good parent, in the face of rejection I find myself telling my baby, “Don’t worry about it. They don’t know what they’re missing. You’re beautiful, talented, and someday you’ll find the right person.”

B)       My book is Brad Pitt as far as I’m concerned. What do I mean by that? Well, if my book is Brad Pitt, then by querying I am sending him out on blind dates. Now, I’m pretty confident in saying that people don’t reject Brad Pitt. No way. Brad Pitt rejects people (duh). So if my ms gets a pass, it’s not because there was something wrong with my Brad Pitt. It’s because he hasn’t yet found his Angelina.

C)       And finally, I’ve learned that rejection doesn’t bother me (yet), because of the simple fact that I wrote a book. Hello! I wrote a book! An entire, chapter by chapter, 90,000 word book with sub-plots, conflict, history, love… In my personal life I don’t know one single person who can say that.

Now, I guess I should say that I have yet to receive any rejections from the agents on my “wish list,” (my Angelina Jolies). So maybe I’ll feel differently when I receive those. But as it stands right now, I’m happy that my manuscript is picky, and waiting for the right agent to fall in love with.