I really hate those tiny paper slips, too. I got one last year that was cut oddly, so it was only a few of the last words from the letter cut in half. No letterhead. I had to go into my records to find out who it was from.

I hope I didn’t come off wrong saying that the worst rejections for me are these recent ones, but it’s the truth. I wouldn’t go back in time for the world, but there’s nothing more depressing than knowing that the people who KNOW think the work is good enough, but still have to say no.

I’ll see you on the K shelf, one day, anyway, J.
(And one day, we’ll do our Motherlessness Tour. I’m telling ya.)

Amy

I sort of remember a form rejection for a short story I submitted to a lit mag. It was the size of 1/16th of a page. I don’t remember what it said. Nothing, obviously.

I’ve only been solicited once (and I didn’t have anything to send!)… that’s something to look forward to for next time

One that stung quite a bit told me that “Real writers do not start sentences with the word And.”
And another one told me, “Poetry is hard work, not just jotting some words onto paper.”

But really, really truly, the worst ones for me are the recent ones from editors who love my writing and my novels, who send ‘compliments to the talented author’ but have to decline because they can’t figure out what shelf to put me on.

I want to scream, “The shelf in the front of the bookstore! DUH! ” (Of course – the K shelf will do.) (Right next to Jessica Keener, thank you very much.)

Amy