I know what it's like to get the email requesting more material.
I also know what it's like to receive rejection letters. Lots of them.
I have numerous blog posts about my query journey and then my submission story. Both requires patience and perseverance. Thankfully, my alter ego is "Tenacious T" because I sure didn't get through this process because of my patience.
Here are a few things to remember (and hey you can use this for more things than PitchWars!)
- It's not personal.
It may FEEL personal. All rejection feels personal, but unless only one person submits to my partner and me, we will have to choose only one mentee. In our case, we'll also be negotiating two potentially different opinions. We may be equally devastated to walk away from a manuscript and/or author.
- You are not a failure.
I know people have said this like a million times over, but seriously, you wrote a manuscript. You're doing great. If you don't get selected as a mentee, the journey doesn't end. I didn't. And less than six months later, I had an agent.
- It isn't luck.
I put this in here because sometimes when we face rejection we try to come up with reasons why we didn't succeed, justifications. I often hear people talk about how someone just got lucky. In the world of book publishing, that's pretty rare. It's because of the work put in; not just any work, the right work. I have manuscripts I'm still revising after like seven years because they simply aren't ready.
- Relationships are good.
This is another thing I hear a lot--it's about who you know. A little. Sure. It can help. Relationships are especially good at helping you figure stuff out and finding good critique partners.
- But the writing comes first.
Polish that manuscript!
Good luck! Team TLC cannot wait to read those submissions!
