A friend just had her novel accepted for publication after 30 rejections. Thus, I’m inspired to try at least 31 publishers, if need be, before giving up. Two down. I feel moved to share the more recent rejection letter of the two. I don’t know why, but expect it to happen again. Maybe as an experiment in how many different ways rejection can be phrased.
So here it is, hot off the email:
Dear Author,
“My partners here at Pointless Pothole Press* have looked at your proposal for the novel _ _and we have decided not to ask to see more of the MS. There is no particular reason, and we agree that your idea is interesting. We are a small press, and we need to keep the number of MSS we look at manageable. We are currently considering a number of other proposals.Thank you for considering Pointless Pothole Press.”
Two things strike me. The first is the phrase “There is no particular reason.” Uh….whuh? The second is the way he can’t bring himself to write out the word manuscript. It reminds of me of my grandma always calling toilet paper “TP.” Sort of like a manuscript is something necessary, but you don’t discuss it in polite company.
On to number three.
*Not the real name of the publisher.
Nomadic Noesis 
That letter of rejection you posted is priceless, just priceless 🙂
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If I couldn’t get publication from them, at least they provided entertainment.
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This reminds me of a friend in law school who covered a whole wall with rejection letters from law firm applications :-).
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I believe writers must start young. When my daughter was nine she came to me and said she wanted me to teach her how to write poetry. I told her anyone can write a poem but only a few become “poets”. I bought her a Writers Market, some stamps and envelopes.We sharred my typewriter.
Terri went on to be published in 17 magazine, and a mound of publications. By the time she was 30 she was published._”365 days of walking the red road” by terri jean. The book still brings in checks after many years..My advice to you & anyone is not to give up, don’t lose faith, go by the rules when submitting your work. persistance pays off. what we do today pays off tomorrow.
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Good for you for supporting her ambitions! And good for her for doing the work. I would like to mention that Frank McCourt published his first book after retiring from his teaching career.
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