This is My Obligatory Rejection Post

I have a high degree of empathy. I also contain a substantial amount of self-confidence. Sometimes, these traits clash.

While I know problems are relative, I also an experienced Gentleman. I have seen bad things. Sometimes, when people adopt a defeatist attitude, it makes me want to smack them. Yes, that’s arrogant, but hey, I’m a bit old-fashioned. I’m the guy, who, when you cry on my shoulder, will pat you and go there-there and then explain how it could be worse.

Much worse.

Reading un-published writer blogs is difficult for me, sometimes. The angst. The fear. The desire of validation from people who don’t matter. It drives a person like me batty.

Now I have a bit of homespun sympathy. It is one thing to have your query rejected. It is quite another to see a requested partial go down in flames. What I felt was different. When it happened to me, I sat there and pondered the process of using an agent to sell your book:

• First, you have to write an outstanding book
• Then you have to write a query. A good query. And a synopsis
• Then you turn in partials
• Then you turn in a complete manuscript
• Then your agent submits a proposal to an editor
• Then some type of committee goes over your book project

At any point after step one; a rejection can pop in your inbox. Wow. Like, wow. So many chances to hear “no.”

In some ways, I am a machine. If my book I am floating doesn’t sell, I will try with another book. Because I love writing novels. I love reading novels. I love writing novels for people who love to read novels.

Something you may not know—I have already achieved success as a writer. Literally, as a hack writer, like the title of my blog says. I wrote technical papers, a training book and a software manual with a circulation any new author would feel very blessed if she could match it.

For the person who has not seen what type of success they can have with writing, a rejection probably, at some point, hurts badly.

And now I understand that.

This was my obligatory rejection post. If you cry on my shoulder, I may still pat you and go there-there, but then I promise to simply listen and sympathize. Because I’ve told that arrogant little spark in me to just deal with it, this time, okay?

Yours,
Anthony

Ps. Here is what I feel every time I get a partial request. Because that means at least I can write a query letter, ha ha: