The nicest rejection in the history of ever

[Goji]

Well maybe not. But it's also my first. At least when it comes to the publishing world. Though I've been writing stuff for fun for years, I've never been that enthusiastic about getting it published. My parents have, which is sort of cringe-worthy at times, but it's nice to feel supported. Anyway my mother is a real estate agent and one of her former clients is an author (he writes non-fiction books about rose cultivation). They're friends now and he put her in touch with his agent as a favor. So I had two chapters of what I've written read by an honest-to-god agent, who said that it was "Very interesting and well-written, but not what I'm looking for."

My mother's friend the author says that what that probably means is that he is not interested in a science fiction adventure story, which is what I wrote. Frankly I always thought it a bit of a stretch to submit such a story to a guy we know because of his connection to non-fiction plant books. But my mother's friend insists I should feel very positive based on the agent's remarks, even if nothing else came from it. And I do. I figure if there's anyone in the world who will deliver an opinion without sugar-coating it, it'll be an agent. Hell, I never met the guy face to face, so he really has no reason to try and make me feel better about anything.

Long story short: I got rejected and feel better about it now than I did before. There really is a first time for everything...

 

[Ashu]

Poor gojikins...

At least you take rejection better than i do.

 

[Crusher Disciple]

Sounds like that's exactly what he meant. Just keep going after agents that do specialize in sci fi.

He took the time to mention that it's well written which shows he liked it enough to take it out of his slush pile and spend time on it. That's huge.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

Wow Goji, to put it simply, you've gone a lot further than most people have just by submitting it. Sure, an acceptance is better than a rejection, but the way he phrased that wasn't too bad and it's good to hear you taking it that way.

 

[ShamelessMcBundy]

Keep going, old boy. Don't give up and all those other platitudes and cliches and what have you.

 

[Kestra]

Don't scare me like that! I thought something happened with the girl!

 

[QCzar]

Goji, I now hate you for having more balls than I to actually get that far.

Anyway, good luck with your future submissions.

 

[RoJoHen]

Don't scare me like that! I thought something happened with the girl!

That would imply that Goji actually made an attempt with a girl (though secretly I was thinking the same thing).

 

[Goji]

RoJoHen has clearly not subscribed to my newsletter.

Which would make sense, since I don't have one.

It's still very telling.

 

[RoJoHen]

I just want you to find love, man! Find a girl who loves you for your personality...and your hair! Maybe even a girl who lives in the same country as you.

Eh? Wouldn't that be fun?

 

[Goji]

What are you talking about? I have found love, and I'm very happy. And I was so not looking to talk about that here. Jeez, you people and your thread derailing. You're almost as bad as I am.

 

[RoJoHen]

I apologize. I am quite drunk (and quite surprisingly so considering how little I drank).

That said, I have often wanted to publish a novel, but I can rarely make it past one or two chapters before getting bored and want to start writing another story. Congrats for making it as far as you did!

However, I don't think it's a stretch to see how the thread title could make one think it was about a girl. I'm sorry, I haven't been paying too much attention to your love life lately.

 

[Goji]

Heh it's okay. I actually finished it three years ago, so it doesn't feel like something I should be getting congratulations on now. But I'm pleased that my first rejection letter was so positive and encouraging. That's what I really thought was worth starting a topic about (which might explain why I did).

 

[RoJoHen]

Then maybe you should try submitting it to someone else?

 

[RJDiogenes]

That's encouraging. It's always nice to get a personal rejection, even if it's just a friendly note written on a form letter. At least you know the editor (or, in this case, the agent) enjoyed the story.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

That's really encouraging Goji, do keep on trying. Better than the email I had, after submitting a couple of efforts, from Helium - an online article/story writing site, that started...
"Helium is the home to the best on-line writers, and you're not one of them..."

It did go on to say "yet" but by then my heart had slumped somewhat lol

 

[sidious618]

I really have to submit some more stories myself. It's been a year or so. Getting the rejection letter sucks but in a way it is nice to know that someone read your work, right? Just remember that Stephen King got about thirty rejections before getting published.