While all rejection stings, not every rejection is created equally.
In fact, over the years, I’ve identified 4 Types of YA Rejection that I think will help you see the silver lining in every “no,” or at least save you time during your next round of YA agent or publisher submissions:
The First Type of YA Rejection: The Generic
The truth is, some rejections are flat-out form letter, no information crap shoots; generic in every sense of the word. But, if your query was at all well-written or your project at-all enticing (and why wouldn’t it be?), most YA agents or editors will at least give you a quick “shout out” with a personal note.
For instance, even if an editor writes back a quick “sounds great but it’s not for me, thanks” at least now you know that Susie Jones at Jones Literary Agency doesn’t like YA zombie fiction; duly noted.
Now you can at least cross her off your list and skip the 30-seconds it took you to email query her next time!
Sometimes the silver lining in rejection is learning who doesn’t want to see your stuff, or the genre you write in, or YA over middle grade, or whatever. While this does take one agent or publisher away from your “to send to” pile, it also leaves you more time to concentrate on those markets that are accepting what you’ve got to offer.
Trust me, this IS good news.
The Second Type of YA Rejection: The Temporary Restraining Order
Now, maybe an agent or editor scrawls something like “your word count is too short; I’d need at least 60,000-words to sell this.”
You know what? That’s not even really a rejection; it’s more like a temporary restraining order!
And with good reason: maybe that gets you thinking and you check the publisher’s websites for submission guidelines and, actually, 60,000-words is their minimum as well. Point taken; lesson learned.
Now you’ll know to check their guidelines better next time. (Make that, every time!)
Or… or… maybe your YA manuscript is already at 52,000-words and the agent or publisher is so good that you’d rather write an extra 8,000-words and re-send it than miss the opportunity to pitch them again.
If you can naturally, easily and in good conscience find room to add that kind of word count (without just “padding” the manuscript), then more power to you.
That’s certainly one way to turn a rejection on its ear!
The Third Type of YA Rejection: The Waiting Game
From time to time, even if the submission guidelines don’t specifically state as much, YA agents and publishers get bogged down and put a moratorium on submissions out of the blue.
So perhaps an agent simply says something semi-encouraging like, “I’d love to take a look at this in six weeks when I get back from maternity leave. If you need an answer before then, well, I’ll have to pass…”
This isn’t quite a rejection, but it IS a touch of a hurdle. I mean, six weeks?!? The choice is yours whether you want to wait or not, but again – at least you know who’s on maternity leave now!
The Fourth Type of YA Rejection: The Rewrite
Although it happens more rarely than the first three, occasionally a YA agent or editor will like your idea, your synopsis or your sample chapters enough to take some time and jot down some quick notes.
These notes are always for a rewrite, so there’s some work involved, but imagine what a great opportunity it can be if you actually pay attention to these notes and turn the piece back in as a revision!
Of course, you might not agree with the notes and I run into writers all the time who are against any type of criticism, constructive or otherwise. So the choice is always up to you, but whenever I get notes, especially from a YA agent or publisher I really respect, I find it a valuable exercise to undertake the rewrite and resubmit it as suggested.
Even if they still reject it, it often makes the story better for the next agent or editor!
So there; now you know 4 simple reasons why you may have been rejected. Okay, the bad news is you GOT rejected; the good news is that now you know it had nothing to do with your writing!!!
Yours in YA,
Rusty
In fact, over the years, I’ve identified 4 Types of YA Rejection that I think will help you see the silver lining in every “no,” or at least save you time during your next round of YA agent or publisher submissions:
The First Type of YA Rejection: The Generic
The truth is, some rejections are flat-out form letter, no information crap shoots; generic in every sense of the word. But, if your query was at all well-written or your project at-all enticing (and why wouldn’t it be?), most YA agents or editors will at least give you a quick “shout out” with a personal note.
For instance, even if an editor writes back a quick “sounds great but it’s not for me, thanks” at least now you know that Susie Jones at Jones Literary Agency doesn’t like YA zombie fiction; duly noted.
Now you can at least cross her off your list and skip the 30-seconds it took you to email query her next time!
Sometimes the silver lining in rejection is learning who doesn’t want to see your stuff, or the genre you write in, or YA over middle grade, or whatever. While this does take one agent or publisher away from your “to send to” pile, it also leaves you more time to concentrate on those markets that are accepting what you’ve got to offer.
Trust me, this IS good news.
The Second Type of YA Rejection: The Temporary Restraining Order
Now, maybe an agent or editor scrawls something like “your word count is too short; I’d need at least 60,000-words to sell this.”
You know what? That’s not even really a rejection; it’s more like a temporary restraining order!
And with good reason: maybe that gets you thinking and you check the publisher’s websites for submission guidelines and, actually, 60,000-words is their minimum as well. Point taken; lesson learned.
Now you’ll know to check their guidelines better next time. (Make that, every time!)
Or… or… maybe your YA manuscript is already at 52,000-words and the agent or publisher is so good that you’d rather write an extra 8,000-words and re-send it than miss the opportunity to pitch them again.
If you can naturally, easily and in good conscience find room to add that kind of word count (without just “padding” the manuscript), then more power to you.
That’s certainly one way to turn a rejection on its ear!
The Third Type of YA Rejection: The Waiting Game
From time to time, even if the submission guidelines don’t specifically state as much, YA agents and publishers get bogged down and put a moratorium on submissions out of the blue.
So perhaps an agent simply says something semi-encouraging like, “I’d love to take a look at this in six weeks when I get back from maternity leave. If you need an answer before then, well, I’ll have to pass…”
This isn’t quite a rejection, but it IS a touch of a hurdle. I mean, six weeks?!? The choice is yours whether you want to wait or not, but again – at least you know who’s on maternity leave now!
The Fourth Type of YA Rejection: The Rewrite
Although it happens more rarely than the first three, occasionally a YA agent or editor will like your idea, your synopsis or your sample chapters enough to take some time and jot down some quick notes.
These notes are always for a rewrite, so there’s some work involved, but imagine what a great opportunity it can be if you actually pay attention to these notes and turn the piece back in as a revision!
Of course, you might not agree with the notes and I run into writers all the time who are against any type of criticism, constructive or otherwise. So the choice is always up to you, but whenever I get notes, especially from a YA agent or publisher I really respect, I find it a valuable exercise to undertake the rewrite and resubmit it as suggested.
Even if they still reject it, it often makes the story better for the next agent or editor!
So there; now you know 4 simple reasons why you may have been rejected. Okay, the bad news is you GOT rejected; the good news is that now you know it had nothing to do with your writing!!!
Yours in YA,
Rusty
I always love your articles Rusty :) Well done again!
ReplyDeleteRejections are a bummer, but you're right...there's lessons to be learned with each one. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jen and Julie; both for stopping by and for commenting!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Rusty!
ReplyDeleteJulie
Since I'm in the querying process and received two rejections and one request for a synopsis and 50 pages, I can relate. Great encouraging post for all genres.
ReplyDeleteHey, GustyWriter, congrats on the synopsis + 50 request; fingers crossed that you'll hear good news! Thanks for stopping by....
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