Devastated...by the Poison(ed) Pen

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[elizabethp]

Hi All
I was a poster here more than five years ago..I wrote historical mysteries and a YA historical book. I am also a business writer and journalist and I focused on that after burning out on books five--six years ago. The publisher/agent hunt wore me out. I did have a non-fiction history published.

Anyway, this winter I saw that PPP was asking for submissions. I sent a query...after two months, it was yes send partial and synopsis. Two months later, they wanted to see the full, with comments that I ranked very high in all criteria. Original voice. Likable characters. Setting. etc. Wow. I was so excited.
So yesterday after waiting another 2 months,  I got a rejection email (not even a letter, how cheesy) that basically trashed my book. Plot, characters, word choice, etc.  The opposite of my original scoring! It was like they hated my book.

I called the person (who admitted she did not read my book) and she told me to send it out again immediately to other publishers. Umm. Hello, if it is that bad, why would I send it anywhere? Then she told me that I shouldn't give anyone that much power. She also said that my rejection was better than just a form rejection.

I had a very bad night. I had a reader/editor who was enthralled with the book. And he never reads mysteries. Ever. I thought it was good. Is my judgement that bad? After all I am a pro--I get paid to write. And the vicious rejection when I was expecting good news--it was like a slap in the face.

My plan? I am going to send it to a couple of trusted readers. Maybe the plot does need beefing up/changing.  I can handle doing the work. But man, it sure feels like a crap shoot.

All and any sympathy appreciated. LOL. Thanks for reading.
LizzieP

[Lynette]

Hi LizzieP. Welcome back.

I think we can all tell our stinging stories of bad dealings with one publisher or another. I've had several thorugh the years. The best thing you can do is to not take it personally and try another one. After all, you got only one person's opinion, and that is all it is. What one person likes another doesn't. A friend of mine had an experience with PPP almost like yours. Now she is published with another company and did little changing in her book.

Recently I sent a query and was asked for sample chapters. When she got them she wrote back and said it was just what she was looking for, right amount of mystery and romance. Plese send entire manuscript. I did and was asked to change one thing in the first chapter. This I also did. She liked the way I changed it and she would be in touch soon. Three weeks later I got an email with 3 paragraphs saying how much they liked the book, the story, the characters and commented on how well written it was. The last line was, 'but I'm afraid I'm going to have to pass on this. There is just not enough romance. Please keep us in mind with your future work.' (This was not PPP.) Of course I was disappointed and after a few choice words to the computer, I rewrote the query to another publisher. Am still waiting on this one.

When these things happen the bast thing to do is have a little pity party then move on. Send it out again and don't worry about the email. Most publishes communicate this way. Very few want hard copies sent to them nor will they send snail-mail letters back.

Good Luck.

Again, welcome back.

Lynette

[elizabethp]

Lynette
Thanks so much for your response. It is interesting to know that someone else had the same experience. I am sorry to hear it but at the same time it makes me feel a little better.
I live to write another day!
Lizzie

[Kat]

Hugs for both of you!

My heart goes out to both of you. To get so close and have that happen. However, I like the idea that both of you are dusting yourselves off and sending your queries out again. Don't doubt yourselves--you both know you have talent and your manuscripts are good or they wouldn't have gotten as far as they did!
And remember, some of us haven't even got that far yet!

[Elena]

One of the requisites of being a writer is to develop a skin like a rhinoceros about submissions.  My most bizarre dealing was when I was asked by a publisher to write a children's book using a specific vocabulary, along with some other requirements. They even sent a contract which included proposed payment.  I did and followed all their instructions, I kept receiving encouraging comments, finished the book, sent it in - and nothing. I put it on my tickler list and every two months sent them a "Remember me?" letter. 

Eventually, I received a response from the same gal that started out "I've never read such appalling drivel..." I never did find out what was going on, only that the company was shut down by the IRS soon after.

The moral of the story? You never know what is going on inside a publishing house. You just write the best you can and don't worry about any stray responses.

Elena

[B L McAllister]

...finished the book, sent it in - and nothing. I put it on my tickler list and every two months sent them a "Remember me?" letter. 

Eventually, I received a response from the same gal that started out "I've never read such appalling drivel..." I never did find out what was going on, only that the company was shut down by the IRS soon after.
Elena

Well, wha'dja do with the book, after that?     Tried another possible publisher, I hope.
Byron

[Elena]

Good question Byron,

I took the story and the idea into various other outlets. Since I was primarily a non-fiction writer at that time I used the idea as the basis of Teaching Johnny and Jane to enjoy reading, and sold articles to several regional parent's magazines, and a couple of other magazines and newsletters.  I also used it as the basis for a program for parents at several local libraries to give while they were waiting for their children in story hour.  I did get paid for coming up with entertaining parent programs.

Elena

[elizabethp]

Wow, Elena, you certainly got mileage out of your work. Good for you.

[Pomorzany]

Dear LizzieP,
Ouch, ouch and ouch! Although I didn't come that close, I also had a manuscript consultant/published writer who was enthusiastic about my book and who put me in touch with his publisher.
The nasty letter she sent was like a punch in the gut. Afterwards, I went on the agent hunt with no success. Only now, a year and a half after that damning letter am I beginning to plot out my next book. I guess I don't have that elephant-thick skin.
Jane Berman

[elizabethp]

Hi Everyone
Thanks again for your support. I just read The Writer's Book of Hope, which helped. Also, my mother passed along my book to a voracious reader friend with instructions to be honest (I don't know the woman) and her response on a phone message to Mum was, "The book was delightful." I'll take that.
After more reader comments, I may revise somewhat but I am going to get back out there with my series. I have long believed that it would be enjoyable to people.
I am also contacting agents re a YA historical addressing anti-Semitism in New England. A lot take email queries now. Two rejections so far, others in the hopper. Again, I worked on this book 10 years ago and it came close to being published by Farrar, etc. (great junior editor went to bat for it) After that, couldn't find the right home for it so gave up. I wrote it in an engaging first person style -- she is concerned about her looks and boys etc-- not just a "social issues" heavy type book. I think that approach will interest young readers.
But I've revised that to be "more exciting" and sending it out into the world.
Weird market note: millions of vampire books right now.

[linda]

I haven't gotten the nerve up yet to send out more than 2 submissions.  So, Lizzy, you're way ahead of me in this game.

I know I don't have rhino hide, but reading some of the posts here have already made me feel better about the next rejection that I receive.   

[B L McAllister]

I've had  some interesting correspondence with both agents and editors, but, fortunately I'm retired from an entirely different position where different things constitute an interesting correspondence.  For example, there was the time an editor  in the Netherlands aswered my enquiry (after a year and a half) that my ms (a technical paper) had not been received.  Eventually I ran across strong indications that it had traveled on a plane that disappeared over the Atlantic.  Another ms was in a mail bag that was stolen from the USPS and, presumably after whatever looked valuable was removed, thrown down a well.  USPS investigators finally found and retrieved the damp mail bag, held it for evidence, then delivered the mail. My ms was returned (rejected, by the way) along with the  USPS's explanatory letter to the addressee. Fun, huh?  We won't go into the editors and agents: seems I only managed to pick those who reject as a matter of course and those who are in that business for lack of something simple enough for them to understand.  If you get a chance to retire first, do it.  Otherwise make sure your main job is well-enough paid that you can afford to keep sending mss out over and over and over and over ...  I'm very happy with my present editor, whose e-book and POD book company is small, but is staffed by intelligent and honest human beings who somehow usually manage to absorb what little bad luck we've had themselves.

Byron