Literary Rejections on Display

Best Colleges Has Literary Rejections

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Sat, 19 May 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Here's an article called 20 Famous Rejection Letters We Can All Learn From, including a few letters that we've displayed and discussed here at LROD, including rejections of work by Gertrude Stein, Kurt Vonnegut, George Orwell, and others. See the label famous for more well-known rejections.

Broken Piano For President by Patrick Wensink

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:27:00 +0000

When did you start writing you novel? Six years ago.
How long did it take to finish the first draft? One month.
How many revisions did you write? At least 25.
Who read your drafts? Not many people. A friend of a friend who was a published author gave some brief encouragement, but mostly I went with my gut.
Did you use an agent to sell it? If not, why not? I did at first. She was horrible. I met her at one of those weird writer's conventions that seem to always be held at airport Sheratons. I've had more success being my own agent, frankly.
How long did it take to find a publisher? I found my publisher, Lazy Fascist Press, about three years ago, but it took another three for my editor to consider Broken Piano for President ready for publication.
What is your worst rejection story? The above mentioned agent sent my manuscript to Viking. The editor there called Broken Piano for President "Nauseating."
What is your best rejection story? The same. I am still tickled by that story. Nausea is an incredibly strong reaction to reading something. I'd have preferred the editor loved the book, but I'll take nausea over ambivalence any day.
Where were you when you received the offer for the book to be published? In my basement office, alone. Which was fitting, because that's how all the hard work of writing was done, alone.
Who was the first person you told about the book deal? My wife. She is very level-headed and greeted it with the same enthusiasm she uses when I announce we're having spaghetti for dinner. She's good at keeping me grounded.
Has your philosophy on getting published changed? It's hard and demoralizing. But after the first 50 rejections, you get a kind of dementia about it all. Rejection is just business. There is, sadly, very little artistic whimsy in publishing.
What words of advice would you give to a writer on the journey toward publication? Do a lot of research and work on your own because nobody else is going to be your champion. Unless your last name is Safron-Foer or something. Then, it's probably a lot easier.

For more information about the author, go discover all things Wentastic!

Nauseated Penguins

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Mon, 14 May 2012 14:25:00 +0000

Here's one for the books. An LROD reader sent in this rejection in which the editor found the actions of character "almost too outrageous, and sometimes even nauseating. For this reason, I cannot see this as a Viking title and so I will pass." Click on the rejection to make it bigger for easier reading. In the meantime, all best and alas and cheers.

I Before E, People....I Before E

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Thu, 10 May 2012 18:49:00 +0000

There are a lot of links in this rejection:

Thank you for the opportunity to consider your work, but we are sorry to inform you that your manuscript was not selected as a finalist for the prize. As you know, we read a great number of quality submissions, and we hope you understand that we can only nominate a small fraction of those writers.

With your contest submission, you should have by now received a copy of our Spring 2012 issue of Arts & Letters, as well as the link to download the new issue of our digital ePub, Arts & Letter Prime. Just in case, here is the link for Prime 1.2: http://al.gcsu.edu/7pk8ia2z.php. And if you have not recieved [sic] Issue 26, please email us (al.journal@gcsu.edu) and let us know.

Your submission also gives you access to PRIME 2.1, coming in the fall, which you will be able to download here: http://al.gcsu.edu/52fq9iJ1.php. And next spring, you will receive Arts & Letters Issue 27, featuring the prize winning work from this contest, as well as access to the updated edition of PRIME 2.2. (Same download link as PRIME 2.1.)

Thank you again, and good luck with your writing.

The Editors
Arts & Letters

An Irritated Dame

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Tue, 08 May 2012 17:10:00 +0000

FROM AN LROD MOUSE: Background on this rejection: I sent the submission in on November 7, 2011. Notre Dame Review doesn't allow for simultaneous submissions (which I totally ignore) and they didn't have a way to withdraw the story online or email an editor when the story in question was accepted elsewhere. So, I decided to try to do the right thing anyway, called their office directly, and spoke to an extremely irritated man who snapped that they'd rummage through the pile for my work throw it out. Well, I guess not, since today - over five months later - I got this:

Rejection: Dear Author, Thank you for your contribution to The Notre Dame Review. We regret that we are unable to use it for our publication. We are pleased that you chose to send your work to us for consideration. Best of luck to you in your writing.Sincerely, The Editors

If you've ever been in one of those review offices, you know they are a total mouse's nest of unread stories, envelopes piled to the ceiling, though know is it email piled to the cyber-ceiling? I'm not sure.

Fell Off The Log for A Minute

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:52:00 +0000

Yo, mice, so sorry about the all-around spottiness lately. I've been deep into my novel overhaul, and feeling enthusiastic about the change in p.o.v. I must say, it makes the whole thing way less fragmented to have it in one person's p.o.v. Of course, it's sort of omniscient first person, so there's that, but still. We'll see if I can make the whole thing work. That would be solid. In other distractions, my family discovered my other blog that is not anonymous, and they are upset by its public nature. My mother called crying: "We are not the Kardashians!" One brother wrote me a threatening email.
     They are especially mad about the post entitled, "Alien Raised by Rednecks," which I have decided is probably the best memoir title ever. And so true. Can't you just see the cover looking like one of those cheesy tabloids?
     I know that you'll be sad to hear I've been officially uninvited from the family Fourth of July Pig Roast. (That's right, it's a pig on a stick in a pit in the yard, and there are fire-works and kegs of beer. The last (and only) time I went to one of these, my brother Darryl* had on a hat that said, "Fuck Obama." And my other brother Darryl* had on a shirt that said, "Fuck Obama." Red Necks? You decide.) My father used to parade around proudly announcing that he was a Red Neck. "That's right," he'd say. "Want to see my gun?" So, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about; he always seemed so proud to carry that NRA banner.
     Anyway, as my mother says, "it just seems so much worse when you see it in writing...even if it's true."
   And there you have it.
   My other blog is password protected now to keep call off the guns...literally; also, I don't want to get stuck and stop writing, so I figure I'd just put a little lock on the door for now. If you'd like to check it out, give me a holler at writerrejected [at] aol [dot] com, and I will send you a link and the password, which by the way, is password.

*Not they're real names.

May Has Brought Spring Flowers and the First Person

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:23:00 +0000

So, I'm working on the novel again. I don't know exactly what came over me, but I'm reworking it into the first person, sort of an omniscient first-person point of view...hard to explain. Will it work? Who knows? I am bravely charging forward. I think after all these years in therapy, my therapist will consider it a breakthrough to have found this self-identified character a confident new voice of its own. Publishable? Who the hell knows...or, at this point, cares? I'm beyond all that (today), and it is super freeing. I am actually writing to discover what it is I've been trying to say all these years. Will keep you posted. In the meantime, here's a Gigantic rejection to tide the people-mice over, auspices a loyal LROD reader:

Thank you for your submission and your interest in Gigantic. Unfortunately, this didn't feel quite right for us, but we wish you the best of luck placing it elsewhere. Sincerely, The Editors

I Must Be in a Bad Mood

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 23:46:00 +0000

I've had writers block before, but this HuffPo thing bugs me a little bit. Not much, but a little. In other news, I'm starting to think about my novel again. Also, I'm a little depressed about publishing.

What's Your Subtropical Opinion?

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 20:31:00 +0000

Dear Writer: Thanks for giving us the chance to read "Title." Although this piece isn't going to work for us, we like your writing and would welcome the chance to see more from you. Sincerely, Editors, SUBTROPICS

The submitter of this rejection asks you a question about this rejection. "I've gotten enough rejections from Subtropics to know that this isn't their standard version, however they've sent it a week after their submission period has ended. I'd be crazy to assume they're inviting me to submit before they reopen, right?" Please say what you think.

Third Coast, No Place

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 19:17:00 +0000

I think we once discussed where the Third Coast is located, didn't we?

Dear Writer:

Thank you for entering "Title" in our 2012 Fiction and Poetry Contests. We had some amazing submissions this year, but there can only be one winner in each category. This year's winners have been chosen: Jaimy Gordon has picked CJ Hauser's "Abandoned Cars" for the Jaimy Gordon Prize in Fiction, and Major Jackson has selected Maggie Millner's "Fish Story" as the winner of the Poetry Prize. Below are a list of finalists.

Thanks again for allowing us to read your work, and we hope you'll submit again next year. In the meantime, enjoy your one-year subscription to Third Coast!

All the best,
The Editors of Third Coast

2012 List of Finalists:

Fiction Finalists:

Karin C. Davidson for “Two Girls Laughing”
Dana Fitz Gale for “Cousin”
Joe Hiland for “Ronnie Cordova’s Amazing Mustache”
Sequoia Nagamatsu for “The Silence of the Third Inversion”
Steven Trumpeter for “Looper”
Maggie White for “The White Skirt: An Adventure in Nine Parts”

Poetry Finalists:

Laura Behr for “Hetaera” and “A Wilderness of Wildwoods and Roadblocks”
Jadyn DeWald for “Triptych for Morgan, Bird, and Brown”
Kate Rutledge Jaffe for “From the Soft Fingers of the Highway”
Corey Van Landingham for “Hermetic”
Maggie Millner for “Equus”
Brad Modlin for “Tonight We Remember that Some Time Ago, We Were Snatched from the
Cornfield and Crumpled on the Cement Barn Floor” and “Pine Cones and Lightning Rods”
Michael Schmeltzer for “Dear Jane”
Nancy C. Thomas for “Hearing Cicadas”
Mark Wagenaar for “Blue Arabesque”

Oh to Be Young, White, and A Harvard Sport's Man...

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 23:07:00 +0000

There's a long rejection story behind the novel, "The Art of Fielding," which involves starving (I didn't say rich sport's man) and ultimately a bidding war ending in $650,000.00 advance. Who doesn't love gay baseball?

Writer's Relief? Or Agitation?

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Annoying in a HuffPo-kind-of-way, or is it just me? Can't tell: 5 Signs That You've Made It As An Author

The Finest Fuck-You Prose At the End of the World!

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 16:21:00 +0000

A letter from Norman McClean (author of the short story collection A River Runs Through It) to an editor at Alfred Knopf, after said company started come around to see if he might have a manuscript for them. With thanks to anonymous for pointing it out in a post, and to Letters of Note:

Dear Mr. Elliott:
I have discovered that I have been writing you under false pretenses, although stealing from myself more than from you. I have stolen from myself the opportunity of seeing the dream of every rejected author come true.
The dream of every rejected author must be to see, like sugar plums dancing in his head, please-can't-we-see-your-next-manuscript letters standing in piles on his desk, all coming from publishing companies that rejected his previous manuscript, especially from the more pompous of the fatted cows grazing contentedly in the publishing field. I am sure that, under the influence of those dreams, some of the finest fuck-you prose in the English language has been composed but, alas, never published. And to think that the rare moment in history came to me when I could in actuality have written the prose masterpiece for all rejected authors – and I didn't even see that history had swung wide its doors to me.
You must have known that Alfred A. Knopf turned down my first collection of stories after playing games with it, or at least the game of cat's-paw, now rolling it over and saying they were going to publish it and then rolling it on its back when the president of the company announced it wouldn't sell. So I can't understand how you could ask if I'd submit my second manuscript to Alfred A. Knopf, unless you don't know my race of people. And I can't understand how it didn't register on me – 'Alfred A. Knopf' is clear enough on your stationery.
But, although I let the big moment elude me, it has given rise to little pleasures. For instance, whenever I receive a statement of the sales of 'A River Runs Through It' from the University of Chicago Press, I see that someone has written across the bottom of it, 'Hurrah for Alfred A. Knopf.' However, having let the great moment slip by unrecognized and unadorned, I can now only weakly say this: if the situation ever arose when Alfred A. Knopf was the only publishing house remaining in the world and I was the sole remaining author, that would mark the end of the world of books.

Very sincerely, Norman Maclean

(Source: Francis Burr, via Al Pinetree, via Letters of Note)

Here Comes the Sun....Editor

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 22:56:00 +0000

I love it when an editor comes around and leaves a nice encouraging note for readers on Ye Old Blog. In this case, it's an editor from a fine literary magazine about a funny rejection glitch. Makes it all feel so much more human, doesn't it? Here's her comment:

My title is really Manuscript Editor. I was a reader a long time ago and when the Art Director was making new rejection letters, he put Manuscript Reader and they were printed that way. Not wanting to be wasteful and thinking nobody would really notice or care, I used them. However, if anyone receives a rejection letter these days from The Sun, you'll notice that the form has changed and now it's from The Editors. I love this blog, though, even though it was strange to come across my name in this way. I really do try to encourage writers and the main thing that keeps me working at The Sun is the fact that we go out of our way to respect the writer. And we pay them. All best, Colleen Donfield

Rejection that Fell From the Sky

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 16:33:00 +0000

This story about how all the editors thought no one could possibly be interested in a biracial book about a young woman, half-Danish, half-black, just goes to show that it's hard to tell what's going to be popular and what not. No one seems to have the formula. Good for you, Heidi W. Durrow.

BLR Rejection

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 21:15:00 +0000

They're crazy there, you know:

Thank you for submitting your work to the Bellevue Literary Review. We appreciate the efforts that have gone into this piece. Unfortunately, given the volume of submissions we receive, even quality work often has to be declined. Please be assured that your piece was read thoroughly and given careful consideration by our editorial staff. We wish you luck in placing this elsewhere, and apologize for not being able to offer a personal reply. Sincerely, The Editors, Bellevue Literary Review NOTE: Please do not reply to this e-mail -- we are unable to respond personally to messages sent to this address.

A Ki-Ki Rejection from the New Yorker

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:07:00 +0000

Well, well, well, and hubba hubba! Someone we know--well, actually it's someone we "know," meaning a person who reads this blog--received a personalized e-rejection from the New Yorker and sent it in for posting. It looks like this:

We regret that we are unable to use the enclosed material. The first pages are strong and very funny. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to consider it. Sincerely, The Editors

Makes you wonder how the second pages were, doesn't it?

Sorry, No Take backs

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 15:15:00 +0000

This was sent to a writer who had already withdrawn the submission due to acceptance for publication elsewhere:

Dear Writer: We appreciate your willingness to entrust us with your writing. Unfortunately, we have decided that your submission does not meet our needs at this time. We do encourage you to continue submitting your work to us. Please check our website for upcoming announcements and submission guidelines. Best of luck to you in your writing life. Sincerely, The New Madrid Editors

One Among Thousands

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:06:00 +0000

Thank you for considering Bayou Magazine. Unfortunately, we have decided that your work is not a match for us at this time. Because we receive thousands of submissions each year, we must reject many fine stories and poems. We thank you for the opportunity to read your writing, and we wish you the best in placing it elsewhere.

Nailin' Words on a Page

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 13:28:00 +0000

Rejection received from an LROD mouse and sent to us:

Dear Contributor,

We regret to say that your recent submission doesn't meet our needs at the moment. Thank you, though, for thinking of us, and for pursuing the difficult art of putting words to paper. We hope you continue to consider us in the future.

With best wishes,

(sorely unsigned)

Jonathan FreedmanKeith Taylor

Something Nice

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 01:45:00 +0000

So a friend wrote to say that his small-press editor was looking for literary writers and he sent her a link to my essay and she said she'd like to know what books I have. So I got in touch and gave her the annotated run-down of every manuscript nary to be sold, and, you know what, micyles on bicycles? She and her editorial partner asked to read my book of essays. (Knock me over with a feather, you may.)
Actually, I couldn't be happier; it was a book I thought might never see the light of day!
But yes, yes, yes, yes, of course I remember every other heart-breaking close call over lo these many years! I know it ain't a book until the fat lady (or skinny one, as the case may be) Dewey-Decimals it at the public library.
I have learned that much.
I'm not holding my breath, but I must admit the whole thing has lightened my dark day. Imagine being asked to submit something literary to a living, breathing small press that produces pretty books!
Also, I must admit I have been struggling with the size of writing an entire memoir, and now I can focus for a while on writing a final essay for the collection which expands on the topic of being dissed. Right now that just seems more possible. Hopeful, yes?

Just Because It's Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 19:25:00 +0000

I like to throw an acceptance in once in a while to keep you on your toes. It is not my acceptance, but belongs to a nice mouse who has sent in a few rejections in the past. So congratulations to you, Mouse!

From: <submissions@redochrelit.com>
Date: March 14, 2012 1:54:13 PM PDT
To: "Mouse"
Subject: RE: Fiction Submission - "Title" - Anony Mouse

RED OCHRE PRESS would like to publish "Title" in one of our upcoming, print issues. As of yet, we have not determined which issue your poem would best complement. We will contact you soon with a concrete publication date. Congratulations! RED OCHRE PRESS

Unakkommodated in Amerika

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 21:04:00 +0000

Dear Author, Unfortunately, we are unable to find a place for the work you submitted to Hotel Amerika. Although we're not accepting your submission, we're honored to have received it and hope you try us again soon. Yours, The Editors

Now Why Didn't I Think of That

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 16:45:00 +0000

Someone sent 11 pounds of marijuana to fictitious publishing employee, Karen Wright, or how to get published at St. Martin's Press? Check it out.

The Bear Will Not Use You

noreply@blogger.com (Writer, Rejected) — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 17:27:00 +0000

This scrawl was sent back on the bottom of a submission letter to The Bear Deluxe (an independent environmental magazine) and sent in by a loyal Mouse who has been getting the work out there. It says: "Thanks for thinking of us but we are unable to use your work." Couldn't they have composted it?