I think people who aren’t writers have a skewed vision of what a writer’s life is like. Most of us don’t make a lot of money, our publishers don’t pay for us to go on book tours or to conferences, and no matter how many books we’ve published, the next one isn’t an automatic yes.
I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I’ve written a Hallmark-movie type romance. I turned it into my agent in November 2022. He sent it to eleven editors in April of 2023. Then the waiting began followed by the rejections. While it’s never easy to get a no, a rejection can also educate you.
Thank you so much for sharing this one with me! This is such an adorable concept, and is chock full of romance tropes that I love as a reader. Ultimately, it isn’t the right fit for my list. But I really did enjoy the writing, and do appreciate you thinking of me for this one. Best of luck finding the right home for this manuscript.
Thank you so much for thinking of me. Regretfully, I don’t see how to launch this successfully in today’s overcrowded romance market.
Getting back to you on your submission which I’ve now had a chance to read and discuss here. While the concept is such a cute idea, we’re being incredibly selective about our rom-com acquisitions these days and I’m afraid the writing just didn’t grab me in this one.
I felt there was nice nostalgia injected into this project, with the protagonist having to face her past no matter how hard she tried to avoid it. The small town of Sea Cove is very cute as well, but I’m afraid small town romance is quite crowded at the moment.
I thought the concept was cute and fun, but the story felt too familiar to me to really stand out for us in a big way. I just didn’t feel that it had a strong or fresh enough hook to work for us, even with the dog aspect.
Sherry is a talented writer, and I think her interest in a pivot to romance is very exciting. But unfortunately, I just didn’t fall in love with the overall plotting of this book in the way I’d need to in order to champion this here. So, this is a pass for me.
While Sherry is a strong writer, I’m afraid I didn’t connect with this enough to pursue for our list.
Compared to rejections for my first hasn’t-been-published-and-probably-never-will-be book, these rejections aren’t bad. I find the varied responses fascinating and I have done some reading between the lines – the book needs more work. Four publishers haven’t responded. It could be the slow no, as we call it in the business, or it could be it’s still in a stack of manuscripts to read. I want to do another edit on the manuscript before my agent reaches out to those who haven’t responded or before reaching out to other publishers. I haven’t given up on this project even with the rejections.
Readers: Have you had rejections? Have they ever motivated you?
The Wickeds 
Aww, Sherry. I’m so sorry about these rejections. I hope you’ll find your way to a successful rewrite!
I went through quite a round of successive rejections last year. They always sting, but as a result my new A Case for the Ladies will come out independently in March. And I’m fine with that. But that path isn’t for everyone.
(My phone thinks I’m anonymous but I’m really Edith!)
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I can’t wait for A Case for the Ladies to come out and be a huge hit!
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Thank you!
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Those are actually really lovely rejections, Sherry. I’ve received a bunch like them. Alas they are still rejections, right. sigh
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Right! I still have a lot of rejections from when I was first getting published some of those were brutal!
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Have I had rejections? Well, not in terms of writing books.
However, the amount of rejections I’ve had from women when I was dumb enough to ask them out is staggering. So I’m quite familiar with the notion of being rejected. And they generally aren’t accompanied by nice notes.
HA!
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You made me laugh, Jay! There must be a lot of dumb women out there not to see how lovely you are!
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I’ve definitely had my share of rejections over the years! Even the nice ones sting a little bit. My most memorable rejection was years ago on a never-to-be-published book: “I thought it would be better.”
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Oh, my that is quite the comment. My most memorable was when they were by snail mail and it was a torn, mimeographed piece of paper with a foot print on it.
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Encouraging rejections, but as Annette says, still rejections.
I’ve had too many rejections to count.
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I feel for you Sherry. There not much worse than being caught in the “I Like It, But Don’t Love It” zone. I think I could paper an entire room with all the rejections I’ve gotten over the years.
Keep the faith. Your story will find a home!
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I’ve kept a stack of rejections from the snail mail days so we can paper together!
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Sherry, sorry about the rejections.
In my former life as a climate change researcher, I had to publish my research findings in peer-reviewed scientific journals. I had a few rejections. Usually I agreed my manuscript submission wasn’t a good fit. Most times, I rejigged the piece, and successfully submitted it to another journal.
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That’s what it’s all about — making it work. Oh, I sound like Tim Gunn!
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I obviously haven’t read the manuscript, so I am just winging it here, but perhaps you could give it more scope and depth by placing the small town story into a larger context. Small towns aren’t what they used to be, they are all being affected by the changing social context and greater world issues. Values have changed and to quote Casablanca, “I’m no good at being noble, but it doesn’t take much to see that the problems of three little people don’t amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.”
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Love this! Thank you.
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This blog post inspired me as a writer stuck waiting for what feels like an astoundingly long time to hear from my agent about submissions to editors for my first-ever manuscript. I expect rejections, but thanks to generous authors like you, Sherry, I’ll be better able to ride the wave of disappointment. Thanks. And at least I know I won’t get one of those footprint-stomped ones ( ;
Best of luck with the romance (PS: my manuscripts are historical mysteries with lots and lots of romance, so I see the appeal).
Pamela Ruth Meyer
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Ha! So true everything is by email now. Best of luck on selling your manuscript! My fingers are crossed for you. Please keep us posted!
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I got a ton of rejections. They motivated me to self publish.
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I might do that with this manuscript, once I get it polished.
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So sorry. Even nice rejections sting. It sounds like the market is a big issue here, and that seems like more luck than anything. Something can be hot when you start a project and overcrowded by the time you finish.
Hang in there! I hope your book finds a perfect home.
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Thank you, Janet! I agree — I had the idea for this story years ago, but didn’t have time to write it.
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Oh, gosh, Sherry — so much sympathy! The contradictory ones really get you, though I’ve come to see them as a matter of taste. As a mentor of mine used to say, those are the ones that prove you’re “in the game.” Keep playing and you win!
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Love that Leslie!
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Those rejections are bittersweet for sure. It would be great to sell it, but at least most of them seemed to like it even if it wasn’t something they could publish right now.
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I agree! It’s a strange process!
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Sherry, you hit the nail on the head with this post. So hard, and it never gets easier.
I loved your first book, and would love to see it out in the world. I remember it making me laugh, a gift.
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Thank you, Julie! It might seem clumsy to you now — we are better writers than we were then. Some day, I might blow the dust off of it!
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I have two favorite rejections. I’d sent the first book in what turned out to be the Witch City mystery series to seven agents. Six of them sent the typical “Lots of luck” rejection letter, but one, named John, sent a particularly snarky one–something to the effect of “I don’t see how I can possibly interest a New York Publisher in this piece of work.” I took delight in send him this “Dear John, I know you will share my joy when I tell you that I have just signed a three book contract with Kensington.” My next favorite, which I have framed, is a form rejection from the New Yorker on which someone has written “A near miss. Try again.” (I never did sell them anything, but a near miss at the New Yorker is pretty good!)
Carol J. Perry
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I love that you wrote back to the agent! And look how successful your series has been! Wow — that is a great rejection!
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Great blog, Sherry! In business and in my acting career, I have been rejected many times…when I was younger, it hurt worse, but then you develop “elephant skin”. Of course, it still hurts, but not so deeply. 2 years ago, I auditioned for a TV part I really wanted, and was a finalist, but in the end, I didn’t get it. When I saw the program, I was ever so glad I was not chosen. Everything that I aimed for, which became out of reach transformed into something even better for me, and I remember those rejections as a blessing. God does have a plan for us, and it is best to leave everything up to Him, and have a blast while you wait for the revelations to come. Joy to y’all! Luis at ole dot travel
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I didn’t know you were an actor! I love finding out these bits and pieces!
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Sherry,
How true that just because you’ve published a few books means that your next book will be accepted. There’s no tenure for authors.
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You are so right and that’s a great way to put it!
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Ouch, rejection does sting, but I also see lots of praise for your writing talent. Keep at it, Sherry, I’d love to read that rom-com AND see it on TV!
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Thanks so much, Shari!
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