tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post16751688398161465..comments2024-03-09T04:17:11.014-04:00Comments on One can't get over the habit of being a little girl all at once...: Miller Time Friday: Contemplating Rejection, but in a sunny kind of way...WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-61826948619053842962013-09-14T13:35:25.437-03:002013-09-14T13:35:25.437-03:00Someone big heres asked to work with me so it was ...Someone big heres asked to work with me so it was them who sealed the deal, then changed their mind about a book.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-67003726821014081422013-09-14T07:16:19.810-03:002013-09-14T07:16:19.810-03:00thanks teacups - that is awfully kind!! I appreci...thanks teacups - that is awfully kind!! I appreciate the kind words!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-50118412571618866982013-09-14T07:15:33.323-03:002013-09-14T07:15:33.323-03:00Hi Jody - I think your instructor is right - you a...Hi Jody - I think your instructor is right - you actually have to have completed something and polished it many many times before you can send it out, so the rejections slips are signposts of the journey. That was me at the disco party at my 50th - I was something!!!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-7993132136956783422013-09-14T07:13:52.145-03:002013-09-14T07:13:52.145-03:00MW - thank you, my dear! you hang in there, too! ...MW - thank you, my dear! you hang in there, too! We all learn so much and I think equanimity is something that we learn over a lifetime!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-86705167731541132272013-09-14T07:12:37.019-03:002013-09-14T07:12:37.019-03:00oh I can't wait to hear about the mindfulness ...oh I can't wait to hear about the mindfulness conference! Agree completely! Deepak would tell me to be blissfully unattached to outcome - that if I am doing the work with a pure heart (i.e. for the enjoyment of my readers, which I am) than all will work out in the time and place when it is supposed to. And that my publisher and I are looking for each other - we just haven't found one another yet (all very romantic isn't it?)WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-20706578930473140182013-09-14T02:05:49.483-03:002013-09-14T02:05:49.483-03:00Wendy, I find you and your writing to be open, hon...Wendy, I find you and your writing to be open, honest, creative, and human. Hopefully an agent will notice your talent soon. Keep writing and following your dreams.Teacupshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00204455460703812488noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-14883756535417196262013-09-13T20:38:49.594-03:002013-09-13T20:38:49.594-03:00Well, i for one am incredibly impressed that you h...Well, i for one am incredibly impressed that you have written a book and that you're onto the writing to agents time. Our writing instructor was trying to tell us the other day that rejections slips are positive as it means how far along the path you are!! However I know if I ever get that far, I will take to my bed for 24 hours - or drink mightily. love you in the gold and silvery look too. About Last Weekendhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04716571630418078937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-76666655984245854422013-09-13T20:24:50.353-03:002013-09-13T20:24:50.353-03:00Rejection stinks. I've failed at many, many th...Rejection stinks. I've failed at many, many things, and you'd think that repetition would naturally lead to some equanimity about it all, but sadly no. So, I shall join you in a toast. Here's wishing you future success!Merry Wifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06856408467466440033noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-41239360278826462492013-09-13T18:20:23.213-03:002013-09-13T18:20:23.213-03:00Didn't JK Rowling have more than a dozen rejec...Didn't JK Rowling have more than a dozen rejections before Harry Potter was birthed? Just back from Mindfulness conference and the advice there would have been just as you've done--take some deep breaths and go on. We are not worried.<br /><br />Lanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13175229460841379583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-5932089918546424062013-09-13T14:57:15.546-03:002013-09-13T14:57:15.546-03:00Well Laura - I hope you do pursue it! I started t...Well Laura - I hope you do pursue it! I started that dream a long time ago when I was closer to your age and honestly, wish I had kept at it. Of course, sunny as I am, I think there is supposed to be a time and a place for everything, so am taking this as my time and I suppose I need to do it all to get to here!<br /><br />Can't wait till I can say the same about YOU!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-78633545252051052652013-09-13T14:55:07.471-03:002013-09-13T14:55:07.471-03:00Thanks Anon - fabulous advice! I am going to work...Thanks Anon - fabulous advice! I am going to work on exactly that - my writing site and will let you know when it's up. I think you are right about the short stories and the articles and have started down that vein, too, so you have certainly reinforced to me, that I may be on the right track!<br /><br />As for sharing my journey - thanks for your kind comments, but honestly, I always feel so much better after I share something here - people are both kind and have good advice. Plus, once it is out of my head, I typically let it go!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-6793088031107577802013-09-13T14:22:49.224-03:002013-09-13T14:22:49.224-03:00Wow - publishing a book - that's something tha...Wow - publishing a book - that's something that I've always wanted to do! Just know that while you might get rejected a few times something amazing will come along, and then I can say hey, I knew Wendy from her blog ages ago and now she is famous. ;)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05422996611178479902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-70614301410896113512013-09-13T14:06:48.317-03:002013-09-13T14:06:48.317-03:00Hi WMM,
I think this is fabulous and I wish you a...Hi WMM,<br /><br />I think this is fabulous and I wish you all the luck in the world. Hey, who knows, maybe one of your cold mailings will get someone's attention! It's happened, right? <br /><br />It looks like you are getting some great advice from people with more experience and connections than I. My only experience is in academic publishing, where you aim to publish a series of related articles before a book. This track record undoubtedly helps in all sorts of ways.<br /><br />Some things I've noted about trade press publishing today: many people are "discovered" through blogs. Is there a way you can create a blog and a following surrounding your writing project? Also, I think your idea of pitching a magazine article, maybe somewhere like Ladies Home Journal?, talking about your career change and mentioning your writing might also attract some interest. Or go the more traditional route by publishing short stories, etc., in writing journals/magazines first, which would certainly get your book pitch/inquiry put in a different pile.<br /><br />Earlier this year a friend of mine published an op-ed piece and within days had been contacted by three publishers to write a book, and now has a big contract! I think just getting yourself out there in any way you can would be helpful.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your journey, it's always fun and thought-provoking to read your blog :) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-90868925942887634152013-09-13T13:00:30.857-03:002013-09-13T13:00:30.857-03:00Oh isn't that CRAZY! I don't even presume...Oh isn't that CRAZY! I don't even presume to understand the publishing world! Wait - let me revise that - I don't even presume to understand the world!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-29170485226185625582013-09-13T12:59:36.067-03:002013-09-13T12:59:36.067-03:00Thanks Rose - all advice greatly appreciated!!!!
...Thanks Rose - all advice greatly appreciated!!!!<br /><br />You know what my trouble is today - those sparkly kikis you showed in your blog this a.m. - oh my gosh - I think those could be magical no-rejections-to-be-had shoes... they could fit in nicely with the fairy shoes....<br /><br />WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-12174018202537536842013-09-13T12:53:10.954-03:002013-09-13T12:53:10.954-03:00They asked me! I didn't even pitch it.They asked me! I didn't even pitch it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-20841940475615187952013-09-13T12:46:04.376-03:002013-09-13T12:46:04.376-03:00Hi WMM! Sorry to read about the rejection. It is h...Hi WMM! Sorry to read about the rejection. It is hard to swallow, but I understand it is part of the business. If you wish, I can introduce you to my friend and perhaps she can give you some pointers to help you out.Rosehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05184724930345348154noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-88151953098120083912013-09-13T12:26:41.756-03:002013-09-13T12:26:41.756-03:00Thanks DN! Will check that out! The book I a,cur...Thanks DN! Will check that out! The book I a,currently shopping is a middle grade funny adventure/mystery, but I am working on a YA fantasy trilogy, so if they aren't interested in my fuirst book will keep them in mind for that series! Thanks for the great advice! I am so hoping to make it to the SCBWI conference in NYC in feb- would help me so much, as I am in the middle of nowhere - (well it is somewhere to me but you know what I mean!)WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-60611410836157010452013-09-13T12:14:16.229-03:002013-09-13T12:14:16.229-03:00Hi WMM, if you like Holly Black's books, perha...Hi WMM, if you like Holly Black's books, perhaps you should submit to her agent, Barry Goldblatt. He and his colleague Joe Monti do represent some fantasy authors and perhaps would be interested in your book. Joe represents William Alexander, who won the National Book Award for a debut children's title last year. His agency's address is http://www.bgliterary.com/. DNAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-1134115909252673592013-09-13T11:35:00.232-03:002013-09-13T11:35:00.232-03:00oh that is terrible! Did you try taking it elsewh...oh that is terrible! Did you try taking it elsewhere or did it stop you up? Years ago I got the loveliest personal letter of rejection from a publisher who told me that they loved my book. Of course, who knows if they did or not, but it took the sting out of it all! WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-59514833206812909382013-09-13T11:33:22.357-03:002013-09-13T11:33:22.357-03:00Thanks Patricia! You are so right - it is a slog ...Thanks Patricia! You are so right - it is a slog the whole way through - I often think that the writing I am doing is the easy part!!!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-30764681625656763762013-09-13T11:32:21.471-03:002013-09-13T11:32:21.471-03:00ps. knityarns - that is so cool that Holly is the ...ps. knityarns - that is so cool that Holly is the daughter of a dear friend of yours - I am VERY familiar with her work - she is fabulous! So neat to see someone so talented become so successful!WendyMcLeodMacKnighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04830981147524921562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-25795707920271533132013-09-13T11:29:03.555-03:002013-09-13T11:29:03.555-03:00WMM, you are supposed to put a big long nail on t...WMM, you are supposed to put a big long nail on the wall, by the time the rejection slips start to encroach the head, you will be published.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-6600076778539365162013-09-13T11:27:20.407-03:002013-09-13T11:27:20.407-03:00I once got my dream book deal, with the best agen...I once got my dream book deal, with the best agent in London.<br />I burst into tears on the phone, jumped for joy, it was honestly that happiest day of my life, I've never been good at anything, never passed an exam and I couldn't believe that finally my mothership had come for me. <br />Fast forward 8 weeks later when they decided they didn't want the book after all.<br />It was 6 weeks of the deepest depression, it was really hard to come back from it, I was devastated.<br />So yeah, rejection is my best pal WMM!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8140814948262466589.post-50082375326179525222013-09-13T11:26:15.733-03:002013-09-13T11:26:15.733-03:00Hi Wendy, I do think that you have a very good att...Hi Wendy, I do think that you have a very good attitude about presenting your work - rejection is part of the territory and so you just have to suck it up. I only have a small bit of experience with the publishing world; I recently helped an old friend (old politics professor from uni days) to proofread/edit a book. Of course, that was non-fiction, perhaps a different experience. He seemed to find a publisher quickly (a small niche one)but since then they have made some changes which have been hard to take. So it doesn't stop at getting accepted - you need that thick skin throughout the whole process! Good luck, it's fascinating to follow along on your journey. Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05504513116873595049noreply@blogger.com