What Christian Authors Can Learn From A Rejection Letter

Let’s face it: Rejection hurts.

It can feel like the ultimate punch on the nose.  Sort of like when Amy–that cute little brown-haired girl from the 2nd-grade–had the audacity to actually check the “No” box on whether or not she’d be my girlfriend, and then ran to tell her pack of gossiping friends all about it.  Ouch.

Rejection.  It can feel like a dead-end with no where to turn, no where to run, and where everyone seems to be laughing at you.

Or is it?

Everyone Hates Rejection

No writer ever enjoys receiving a rejection letter and–without a doubt–literary agents flat-out can’t stand issuing them.  Rejection is a nasty word with an even nastier stigma.

But does it have to be that way?  I mean, can’t we use rejection as motivation, as a reason to persevere?  Isn’t the rejection letter, really, just one more step in the process of actually becoming a published author?

I think so.  And maybe you should, too.

Here’s a snippet about my own journey through the writing process, the querying process, and when the very first rejection letter landed in my inbox.  I hope it will serve as a means to giving you the motivation to keep moving, to keep writing, and to finishing on top.

Remember, rejection doesn’t mean the road to publication has ended.  In fact, many times all it means is that you need to make a right-hand turn at the next off-ramp, rethink your strategy, and steady the course.  In other words, take a step back and refocus.

And that’s what I did when I finished writing my first 52,000-word book.

Dear Mrs. Literary Agent

After completing that manuscript in June 2011, I ventured off to Michael Hyatt’s website, downloaded his list of recommended Christian literary agents, and emailed my query according to each agent’s submission requirements, as best I could.

No small task, I can assure you.

Then I waited for the offers of representation (and million-dollar royalty checks!) to come rolling in.  Then I waited some more.  And a bit more.  Finally, I received an email that went something like this:

Thank you for contacting our firm in regard to representation.  At present, we are not taking on any additional representation assignments.  Our focus is on managing author brands, thus we tend to maintain a relatively small group of clients to ensure quality representation.  I am confident you will find success in your quest for a competent agency to represent your interests.

Huh?  Managing author brands?  What in the world does that mean?  Then I got another that said this:

We have received your submission and want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to read your work. If we determine that your submission is a good fit for ______, you will be contacted within eight weeks by one of our agents.  Unfortunately, we are unable to respond to every submission we receive. If an agent hasn’t contacted you after eight weeks, we have determined that your submission doesn’t fit our current needs and we are unable to offer representation.

And then this one:

Your QUERY has landed safely in our inbox. As we mentioned on our website, we will read and review your query. If we feel we can help, we will be in touch. If you haven’t heard from us within two months, you can assume we will not be able represent your work.

Wait a minute.  Two months?  Yep, two months, at least.  One even had the audacity to suggest a wait closer to six months!

Although most of the agencies had their own unique version of, “Charles, we’ve received your rubbish and pushed it to the bottom of the pile.  You may hear back from us, but don’t count on it,” each agency had their own reply.

The Art Of The Rejection Letter

Shortly after similar letters began showing up, something unimaginable happened.  It was quite unexpected, and hurtful.

Apparently a few agents out there can’t spot literary perfection when it so plainly stares back at them after landing in their inbox.  LOL.  You see, I actually started receiving rejection letters.  Imagine that.

Here’s an example of one of my first rejections:

Thanks, but I need to decline due to other commitments at this time.

Okay, sure, everyone gets busy now and then.  Here’s the next one I got:

Thank you for your query regarding your manuscript.  Unfortunately, due to my current load of author/client work, I am unable to assist you at this time.  I do wish you the very best in your search for a publisher and in your ongoing writing endeavors.

Wow, literary agents must be busy bees.  At least that one was a bit more cordial.  Ah, yes, and then I received this one:

Thank you for your query. I found the sample compelling, but most books in the Christian Living category are published on the strength of the author’s media platform (TV, radio, print) and Christian publishers typically won’t even consider a proposal by a new author unless he has a media platform. I’m afraid I won’t be able to take this on for representation, but I wish you all the best finding the right agent and publisher for your work.

Platform?  What in the world does diving have to do with this?  Well, at least they wished me “all the best.”  But as nice as that one is, here’s one that is not only more personal but ranks as one of my all-time favorites:

Charles, my experience with books on Christian living is that I cannot get a publisher interested unless the author is a pastor of a megachurch or has a national speaking platform. The western US is not enough, is my guess. Secondly, ________ is at the top or near it on every bestseller list. When one book so dominates a topic, I find publishers unwilling to launch anything similar to it. As a result, I sense that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to find a publisher for one by an associate pastor.

Ouch.  So I need to pastor a megachurch first?  Wow!  Apparently, getting a book published will be harder than I originally thought.

And last–but certainly not least–here’s my choice for the rejection letter that is, in my most humble opinion, the clear winner for the most brief-but-not-so-sweet rejection:

Thanks but I’ll pass.

It was around this time that I began to lick my wounds and rethink my strategy.

QUESTION FOR COMMENTING BELOW:  How do you handle “rejection” when it comes to your writing?

Image credit: Cee-Lo Knows (Creative Commons)