This is a huge milestone and shouldn’t be so feared. Like Kathy wrote, don’t let it be a millstone weighing you down.
Many writers think of a “rejection” letter, as a negative thing. Rejection even sounds negative. So I like to think of them as “no thank you” letters. Well, there is a flip side to every coin, a silver lining in dark clouds.
A rejection is two-fold—besides your manuscript not being published at this time.
First, like the lion in Wizard of Oz, you should get a metal. Do you know what a rejection o
r no thank you letter means?! You had the courage to send off your baby for someone else to judge its worth. That is huge!
Until you have received your first no thank you letter, you aren’t really a writer. You may write, even write a lot, but until you’ve laid your baby on the alter of worthiness, you just write. I believe a writer writes for others. So send out that manuscript and boldly proclaim yourself as a writer, author, novelist. Proclaim them all.
Second, I whole-heartedly believe that a no thank you letter from an agent or editor is direction from the Lord. He knows where you need to be and when you need to be there. He knows the perfect timing for a particular work to get published to get it into the hands He has planned for it to touch lives. He knows when you are truly ready as well as your manuscript for publication.
You aren’t really being rejected but redirected by the Lord.
So next time you get a no thank you letter, give thanks to the Lord.
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3 comments:
Great post, Mary. And you're right. It is redirection. And getting a redirection letter isn't such a bad thing.
Mary, I know it's true: not a rejection, but a redirection. But it's so hard to get that in my head, especially when I know that my manuscript is for Him. Thanks for reminding me that God is sovereign.
Great insight Mary. Even though it's tough to swallow, each submission goes out with prayers to be in God's will and to choose the best direction and people for what He wants to do in my writing career. :)
Of course I argue vehemently with my precious Lord sometimes, but I know He has the best in mind and so I apologize, swallow hard, and keep submitting! :)
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