What an awesome rejection letter, I thought as the email was read. Words I never thought I would utter in the same sentence: awesome rejection letter.
In February of this year I attended a free writers conference. There I came across a publisher from NC. Soon after I got home I submitted a query letter to him. Within two weeks he requested the first three chapters. Doing so he asked for the entire MS. I was told it would take 4-6 weeks. It took longer. My poor friend Lisa saw how the waiting was making me nuts. I finally sent him a nudge letter after conferring with some people if it was okay to do so. He recently wrote me back.
He wrote thanking me for submitting the MS to his staff. He continued by saying that declining to continue with this MS was a very difficult call for him.
Mike then said there were a number of excellent quality about the text that the staff found appealing. My characters were clearly drawn out and the action was very vivid. He said a few other nice things. But he stated why they were turning me down at this point. He listed them.
After all was said and done the last paragraph I felt was really cool. He said if we have not completely offended you they hoped I would consider their publishing house in the future with other manuscripts I might have. Our judgment is that you have real potential as a children’s author.
Pretty freaken cool right?
I wrote him the email below.
First of all thank you for taking the time to read my MS. Instead of getting a regular rejection letter you gave me a well thought out letter. That means a lot to me. I am let down, yes, but am not offended. What I am is grateful for you gave me the points on where I can improve my MS. That is invaluable and again I thank you. I will go back to the drawing board and work on the points you laid out below and strengthen my story. Once I accomplish that will submit to publishers in hopes someone will take a chance on it.
It is nice to be encouraged to submit other projects to you. Can I be so bold and ask if it be possible for me to resubmit this MS once I work on it some more?
Thank you for the compliment at the end and the time and consideration you gave me.
He wrote they would be very glad to review Jasper again once I work on the suggestions. Again pretty freaken cool right?
Out of the three points, two I feel I can incorporate into my story. The last one I am not to sure have to think on it.
This has been a process.
1-First the book was written
2-It was submitted to my writers groups, book reviewers, a day care and my editor
3-Worked on my synopsis and query letter
4-Started to submit to various publishers in Feb. of this year.
5- I have received a variety of letters. Some have been form letter while others were not accepting submissions at this time. Some were overwhelmed with manuscripts.
6-The next step was a publisher saying I had potential. It came from a major publishing house.
7-This rejection letter was next saying I had potential and points on how to fix my MS
8-The step I am at now, working on the points.
All projects are being pushed to the side as I work on this.
Even if it goes no further with this publisher I am still stoked.
Can you tell?
Sharon C. Williams-Author 
That is incredibly cool. Good luck trying to incorporate all the suggestions, and I hope they agree to take your novel! =D
Thank you. I am going to try my best. 🙂
It sounds like the manuscript definitely has potential, given the editor took the time to send you such a detailed rejection letter. You also had a good rejection from a major pubbing house. That would stoke me too! I bet this MS finds a home once you follow through with the suggestions you were given. I’m cheering you on!
Thank you so much Mae. I feel still giddy on the inside. It is so nice to talk to someone who gets how this would feel. Thank you for that.
That is great, make those changes and see if he will look at it again, if not, then it will find its place, that much is for sure.
He said his staff and he would look at it again once I make the changes. So working on that now. Nerves are starting to sink in.
What a great letter! You should definitely make the changes and resubmit. And if all the suggestions don’t work, don’t feel like you have to make them. Sometimes the changes you think are appropriate are enough to make the difference in the manuscript. Good luck! Btw, my post on Monday was about rejection letters as well!
I waited a few days to let the giddiness pass. That way I can start with a clear head. But now that I have done that I am so nervous for I reread what was pointed out. Tracey this is really making me wonder if I can do it. Argh hate this! I read your post by the way. Thank you. I need all the encouragement I can get.
Don’t let the nerves get to you. This is what happens in a professional relationship. Editors ask for changes, and you have to address them carefully. When my first book was published, my editor wanted me to take out a kiss at the end between the main character and her friend. I took it out, but in a subsequent re-write, I wrote it back in, with a little bit of foreshadowing in earlier chapters. She said, “I see you snuck that back in. But it works now, so it’s OK.” You have to listen to your editor, and you have to listen to yourself as well.
Thank you Tracey. I need to step back a day or two. Will go for it before the week is out. May the nerves soon be dead to me. 🙂