The Rejection Slip (poem) by Carol Denise Mitchell on AuthorsDen

The Rejection Slip
by Carol Denise Mitchell → (All Poetry by Carol Denise Mitchell)
Rated "G" by the Author.

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Keep Your Rejection Slips!

The Rejection Slip The Rejection Slip Written from your heart, there are things you never see What a literary agent will have in store for me Filling pages with your flair; your book a work of art Until the old rejection slip slithers in to break your heart Not here this morning when we finished the manuscript Twelve long years for an acid-free, rejection slip Dearest Literary Agent – You will never know thee Apology a form letter, you want to save some trees Unfortunately, it’s over, should we read on anymore? Is that a rejection letter knock, knocking at my door? A letter to the Author, an impersonal insulting note I have so many submissions; please excuse my need to gloat Excuse me Literary Agent, please don’t call me: “dear” Indignation on afire, get Debbie Downer out of here! Dear? Literary Agents and, “sorry,” “unfortunately” Just tell us to go elsewhere and spare us the niceties Edits from the moon to sun, don’t see rejection slips So thanks for respecting what we put into all of this Say nothing to the hopefuls if you’ve no good to say Let the Agent with the good news forward acid-free this way Save perfunctory for order, lest a lesson could be learned Spare the writer your rejection, no respect was ever earned Writing, editing sowing, planting seeds to change lives Dismissal to the Agent whom is dismissive of our strides!
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Reviewed by Barbara Henry

Reviewed on February 25, 2013

Hello Carol, I know the feeling, but we must remember,at least that is what they say: It's not personal. I say yes, yes, it's personal.
Keep persisting,and your message will reach the right editor and the right audience.
Barbara J Henry

Reviewed by Asa Seeley

Reviewed on March 18, 2012

rejection is hard but what else can we do but what we do? we'll continue to write and perhaps, one day...
thanks for sharing

asa

Reviewed by Ronald Hull

Reviewed on March 17, 2012

Some of the best books ever written rejected many times. Publishers are primarily interested in making money, not in quality work. And, quality work often doesn't sell over trash that has some notoriety associated with it for other reasons it might have a big readership having nothing to do with the writer or writing.

That's why I like print on demand POD. You can write, edit, format and design your book and then turned over to someone who will print a few copies that you can test out to see if anyone will buy them beside your friends and relatives. Traditional publishing, where thousands of books are printed and shipped out to stores and promoted at that time to try to get them to sell, is going the way of the buggy whip.

Avoid the rejection slip altogether. It's not worth the effort in submission.

Ron

Reviewed by Sheri Hoff

Reviewed on March 16, 2012

Great capture of the sting of rejection after hard work. I bet it felt good to write it.