"Thank you for submitting your work, Abish: The Story of A Convert. After careful consideration, we have decided not to publish your manuscript at this time. Please be aware that we offer to publish less than ten percent of the manuscripts we review. It just so happened that we received another manuscript about the story of Abish the same week that we received yours; both were extremely well written. Unfortunately we had to choose one over the other knowing it wouldn't be profitable to publish two novels about the same person. Although we did not offer to publish your manuscript, we strongly encourage you in your endeavors to get it published. "
Meh.
9 comments:
Sigh. Third time's a charm?
How bizarre that someone else was working on a similar project! But yours definitely will be published, I'm sure.
So fun to look at your vacation pictures! Good times!! Keep on with your writing..it will come.
I would love to read it - published or not. I've always been fascinated by the story of Abish, and I'd love to read other insights! Please let me know. :)
Believe me, I've learned the (very) hard way to follow promptings.......especially urgent ones.
My kids learned a quote from Edison this week about how every failure should be considered an opportunity for what doesn't work and why and how we can learn from our failure to achieve success. Poignant........well, until Lauren turned towards Stef and said that she'll be a big success one day since she's already lived 12 years as an abject failure. (only my kids could use lofty quotes as ammo. against each other)
Anyway, point being, at least you have the courage to keep on trying and learning from each experience. One day that will lead you to what you're after.
Lame, lame, lame - I'm mad for you. I loved your first story I read and I'm sure this one was at least equal. You know in a year you'll see the book out by some author with a big name and a poorly written book. Don't give up! You are such a talented writer.
Hey, at least your response wasn't a form letter. (I have plenty of form letter rejections in my files.) When I was self-syndicating my parenting column, I eventually got 10 papers to accept my work. Five hundred rejected it. That means that my rejection rate was 98%. Only 2% said yes. Don't give up! (I'd be interested to know when you find the time to write. Do you have a set time? Do tell!)
The problem is that I've only know of three publishing houses I can send this particular manuscript to. I have other, partially completed projects that would go to more than just an LDS audience. I don't think this novel would fly outside of an LDS publisher. I think it assumes that you already have some kind of background into what the Book of Mormon is, even if you are not entirely familiar with the story. Anyway, I'm waiting to hear from Deseret Book.
I use to stay up late at night several days a week to write. I've done very little other than blogging since I started my paper route. Double meh.
You are too talented not to keep trying. We've tried three times with my Dad's Christmas story - I finally turned it over to someone at Bonneville Communications to have it turned into a DVD...and it's still sitting. Maybe I should follow some of my own advice and keep trying. Tammy always said there's more frustration in publishing than you expect. Keep writing -- I love your ability to relate your most intersesting thoughts. I would LOVE to read your take on Abish, so please don't stop trying.
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