THE 2006 REJECTION PLEDGE

batyler65 · Jan 6, 2006

Hi, all,

This year, lots of us are pushing ourselves toward new publication goals. Rejections can sometimes suck the wind right out of our sails. However, I propose we turn the process of gathering rejection slips into something positive. I am proposing a Rejection Pledge.

Here is how it works: This year, choose a rejection goal for yourself. Maybe you are just starting out and are hesitant about submitting. You could set a goal to collect 2 rejection slips this year. Those who have been at this a little longer, can set their sights higher. (My goal this year is 100).

If you decide to take the pledge, edit your signature to look like mine. The fraction=number of rejections received/number pledged. Don't forget to update it when you receive new rejections.

Encourage others!

Barb

P.S. If you are a new to this thread, please take a moment to read the clarification in post #98 here before you post. Thanks!

IHeartWriting · Jan 6, 2006

LOVE the idea, so I'm in.

You can't publish if you don't submit. Take The 2006 Rejection Pledge

I took the pledge: 1/52

batyler65 · Jan 6, 2006

EXCELLENT! Who's next?

Yeshanu · Jan 6, 2006

EXCELLENT! Who's next?

Me!

PattiTheWicked · Jan 6, 2006

Hey, I'm in. I can get rejected as easily as the next person.

jdkiggins · Jan 6, 2006

I'm in! Will have this in my signature as soon as I figure out how to get around the 500 characters allowed.

You can't publish if you don't submit. Take The 2006 Rejection Pledge
I took the pledge: 0/52

Birol · Jan 6, 2006

I'm in.

katiemac · Jan 6, 2006

Okay, I'm pledging. I'll start small -- I want 15 rejections! This, of course, means I have to have something to submit. I hope to be able to start submitting by August/September.

paprikapink · Jan 6, 2006

I'm in. Barb, you're so brilliant.

DamaNegra · Jan 6, 2006

I'm in too. Let's start low: 10 rejections. Hey, it's gonna be my first time submitting!

batyler65 · Jan 7, 2006

Good for you Dama! Good luck with your subs!

DamaNegra · Jan 7, 2006

Wait, I already thought it over. I'll make it 50 rejections, since I've already started submitting some short stories. I seriously hope I don't get to 50 rejections on my first year, but if I do, at least I'll know I tried

PattiTheWicked · Jan 7, 2006

DamaNegra said:
Wait, I already thought it over. I'll make it 50 rejections, since I've already started submitting some short stories. I seriously hope I don't get to 50 rejections on my first year, but if I do, at least I'll know I tried

Well, that's the point, isn't it

I'm looking at my spreadsheet for 2005 Submissions, and here's what I have:

Adult Novel MS: 35 Submissions. Of that, three agents and two publishing houses currently have the full ms in review. Twelve other agencies/publishers have not replied yet. That gave me 17 rejections out of 35 submissions.

Single article on how to make a Yule Log: 1 submission, 1 acceptance

Single article on Sacred Circle Gardening: 1 submission, 1 acceptance.

YA Novel MS: 9 Submissions, 1 acceptance. Two of the publishers never replied, so that's 6 more rejections.

Children's Picture Book MS: 9 Submissions, 1 acceptance. Only four of the others actually wrote back to turn me down, so that's 4 more.

Single article for homeschooling magazine: 1 submission, no response yet, but it was only sent out December 15th.

Oh yeah, and two essays submitted and accepted to Stories of Strength.

Obviously, even though I busted my butt last year, I had to work pretty hard just to rack up the 27 "no thanks" that I got.

Already this year, I've sent out queries on various manuscripts to a dozen publishers -- my plan is to get out at least 20 queries a month. If I do five a week, I should be good to go.

So try as hard as you can -- if 50 people reject you, that means you sent out probably two or three times that many submissions, and you're working hard!

NewB · Jan 8, 2006

Count me in! I will aim for 12!

Poppy · Jan 8, 2006

I signed on the (virtual) dotted line, and changed my sig accordingly.

Chacounne · Jan 8, 2006

Count me in

Since it's my first year submitting, I'll aim for twelve

Thanks for the incentive,
Chac/Heather

I took the pledge: 0/12

StoryG27 · Jan 8, 2006

I love the idea Barb!

Count me in. I pledge to gather at least 30 rejections in 2006. I've got a few submissions out there now, so I should be udpdating soon.

alisonbruce · Jan 8, 2006

Count me in too.

I know I've picked a modest figure, but it's my lucky number.

JenNipps · Jan 9, 2006

In thinking about this, at first I thought I'd aim for 52. That's one a week. Then it was like, OK, but I've already decided to send out 2 queries minimum a week. So I guess I'm upping mine to 100. Yikes. lol.

batyler65 · Jan 9, 2006

Ah, four more brave souls! Good for all of you!

Come on, you lurkers, you know you wanna.

Pat~ · Jan 9, 2006

Great idea! I'm only a part-timer in my second year of this, so think I'll go with 30. Goes hand in hand with a weekly submissions goal (1). Off to go edit my signature...

MacAllister · Jan 9, 2006

I'm in.

Like Pat, I'm definitely not full time at this, so I'm pretty sure I'm never gonna average a rejection a week--30 seems a good number to make me push myself a little, though.

September skies · Jan 9, 2006

Great. I'm in too. My problem in the past has been fear of submitting. But that all changed last year when I submitted two things in December. Still waiting.... My goal this year is to submit three magazine pieces a month (I'm not counting my newspaper stories)

ETA: I've changed my signature but it's not showing up - does it take time?

Edited second time: I don't know why - I counted 124 characters (spaces included) and I had already removed my SOS contributor logo - but once I removed the Sunny Smilie - it worked right away. Thanks guys.

MacAllister · Jan 9, 2006

Hmm--nope, it should change right away, September. You might have to try it again.

Birol · Jan 9, 2006

Joanne said something about the signature lines only being able to handle up to 500 characters. Maybe yours was too long?

THE 2006 REJECTION PLEDGE

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