Back in October we talked about the dreaded rejection letter and the top 5 reasons we reject a manuscript at Harlequin. Getting a rejection is not fun, but it’s a very normal and to-be-expected part of every (yes, every) writer’s life. The question isn’t, will you get a rejection, but what will you do when you get a rejection?
The first thing you should probably do is…nothing.
Before you impulsively toss your hard-fought (digital) pages into the (YouTube) fireplace, take a beat. Accept that even though the rejection isn’t personal, feeling disappointed is a natural reaction. So, turn off your computer, chat with a friend, pat your dog, or walk to your local coffee shop for a latte and the biggest cookie they have.
After that, what you do will depend on your writing goals and the type of rejection you receive. Let’s break it down and look at three types of rejections.
The standard rejection
How to identify:
A standard rejection is a brief response stating that the submission is unsuitable for the line or doesn’t meet our editorial needs. If we’ve indicated reasons, they’re very general and don’t refer to any specific aspects of your writing or story.
What it means:
You could receive a standard rejection if: the submission package is missing some of the requested materials (synopsis, cover letter, etc.), the story elements don’t match the guidelines (setting, word length, themes, etc.), or the writing is not publication-ready.
Next steps:
Review the series submission requirements and compare them to your submission package. Did you include all the materials we asked for, including a professional cover letter and a complete synopsis? Are the characters, setting, sensuality level and word count a match for the series?
If all the requirements were met, it may be that your writing and storytelling abilities aren’t at the level our readers expect yet. We strongly encourage you to spend time reading—especially in the romance genre that interests you—and practice your writing.
The encouraging rejection
How to identify:
An encouraging rejection says the submission is unsuitable but includes positive comments about the writing or story, with specific examples from your manuscript.
What it means:
An encouraging rejection means the story isn’t right for us, but the editor saw something in the submission that showed promise and demonstrated the author’s commitment to developing their craft—maybe a fresh voice, an ear for dialogue, appealing characters, or a really original idea.
Next steps:
Put this story aside and consider levelling up your writing skills with classes or professional advice. Set some goals or enter a submission call or contest that requires you to put your work out there and meet a deadline. Do some soul-searching to identify your strengths, challenges and passions. And keep practicing!
The revise and resubmit (R&R)
How to identify:
A revise and resubmit is an invitation from an editor to make changes to the manuscript and submit the revised version for consideration for the same series.
What it means:
An R&R means the voice and writing show promise and the editor thinks the story could be a good fit for the series if some aspects were revised.
Next steps:
If you’re invited to revise and resubmit, do consider it! An R&R is a sign of strong interest and may open a dialogue with an editor about your work. Although there’s no guarantee of a contract offer once you’ve made changes, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about the process of critiquing and revising a manuscript—from character development and conflict to scene-building and pacing.
There’s no deadline for completing an R&R, so don’t feel you need to quickly “fix” problems and resubmit in a week. It’s not uncommon for even experienced authors to take several weeks to revise a manuscript.
So, what should you not do?
Although there’s nothing wrong with sending a thank-you email after receiving a rejection, there’s no advantage to it either. If you haven’t received an invitation to connect with an editor, you can consider the matter closed and move on to next steps.
Sometimes authors request additional editorial feedback, suggesting it will benefit the editor because they won’t waste their time in the future with another unsuitable submission. But editors don’t have the resources to work closely with uncontracted authors. (For more on what editors do all day, check out this post in our archive.)
As tempting as it may be in the heat of the moment, it’s not advisable to tell the editor their judgment is terrible and they will regret turning down this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire your future bestseller. (Yes, people do this.) Professionalism, courtesy and respect are always good practice in business.
And finally, don’t give up! Our I Got the Call archive is filled with stories from Harlequin authors who were rejected many times before receiving a contract offer. No one truly knows what you will achieve when you keep chasing your dreams.
