I recently topped 10 form rejections and was looking for a way to, okay, not celebrate the fact, but to acknowledge them and turn them from the scarlet R of shame to a badge of honor. I mean, I earned these suckers. I polished my novel until it shone like the top of the Chrysler Building. I did my agent research. I wrote (50+ times) my query letter. I put my most vulnerable self out there. And in return, 10 times and counting, I got a form rejection email. Sometimes they were nicely worded, sometimes they were Dear Author types. All of them were crushing in their own way, but hey, I survived. I deserve a freaking badge.
So that's what my husband did, he made me my first badge o' rejection:
I'm quite proud of it. It shows I'm dedicated. It proves I haven't given up. And turning a negative into a fortifying positive, well, that's something of a past time for me.
How do you turn rejection into a badge of honor?
B is also for Band of Horses. This is one of my fave songs ever:
Lol, nice badge! No doubt I will be needing one of those myself sometime in the future!
ReplyDeletecute badge. You sure did earn it!
ReplyDeleteMimi Torchia Boothby Watercolors
Aww, that is the most awesome thing ever! Wear it with pride!
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday!
Jaycee's A-Z
LOL! I love the "Blah blah blah... No." That's so perfect, because after all, that's what a form rejection is--a polite way of saying "no" without getting specific. I'm not knocking the FR. Personally, I prefer it to "no response means no." At least you know the agent saw your query, decided *for whatever reason* it wasn't for him or her, and let you know so you can strike them off the list and move on (after an appropriate period of mourning).
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're putting a positive spin of the Form Rejection. We all have to learn to cope with them because we all get them. I don't know if I've ever read any author who didn't have a good number of Form Rejections under their belt before they ever got published. You are part of an illustrious group, Alex. And the badge is well-earned. :)
Thanks Colin. The blah blah blah is pretty much how we writer's decipher a rejection - no matter how nice or gentle - it sounds like Charlie Brown's teacher from Peanuts! And I agree,'no response is a no' is eeeevil.
DeleteUm, I seriously think you could market those. Badges, t-shirts, the works. I would so buy a badge of rejection T-shirt.
ReplyDeleteAll right, I love that badge. And I agree with Jaye. You could totally market those. I want a sticker and a refrigerator magnet. =)
ReplyDeleteI LOVE IT! Well ... I mean I love that he made the badge ... I hate rejections. But if I were to EARN that particular badge for every 10 rejections I've received, I'd need a whole SASH full of badges. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteThanks for making me laugh about it though!!
I think you need to market that badge. It could be a best seller/earner? Great post - new follower :)
ReplyDeleteThanks guys - after hearing from you on the marketing angle, I've asked designer husband to whip something together on cafe press. Who knows?
DeleteTurning a negative into a positive - bravo!
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd like one of those badges too - I have enough rejection slips to paper a room ;-)
SueH I refuse to go quietly!
Imagine if we all got our rejection notes together and placed them end to end - how many times would they circle the earth? And still we try. We're AWESOME!
DeleteThat badge is awesome! I love the 'Blah blah blah...no" :D I'm sure it's hard receiving those rejections, but if you think that each rejection puts you closer to an offer... Best of luck with your querying!
ReplyDeleteMan, I hope so. There's always a sneaking suspicion that rejection just brings more rejection - like when you're afraid you look too desperate that no one will ask you to dance - or is that just my recurring high school nightmare? Anyway, onward and upward for us all!
DeleteYou could absolutely market those. Writers everywhere would want one!
ReplyDeleteI got kicked out of the girl scouts. By my mother. I'm not sure if I should be proud of that or not. She said I didn't have the "girl scout attitude". :)
Congrats on being rejected! That's a step I haven't even reached yet, so well done you!
I agree! Rejections are badges of honor. We writers wear them proudly. ")
ReplyDeleteGreat A-Z post!
Nutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Love it! Going to retweet this one for you, because it's sooo true!
ReplyDeleteHang in there, Alex. I think I got my first full request after the 10th form rejection. :)
ReplyDeleteI love Band of Horses! I'm also proud when I get a rejection because it means I accomplished writing a novel in the first place. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the music. My last book was written almost exclusively while listening to Band of Horses and Fleet Foxes.
DeleteAnd that's a really smart way of thinking of it - rejection means you've got something to reject - my mom still doesn't quite believe I've written 80k+ words that actually make sense together!
Very clever! Love the blah blah badge. That's what a lot of those rejection letters really seem to be blabbing! Good luck with the query quest. I'm over from the A to Z fest. Coem visit! I'm #672.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing hubby you have in your corner! Wear that sucker with pride - it means 10 agents were willing to read your query and/or pages! That, in itself, is a HUGE accomplishment! Now, revise and go again!
ReplyDeleteDaisy, it's one of my greatest accomplishments - recognizing at the tender age of 19 that this man was a keeper!
DeleteI love the badge, and the attitude it represents :-)
ReplyDelete