Not all publisher rejection letters are bad. Surely, some make you feel discouraged, frustrated, or downright angry. But others can cause you to smile. The one I received today (reproduced below) even made me say, “Awww.”
Today is the deadline on the second extension for submissions to our Mother’s Day anthology. Unfortunately, we didn’t receive enough of a variety of entries to fill an entire book so I am canceling the project. Perhaps we’ll try again next year.
I just wanted to say that I loved both of your stories. The funny one you sent is great and added a good balance-exactly what I was looking for. And I must say your beautiful story about the rose soap confuses me. When I received it, I told you how closely the image mimicked our proposed cover for the book. I felt like it was a sign that the book was “meant to be.” And now, sadly, it’s not. Maybe the coincidence was simply, once again, to let us know that our mothers are still looking out for us.
Thank you so much for your entries and I hope you aren’t too disappointed. Keep in touch.
Best wishes and happy writing!
Desert Muse Publishing
So what’s the message here? Never give up! Even my regret in not having my stories appear in print (yet) is tempered by the knowledge that this publisher was kind in her letting down, which encourages me to be hopeful and try again. In fact, as soon as I finish this, I’m going to resubmit to the first publisher I’d contacted with these stories. She liked them but knew another publisher had a special Mother’s Day anthology in the works and pointed me in her direction. So, “Square One,” here I come!
Annette, closer and closer and soon a hit! Keep sending out our writing, and good luck with the next.