Yesterday I received a form email rejection that made me pause. Usually, a form rejection includes something to the effect of, "We weren't excited enough about your story idea," etc., etc. But this one said something different.
It referenced the poor economy as a reason for the rejection, stating that they must be extremely selective in what projects they pursue because of the poor economic conditions in the world today.
I guess that makes sense and I can see where they're coming from. But I wonder if it's really necessary to put it in the rejection. If a story idea is really good, does it matter if the economy is bad or not?
What do you think?
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All right. Enough with the down-in-the dumps posts. I realized that I had way too many of them in the past few weeks and I am bumming myself...
I know what they are talking about. My agent was very clear to me that the market had completely changed. Even just a year ago, you could have a not quite ready MS be picked up and be edited vigorously by an editor. But with the marketplace being bad, the editors are being extremely tight on acquisitions and if a MS looks like it needs more work, they will err on the side of not acquiring it. Keep in mind with all the layoffs that have happened, all the editors are overworked. My agent sent back my revision a few months back and said he would not send it out cause it was not ready and I needed to go back to the drawing board. I am hearing from several other agented authors that their agents have advised them to hire a good freelance editor to help get their MS in perfect shape. My agent advised the same thing.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, the market is definitely affecting the publishing community and us writers is a major way.
I agree with you. Maybe they think that by mentioning the economy a rejected writer won't take the rejection quite so personally.
ReplyDeleteI feel so much better now. I got a similar rejection myself today. Lovely words about my writing followed by a section about the difficult market at the moment. I'm unpublished and I should imagine taking on an unpublished author is a gamble at the best of times but in a recession, who's going to gamble?
ReplyDeleteHugs on the rejection. A good story should be a good story and therefore published. However, publishers are being very, very cautious at the moment. Scary stuff.
ReplyDeleteEll, thanks for chiming in. It's good to hear it from an industry-insider on what's going on. Yeah, I knew the economy had affected the publishing world, but never thought they would put it in a rejection letter as a reason for a rejection. New times we're living in!
ReplyDeleteDebs - That's my thought, too. And I admit, it made me feel a LITTLE better. ;-)
Hi Rebecca! Thanks for stopping by! Agreed - in a recession, people are playing close to the vest everywhere - not a lot of gambling going on. I just figure that this, too, shall pass.
Shirley - I'm hoping that someone will think it's a good story and publish it, recession or not! Gotta think positive, right? :-)
Sorry about the rejection. I have heard some similar things as well regarding cutting back. Hopefully the economy will swing back the other way soon.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting to hear. I'm not sure how economy plays into everything. I'm hoping that a good story will sell whether it's tight or not. We'll see!
ReplyDeleteHi Amy! Thanks for stopping by. I'm hoping the economy will get better soon, too. It's really scary right now for everyone, I think. I wonder if self-publishers have seen an increase in orders since publishers are cutting back?
ReplyDeleteJody - I'm hoping the same - that a good story will sell regardless of the economy!
I could see the economy affecting the business, but my opinion is that they should leave it out of the rejection letters. It really doesn't speak much to the manuscript at hand; I'd rather see a one sentence specific.
ReplyDeleteI think telling an author they are rejected due to the economy is a cop out on their part.
ReplyDeleteI am sorry about your rejection, though, no matter the reason.
Joanne - I agree. I'd much rather see a sentence as to the writing rather than the economy. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAmy - I tend to agree with you on this. I was surprised to read it.
I would not like seeing that as the reason--we are all dealing with enough economy issues. Tell me my story is awful or not good enough and I can deal with that:)
ReplyDeleteTerri - Very well put. I think I would much rather know if my story was good or bad, too. That is a lot more helpful!
ReplyDeleteeither it is getting harder or I'm getting worse because my rate of agents asking for more has gone way down n the last year.
ReplyDeleteHmm, I've thought a lot about this and I tend to think that if something is really good, the economy shouldn't matter. During the Great Depression, folks were still willing to pay 5 cents (or whatever it was!) for a can of COke. People will still purchase "relief" items. The entertainment industry proves this. I think books are one of those comfort items folks will spend money on if it is a good story.
ReplyDeleteThey may just be using it as a different form rejection. They must realise how the same old same old can get bored and tired, so it might just give them a bit of variety. If they're rejecting as many as they claim they reject, I think in a lot of cases it will just be another form.
ReplyDeleteSaying that, though, there is also a possibility that they're telling the truth. And if they've got no money, then they've got no money, whether it's a good story or not.
Travis - Interesting. I don't think you're getting worse - if anything, I think you're improving your craft. So I think the economic times may definitely have something to do with the rejections.
ReplyDeleteHeidi, I completely agree. If the story is good, then it should find a home somewhere. :-)
Diane - Could be that they're using it in such a way - but to me, it tends to be more of an excuse to not look at your work. I dunno. I feel a bit torn on this issue.
From what I hear from folks in the industry, the economy is making a difference. Many editors have been laid off; publishing houses have had their budgets cut. There's less money to acquire, less money for promotion. If an editor brings on a project that doesn't pencil out, that could be the end of his/her job at that house. What I've heard is that, as a result, editors aren't taking many chances. This doesn't just affect debut authors; it's affecting previously published folks, too. If our previous sales aren't good enough, chances are our next books won't get picked up. (Whether or not the book itself was any good doesn't matter as much as those sales figures.)
ReplyDeleteIt's a nail-biting time for everyone. So in regard to citing the economy as a reason for rejection, it may well be sincere.
That said, I agree that it's always more helpful to get personalized feedback on the story itself. Unfortunately, form rejections are the norm.
Christine - Oh, I have no doubt that the economy is making a difference in the publishing biz, too. I subscribe to Publisher's Lunch and have seen some of the massive job losses in the industry.
ReplyDeleteI guess I just question whether it's a good idea to put it in a rejection letter. I'm still not sure.
Maybe they are just trying to be as honest and up front as they can be? Me and my agent parted company because of the economic downturn (my timing has always sucked lol). Sad but true. And of course you want feedback on your baby. Just keep those submissions out there and, frankly, forget the Rs unless they contain useful information.
ReplyDeleteToni - That could certainly be true. I was just astonished to see the economy as one of the reasons for the rejection. A new thing for me!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about the rejection. An R is tough whatever the reasons. I know what you mean about wondering whether the current economic climate should have even been mentioned. It sort of feels like they've jumped on the bandwagon and used it as an excuse and not a reason. Sending hugs.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the car, the birthday (happy b-day!), the leisure time, and yes, the rejection.
ReplyDeleteI know rejections suck but I promise you, you'll look back on this one and be grateful. Yes, the economy sucks but I agree with you, if the book's great, it's worth it. Perhaps this specific person/company wasn't the right fit for your vision. When that someone comes along, you'll know and they will too and this rejection and any others will have been stepping stones to get you where you're supposed to be. Hang in there. Your time is coming.
Sue - Strangely enough, I haven't been too heartbroken by the rejections. I figure it will happen in God's time, not mine, though that is hard to remember!
ReplyDeleteHi L.T! Thanks for the kind words. I'm just going to keep plugging away. :-)
Hang onto the manuscript. Someday the economy will be strong again.
ReplyDelete