![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
What is professional?
(The punch line is in turquoise.)
Rejection is a part of publishing. It sucks. But the bottom-line is that publishing is a business and not an “everybody plays” soccer league. Books that aren’t right for our house might be right for a different publisher. Authors that haven’t quite reached their peak and found their voice can go on to become fabulous writers with the next book or with a revision of the current book.
Do not despair if we don’t request the full manuscript or if we don’t make an offer.
We don’t have the copious amounts of time needed to give writers much feedback unless we’re seriously considering the book or want to see something else from the writer, but if we make the time and give you a little something to think about, a little something to help you shape future queries, or a gentle truth, then don’t respond like the writer below. I present his reaction to being rejected verbatim--errors, warts and in all its glory. I received the query in my morning’s email.
BTW, the writer opened the door on “formulaic” by assuring us in the query that the book was far grander and better than the formulaic genre crap being published. Okay, the query didn’t use the word “crap,” but it was implied. And won’t the writer be embarrassed to realize that my particular office is not in Georgia?
(If you aren’t howling hysterically with laughter and/or horrified by the following, please don’t query us. It won’t end well for any of us if you do.)
Thank you for responding to my query.
I just wanted to offer a great book to your company that has never published anything on this level... your attempt to criticize and discourage me has fallen short because its apparent you don't understand what a formulaic novel is, its the way the story it is presented and resolved not just the idea. My writing is very unique and I strongly suspect your lying when you say you see this type of story all the time. This comes as no surprise because most people from the south are misinformed and habitual liars. Georgia is one of the worst states in the country for a large populace of misinformed people who are comfortable telling lies and usually the most wicked hypocrites. In the future try to stick to the truth, writers put in so many hours trying to finish a book and to have false criticism hurled at them is disturbing to me....good day