Making the Most of Rejection

Gail Gaymer Martin is a multi-award-winning author writing for Steeple Hill single title, Steeple Hill Love Inspired and Barbour Publishing. She began writing novels in 1997, sold to Barbour in 1998 and, in eight years, has sold forty novels and has over one-million books in print and translated into seventeen languages. She was the recipient of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice for Best Love Inspired of 2002, and her Steeple Hill single title, The Christmas Kite, was optioned for a Hallmark movie. Gail is a keynote speaker and workshop presenter across the U.S and in London, England. She has a Bachelora's and Master's degree from Wayne State University in Detroit. She is a co-founding member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Her web site, http://www.gailmartin.com/ features a For Writers section which provides articles, workshop logs, and frequently asked questions about writing fiction. At http://www.gailmartin.blogspot.com/ , her blog is filled with her writing tips, her life and faith.


By Gail Gaymer Martin

Each day when I hear the mail truck, I hurry to the street, groping inside the mailbox for the stack of "junk" mail, bills, and hopefully, letters of acceptance. When the telephone rings, I hold my breath, wondering if it’s my agent with another sale. But too often, the telephone call is telemarketing and the publishing house letter in the mail is in the telltale brown envelope with an address label printed on my computer and know I have received a rejection.

Published or not, rejection is the way of life for a writer.

So often the rejection letters make statements like "This does not necessarily reflect on the quality of your work." Instinctively, our mental response is, "Oh sure, try to make me feel better." Even worse, it’s a form letter that says, "This does not meet our publishing needs." We long for one small comment, one tiny compliment or ray of hope. One thing I’ve learned as I’ve grown as a writer is to not let rejections upset me. I have learned to thank God for the acceptances I receive, remember that all things happen in His time, and make the most of the rejections.


Planning Ahead

Before a manuscript leaves my desk, I plan ahead. I pray that God blesses my writing, but I understand that a specific publisher may not choose to publish my work for a variety of reasons. Therefore, before I put the manuscript in the mail, I make a list of other publishing houses that might be interested in considering my romance or article. I place this information on a Post-It note and stick it to the page in my ledger where I keep track of each article. This page allows me to see at a glance when it was mailed, where the particular manuscript has been, and where it could be sent in the future.

As I date the rejection column in the ledger, I am optimistic, seeing the options I have available for the next submission. This process could easily be put into a computer program. No matter how we keep track, when we plan ahead, our writing will arrive more quickly on an editor’s desk— where we want it to be.

Rereading the Manuscript

When a manuscript is returned with a rejection, it has been with a publisher for a lengthy period. The time lapse gives us distance from the work, and we can reread the story with fresh eyes. What sounded wonderful a month or two (or a year) ago, now may strike us differently. Sometimes, a recent article or workshop may provide a new idea or approach. Writers are constantly learning something new. Perhaps the opening lacks the "grab" we thought it had, or we have a good opening, but pages later our work falls flat. Rereading our manuscripts, after a lapse of time, is a way to find weaknesses in our writing and to use rejection in a positive way.

Solidifying your Work

Often when preparing a manuscript for re-submission to a new publisher, we are faced with the issue of word count. A 75,000 novel will not be accepted by a new publisher who accepts only 50,000. The solution is solidifying the manuscript. Removing scenes, descriptions, dialogue from the piece is an excellent exercise for improving and tightening our writing. It forces us to find more precise language, to remove redundancy, and to scrutinize each scene in a story to make sure it moves the plot forward in an interesting way. Romances rejected in their longer version may be purchased quickly when submitted in the more crystallized, compact format. Rejection can provide a lesson.

Avoiding Delay

Not every rejected manuscript needs rewriting. Often when my work is returned, I reread it and remain confident and pleased that it is a well-written, well-plotted story. Within the next two days, the manuscript is on its way to another publisher. I have learned not to put it aside but act on it immediately. Waiting periods are long enough for writers as our work sits on editor’s desks. We do not want to delay the opportunity for publication any longer than necessary. The words we write for the Lord belong in the world, not in our computers.

In Jeremiah 30:2, the Lord tells us, Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. Our writing talent is a gift from God, and He asks we use it to His glory.

Receiving Unexpected Gifts

Sometimes rejections bring about unexpected rewards. A good rejection can give valuable pointers on improving our skills or our stories. An editor who takes an interest in our work will be receptive to seeing another manuscript.

Welcoming Rejection

We can learn to benefit from rejection by making it an exercise in perfection. God is perfect and He asks for our best. We can learn to welcome the rejections we receive, knowing that with each rejection we are one step closer to an acceptance, one step closer to perfecting our talent, and one step closer to glorifying God in the world.



"Amid the rich history of Mackinac Island, the power of faith and love is tested. When Neal Wellington is forced to seek help, Ninette Curvier comes to his rescue. Will her faith give him the strength to face his past? When Jane Douglas nurses "Mad" August Durant, her prayers change his life. Will his transformation last? Francine Woods finds love with Thomas Carlton. When mystery enters her life, will her faith and love stand the test? A stranded Alison Kessler is rescued by Jacob Randall. Although Alison resists his attentions, will that keep Jacob from rescuing her again? Can these four generations of women meet life's challenges on the shores of Mackinac Island? "