So, you got a query rejection.
Query rejection hurts. You’re putting your shiny new novel out into the world, just for people to say “no, thank you.” Here are some of the best ways to deal with a query rejection:
Breathe, then think it over
Don’t say anything you can’t unsay
Take constructive criticism into account
Remember it’s not the end!
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Assuming you’re going the traditional publishing route, a query rejection is in your future. You might have already gotten one, or dozens. How do you cope when someone doesn’t love your brainchild as much as you do?
#1 – Take a Step Back, Breathe, and Think it Through
It takes time to process negative feelings. Your work was rejected; of course you’re going to feel bad. But before leaping into action or a frenzied Twitter thread (which you shouldn’t do anyway, but more on that later), try to process what this rejection really means.
While a query rejection may feel personal, it actually isn’t. At the end of the day, publishing is a business. Agents are looking for projects they can sell. Depending on what the agent says in their response, it all boils down to whether they: a) can connect to your project, and b) can sell your project.
Sometimes, it’s because the writing sample isn’t up to par. To a literary agent, time is money. If a project lands on their desk that’s got a great concept, is well written, and maybe only needs a few tweaks before it can be submitted to editors, they could be more likely to offer representation. If they receive a manuscript that they know will take a long time to fix, they may be a little more skeptical and hesitant.
Sometimes, the agent just couldn’t connect to your story. Whether it’s your main character, your concept, or anything in between, it just didn’t click. And that’s perfectly alright.
An agent’s goal isn’t to make you feel bad about your story. A rejection from them doesn’t mean you aren’t good enough, or that your story has no merit. It just means that you need to find someone who connects with your work and sees its true potential.
#2 – Don’t Say Anything You Can’t Unsay
Remember what I said about frenzied Twitter threads? And how you shouldn’t do them? I meant it.
I’m pretty active in the writing Twitter community, and every so often, trolls pop up in the popular querying or MSWL hashtags, bashing agents and insisting that writers shouldn’t waste their time with Ms. X, Mr. Y, or Mx. Z.
Don’t be one of those trolls.
I get that frustration needs to be vented sometimes. But this kind of frustration should be vented privately, to trusted friends or critique partners. Not the Internet. And especially not the agent who rejected you.
Sometimes agents tweet about someone who responded to one of their rejections with rudeness and vitriol. You don’t want to be the one they’re subtweeting. Aside from the fact that being rude is… well… rude, agents talk. They often receive the same queries, and a lot of agents are good friends. So if one gets a rude response in their inbox, they might tip their friend off.
Basically, don’t be mean. Accept your rejection with civility. You can vent to your friends, but it isn’t wise or nice to bash anyone online or in an email.
#3 – Take Constructive Criticism into Account
If you’re getting similar feedback from multiple agents, maybe it’s time you readdress what’s working or not working in your story. If all the agents you query say that it feels like you’re starting in the wrong place, try to rewrite your beginning closer to (or farther from) the inciting incident.
The feedback you get could be positive criticism, e.g., “your writing is strong but I couldn’t connect to the main character,” or negative criticism, e.g., “your main character doesn’t seem to have a goal.”
At this point, if you haven’t run your story by beta readers or critique partners, you should. They might be able to see potential fixes for your novel that you can’t. An outside perspective could be beneficial for you.
Fixes for your story might include rewriting huge chunks of your novel. That’s scary, but it’s completely normal for stories to go through many drafts before they hit an agent or editor’s desk, let alone bookshelves.
#4 – Remember: A Query Rejection is Not the End of the World, Or Your Career
I once likened querying a novel to taking your toddler to a preschool and having the teacher reject them. A novel is not a baby, though. It’s a product of your mind and your work, but it is not a physical child. It can take a rejection or seventy.
But still. It hurts. As much as it might feel like your baby is being shunned, a query rejection from an agent is not a reflection on you, your skill, or your hard work. It could just be a matter of timing. It could be that your manuscript is too similar to what the agent already represents. You could never know. But don’t give up.
It takes many writers years to get an agent. It often takes them at least one or two novels to get representation. I advise you not to be discouraged. Your career is a long one, and sometimes it takes a while to get started. Keep trying. Keep writing novels. Find a critique partner. Read often. Keep perfecting your craft. Keep querying. It will only help you in the long run.
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