I feel official

[annathepiper]

I just made myself a folder to be the storage place for my rejection letters. There are three in it right now--the one I got from an agent and the two from Tor. A meager assortment, to be sure, compared to the many hard-won rejections assembled by writers who have been at this longer than I have.

But in an odd way, it makes me feel kind of official and vindicated to have these together in a single place. Which is an odd thing to say about a collection of rejection letters, and yet, it's a kind of tangible proof of my writing efforts. It's something to which I can point and say, "Look, this says I've been trying to make this real." One could also argue that it says that I haven't succeeded yet; that, however, doesn't seem to be factoring into my reactions right now. Even a scant week after having gotten my latest rejection to add to the file.

Being a writer is weird. :)

Comments

[crazyzim.livejournal.com]

you don't know me, but i read your post on my friends-of-friends page...

when my brother was applying to grad schools, he collected his rejection letters and made a collage of them on his wall ;-)

[annathepiper]

Greetings! And yeah, I have heard tell of others who have done something similar. Me, I'm happy to just have them in a file. Makes it easier to take the whole sheaf of them and shred them once I actually manage to sell a manuscript. ;) Plus, it prevents me putting holes in my wall!

[crazyzim.livejournal.com]

hahaha. well lots of luck with the writing!! and let me know what to look out for when you sell one!

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

Is yourfolder titled, "Rejection Letters--the fools, the fools!" like mine is?

[annathepiper]

No, but only because a) I didn't think of it, and b) there wasn't room for that on the little tab thingie that goes along the side. ;)

[annathepiper]

Thank you kindly, and rest assured, if I sell something it'll be all over this journal. (I write fantasy at the moment, though I have a couple of science fiction ideas lined up in my queue of things to write, as well.)

[neutronjockey.livejournal.com]

But what if you like and actually respect the people who are rejecting you? Or is that not keeping with writer-tradition?
-=Jeff=-

[mamishka.livejournal.com]

I recall some famous writer (Heinlein??) papered a whole room with his rejection letters. ;)

[annathepiper]

*grin* I've heard tell of such things; me, I just want them all in the same place. For ease of destruction later, and cackling "VENGEANCE IS MINE" when I actually sell a book--

Ahem. Er. Did I say that out loud?

[annathepiper]

Maybe Kit wrote "The fools, the fools!" with her affectionate shiny glitter pen? :)