This can be a picture of a letter I’ve had pinned up on my house workplace Inspiration Board for years now. It represents the various encouraging-but-still-rejection letters I obtained over time once I was actively writing and submitting center grade novels. I’ve determined to submit it publicly as a result of I preserve studying posts from writers who’re contemplating giving up when their first or second e-book mss doesn’t promote.
Notice the date on the letter: years earlier than I obtained my first kids’s image e-book contract (when my editor Justin Chanda/Simon & Schuster found my artwork at an SCBWI convention in 2010). Additionally it is the yr earlier than the primary Harry Potter e-book got here out. Anyway, I finally ended up placing my Moonchild mss apart. I’ve written FOUR center grade mss which I ended up placing apart.
: I by no means despatched this out. After ending it, my husband learn it and marked his feedback. I ended up deciding it was horrible, was too embarrassed to ship out.
Youngsters’s e-book creator, Lee Wardlaw, was variety sufficient to critique this for me, and after my revisions she launched me to her superior agent, Ginger Knowlton. Ginger took me on as a shopper due to this mss! Sadly, it by no means offered and we ultimately determined to place it apart. The rejection letter you see on the high of this submit was for mss #2, which we despatched out over a number of years.
I solely lately found this forgotten mss whereas cleansing out an previous submitting cupboard. Regardless of the great critique from Lee (thanks once more, Lee!), I by no means did ship this out. I couldn’t keep in mind why till I noticed the date. Lower than two months later, our household suffered a horrible loss. The remainder of the yr was a blur of grief, and I didn’t take out this mss once more.
Regardless of more and more good rejection letters and one time once I thought “that is it! I’m truly going to be revealed!” and going via a revision course of with the editor, this mss ended up being rejected. I keep in mind once I advised my mom-in-law, she cried – she knew how excited I had been (I had carried out my crying earlier ). Additionally, although the editor ended up turning down my mss, I’m grateful for the time she took to work with me; it was a invaluable studying alternative and expertise.
I by no means ended up sending to my agent as a result of I might inform the bones weren’t robust sufficient. I could find yourself rewriting this sometime.
[Up to date
I by no means did find yourself ending the mss or submitting it, as a result of I used to be specializing in image books. Jen’s encouraging phrases got here the identical yr because the yr I signed my first image e-book contract with Justin Chanda / Simon & Schuster.
YES, I’m nervous. Excited, too. It has thriller and time journey parts, Japanese yokai and a touch of horror. 
Fingers crossed! Making an attempt very, very laborious NOT to consider the opportunity of yet one more e-book challenge getting rejected. As a substitute, I’m specializing in the enjoyment of storytelling, writing the very best story I presumably can. A lot is out of my management. What I can management: ending and revising, getting it critiqued, revising extra, sending it out….then beginning the following MG e-book challenge whereas I wait.
I’ll ALWAYS love creating image books, however I’ll by no means hand over my authentic dream of getting my center grade novels revealed. SOMEDAY. And if you happen to’re a fellow creator getting discouraged by rejections over time, please know that I’m rooting for you, too.
P.S. Looking back, I’m glad these early MG mss weren’t revealed. As delighted as I might have been, I’m a stronger author now, have learn many extra books, and have a deeper understanding of the craft and enterprise. Additionally, I like making image books!!!! However I’ve not given up on my authentic dream of getting my center grade novels revealed. Want me luck, eh?