This is probably not the most exciting author beware letter I have posted to date, but it has been a while and I do think they are fun. Keep in mind, as always, that all typos are taken directly from the letter. (The letter writer's comments are in italics; mine follow in brackets.)
I knew the minute I saw my SASE that it was going to be a rejection and when I saw that you used recycled paper [BookEnds letterhead is on heavy recycled paper that actually resembles our blog; apparently that’s offensive] I was shocked. I recycle too [and she did here by handwriting this note on the rejection I sent].I use toilet paper rolls as hair rollers(no lie). [Hmmm, I’m not sure what to make of that random piece of information.] I never thought I would write a novel, but everyone suggested I do so, many even telling me to go directly to the publisher. I am overwhelmed by the process and after seeing what is being published I feel the only reason I'm being rejected is because I'm inexperienced.
—Jessica
8 comments:
Creepy!
It drives me crazy (although not enough to roll my hair with toilet paper rolls) the way these nut jobs give aspiring authors a bad name.
Definitely creepy. Why would anyone write a response like that following a rejection? Makes no sense, but Virginia Miss is right--it casts a bad light on the aspiring author, something all of us were at one (in my case LONG) point in our careers.
Thanks for the beauty tip. I already knew not to act like an idiot. It amazes me how uncommon common sense is.
I know that some writers do respond with bitterness and anger...I have responded back to agents before -- with 'thank you' notes for taking the time to consider my stuff.
Anyway, I just wanted to add my thanks here for answering my question the other day (about multiple pub houses)...I appreciate your thoughts, and I'm glad to realize that agents have a plan for such things. It'll be challenging, I suppose, if the unheard of happens and more than one is interested -- they're all 'big' houses (Dial, Knopf, and Carolrhoda).
Anyway, thanks again!
Toilet paper rolls for hair rollers? Very strange. Now I have a image in my mind of what this would look like. Oh...I'm not going to go there!
*sigh* why don't these people think before writing back. It's such a small field.
That last sentence sounds almost like a threat.
Definitely creepy and disconnected.
Wow - talk about crazy - was her novel written the same way or was it better? I'm just curious - because this definitely sounds like a fluke of a woman - no one I'd like to meet - E :)
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