Sherry Alexander Writes
  • Welcome
  • About
  • Blog
  • MY Books for Children and Tweens
  • Inspiration
  • Contact me

My Journey as a Writer

See where it takes me.

MY BOOKS ON AMAZON

What? You didn't like my story?

8/17/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
Every writer sends out their manuscripts with the hope that good news will soon follow. However, more often than not, instead of an acceptance letter, they get a rejection. That's when writers say, "What? You didn't like my story?", and it is quickly followed by "Why?"

Now, I've had my share of rejections. In fact, for my first book--The Home Day Care Handbook, I had so many I could have papered my bedroom. Of course, with each one I asked the what and why questions. I did it for at least the first 15, then I started asking myself why. Why didn't the publisher like it? Why wasn't it a good fit?  

I knew the manuscript was formatted correctly, and it was checked and rechecked for punctuation, grammar, and spelling. In addition, all the facts, recipes, age appropriate activities, and record keeping suggestions were tried and true. Plus, there were no other books like it in the market place and the subject (home daycare) was an up and coming new business. So if it wasn't the material or the manuscript, what was it? Could it be my choice of possible publishers? In a word, YEP!

Instead of narrowing my selection of publishers to approach, I followed the advice of another writer and "shotgunned" my queries. What's that? It is firing off multiple queries to multiple publishers at the same time just like the small pellets in buck shot. My only criteria was choosing publishers who asked for self-help books.  Lesson learned. I went back to the drawing board, so to speak, meaning the Writer's Market. I was more selective. I sent for catalogs. And, when I had a handful of possible candidates, I went to the library and checked out all the books they published in the proceeding two years. My list quickly whittled down to two publishers. That's two queries, not seventy. The response? Both asked for the full manuscript to review, and one offered a contract.

Now that I am writing again, I am remembering that lesson to choose wisely. So that is my reminder for this week, take time to analyze possible publishers to make sure your book is a good fit. And, if you get a rejection, review your manuscript and your choices. Finally, don't let a rejection throw you from your goal. Pick yourself up, dust off your derriere, and get busy! There's a reader out there waiting, and the last thing you want to do is keep them waiting.




0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Sherry Alexander

    Dreamer, believer, reader, writer

    Archives

    March 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    Death
    Grief
    Inspiration
    Writing

    RSS Feed


    Visit Book Blogs
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
Photos used under Creative Commons from One Way Stock, frankieleon
✕