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.