This week I received three rejection letters from literary agents. Each one was polite and professional. Each one reminded me of two lines from the movie You’ve Got Mail.
“You are what you read.” — Kathleen Kelly, You’ve Got Mail (1998)
“It’s not personal, it’s business.” — Joe Fox, You’ve Got Mail (1998)
As writers, the books we have loved shape the stories we tell. They influence our voice, our heart, and our craft. That is why rejection can feel so personal. It is our words and our vision on the page.
But publishing is also a business. Agents make decisions based on timing, the market, and fit. A no does not mean your story has no value. It simply means it is not the right match right now.
Three No’s Mean Three Steps Forward
I could see three rejections in a week as a setback. Instead, I see them as proof that I am making progress.
Three attempts mean I am actively pursuing my goal.
Three passes mean my work is being seen by professionals.
Three opportunities mean I have more chances to revise, strengthen, and try again.
One agent even encouraged me to resubmit after a significant revision. That tells me the door is still open and I just need to find the right key.
A Note to New Authors and to Myself
If you are in the query trenches, remember that rejection is not the end of your story. It is part of the process that will lead you to the yes you have been waiting for.
So I will keep revising.
I will keep sending.
I will keep believing.Because one day my inbox will hold the yes that makes every no worth it.
What about you? How do you bounce back after rejection? Share your thoughts in the comments. Your words might be exactly what another author needs to read today.
#WritersOfLinkedIn #WritingCommunity #AuthorLife #PublishingJourney #AmWriting #KidLit #ResilientAuthor #Storytelling #QueryingAuthors #KeepGoing
