The Best Rejection Letter

           

I’ve received more rejection letters from publishing houses than going on dates.  This kind of rejection isn’t about being dismissed. It’s the courtesy behind the elimination, the acknowledgement to my written words and the way my own creation was accepted.  Rejection letters are geared towards the respect of my dismissal and how I found the glory behind it.  Like most beginner authors, my writing has not been published, but the “Unfortunately this story blahblahblah”-style of generic cut-me-downs has grown to a size of considerable height deterring me from moving forward. I’ll recycle them soon enough.

Except for one. Just one.

Recently, my hands took courage to seal and deliver a short story. My feet, with fear, stepped towards the mail slot. Carefully, I placed my submission through the opening, waiting to hear it land gently with the other important pieces of mail to be delivered. After my hands released my creation, I walked away and waited as I was on my way to work.

Waiting is the worst part because of the anticipation for an answer that won't come anytime soon. The worry doesn't kick in because there's an optimistic possibility of gaining recognition and excellent opportunities through this field. Generally, it takes a few months to be properly jilted. Hopefully by then, you would have moved on. Shit, I know I would. A few months is too much time to waste on other people getting their organizational skills in order. Just read it, accept / deny it, and move on. Why the long haul? You have time to visit the restroom for 5 minutes, then bring it in there with you, and make your decision as you're drying your hands. One thing I want to say to you publishers is this, "Please don't leave us writers hanging. Put us out of our misery!" 

If the holy powers that be in the publishing house are nice, they’ll reject you within 2 weeks. That is, if they have a soul. During the first few weeks, there is calm and ease because the glimmer of hope that lives within nurtures your faith and whispers to your heart that they’re going to read and love it. The excitement remains, and that they will give you all the glory for submitting passion and art.

If you hear nothing in the 2nd month, chances are they don't think the submission sucks. They're actually considering your written work as worthy enough to be published and recognized. Your name could be printed, and you can totally buy every copy for your family, friends, and haters just to show them what goal has been accomplished. Of course, celebrations will be in order; someone may ask for a signature, your mother and father will beam at your talents and argue over which side of the family you got your talent from. Soon, I'd be considered among the favorite of my family, and get the long-awaited adulation from my friends and colleagues. 

Speaking of favorites, my favorite rejection letter came in a few weeks ago. It was really the brightest part of my day, and quite honestly, the most positive thing that has happened to me in all of October.  I collected the mail before walking into my humble apartment. I looked through all the stupid shit I have to pay for when my eyes noticed a lovely white envelope from one of the companies I mailed my short story to. Carefully, I opened the envelope and pulled out a letter that was attached to my story.

It wasn’t the ordinary, generic letter that is saved in a word document to print out hundreds of the same notes, sent to other writing hopefuls such as I. No, this letter was different.

It was hand-written.

A representative from the company wrote to say, in their neat penmanship lively adorned in blue ink, that my submission wasn’t what they were looking for, but they loved reading it nonetheless. Those inked words spread across the page making me realize the personality behind that pen. I felt the extended gesture of this person reaching out to me, thanking me for my time, congratulating me on making it to their desk and genuinely feeling terrible that my name wouldn’t appear with the company. There was sincerity behind this letter. There was authenticity in the letter.

There is something romantic about a handwritten letter. The simple act of taking the time to write your thoughts onto paper, conveying yourself to another person, letting them know that you have been thinking about them and had to share it. Having it signed, sealed and delivered to the object of affection, is the best way to share the love.

I have to thank this person for taking the five minutes to visit the restroom with my story, pen and pad in hand, to write out the best rejection letter I have ever received. I just hope they washed their hands first.