I know many of us are nervous about getting that first big rejection letter when submitting our work, and I happened across a great place to get that first ugly rejection letter safely out of the way: The Journal of Universal Rejection. Although founded primarily as a research journal, the submission guidelines clearly state that they accept any kind of manuscript, be it poetry, prose, research, or even visual art. Your work will be quickly considered and then rejected, usually within hours!
As a former mathematician and current terrified writer with a near-complete manuscript, I couldn't help but pass this one along.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Well, at least they don't charge anything for the service.
Posted by micmcd (Member # 7977) on :
And replies in under an hour! Can you believe it?
So many people here have complained that agents don't get back to them and do a "silent rejection." Not at the JoUR!
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
Looking back on it, the first big rejection letter wasn't that big...mostly, it matched the next thousand or so. I've still got it somewhere...I think it's in the filing cabinet right behind me, but I haven't looked in that thing in a few years...
Posted by MartinV (Member # 5512) on :
That's funny.
Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
Sounds humorous but since I've gotten a rejection back from the big guy John Joseph Adams in one hour this one would be lame. Or some such.
Posted by coralm (Member # 9274) on :
I'm so terrified to get my first rejection. I wonder if I should just do it. Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :
Indeed you should. It's really not that bad. I expected it so it came as no surprise. Even the vast majority of the Pros got one the first time out. And the second time and the third time etc..
It can be hard to think about but you would be in a good club. You would be in two. Those that got rejections and those that have actually sent out a manuscript ,very few people have done that.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Consider how much worse it would be to sell the first thing you send out. Then your first rejection would be even more painful, I would think.
Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
Just send it out! send it out!
Rejection ain't just a river in Egypt...
The road to heck is paved with good rejections...
Posted by Grayson Morris (Member # 9285) on :
Oh, and I was so hoping that was the road to wealth and fame......
I should be receiving my first rejection any day now, from Daily Science Fiction. (Submitted last Friday, amid much gasping and choking and trembling above the "submit" button.)
Posted by EVOC (Member # 9381) on :
If nothing else the website gave me a good laugh.
Posted by Nick T (Member # 8052) on :
I wonder if they're looking for slush readers? It sure would be nice to be on the other side of the fence for once.
Posted by micmcd (Member # 7977) on :
You could apply for a position as a reader... though I have a suspicion as to what happens to any applications sent in.
Posted by Reziac (Member # 9345) on :
Now that would be the ultimate -- to get rejected as a slush reader!
