Samhain Publishing Ltd Weblog

Rejections: It's Not You, It's Me

When you get right down to it, the submissions process isn’t that much different from the dating scene. We’re all putting ourselves out there, going on blind dates in the form of queries, testing the waters of the relationship through partials and fulls (will you still respect me if I admit I read fulls on the first date?) and hoping to find that special someone with whom we can share a lasting relationship. Of course, in the case of publishing we’re not exactly talking till death do us part (but check your contract for such clauses!). Most of us wouldn’t turn down a hot fling with the right author—and we’re clearly not talking about a monogamous relationship (heck, some of us are even into three or four at once—you know, for anthologies)—but overall I’d say editors are looking for long-term commitment. We want authors who are interested in building a career with us and who aren’t going to bail as soon as things get tough—or throw us over for a newer, hotter publisher.

So, like a romantic relationship, a strong author-editor relationship has to be built on a strong foundation—one of compatibility, shared values, mutual respect, and even passion. “It’s not you, it’s me” may be the biggest of all dating clichés, but that makes it apt for the submissions process as well, which is every bit as subjective and in which, truly, rejection is often as much about the editor as it is about the manuscript. The actual reasons we reject books are often diverse and varied, but here are some thoughts on rejections as illustrated by common dating clichés.

She’s just not that into you.
The number one reason I reject books is simply because I don’t love them enough. You’ve probably heard horror stories of the dreck you can find in slushpiles, but in the time I’ve worked for Samhain I’ve been very impressed by the quality of submissions we receive. I see a lot of well-written submissions, submissions that have fun premises and likable characters. But that isn’t always enough—we’re looking for books with that special something. At Samhain, we like to say it’s because they’re not “wowie-zowie”’; they don’t have that certain oomph that captures our imagination or engages us on a deeper level. They just aren’t submissions we feel strongly about. Sure, many of them are also imperfect—have problems with plot or character—but submissions that have the kind of magic we’re looking for are few and far between, and I know many of us have gone the extra mile for a story we fell head over heels for.

But she’s got a great personality.
They’re no denying editors have high standards. We’re looking for manuscripts that are the total package, that make us love the story, writing, characters, development, and that are largely free of typos and errors. But Samhain editors aren’t only into looks; we appreciate inner beauty. If we have a great submission that’s a little rough around the edges, we can give the author another chance by inviting them to revise and resubmit. It’s a way of extending the “dating” process, to further check compatibility between author and editor. Revise and resubmits aren’t ever a guarantee of a contract, but they’re a chance to see how authors respond to revision suggestions and whether there’s a shared vision for how the book needs to be edited.

Remember that authors, too, are allowed to have high standards. This process is just as much a chance for you to see if you click with the editor and publisher. It might be difficult to get a good feel for the relationship from request letters and contract offers, so don’t shy away from getting to know a potential editor—asking questions about editing philosophy, the company’s editing process and plans for the book—before you sign your contract.

Maybe we should take a break.
Relationships have their ups and downs, and the hard truth is that even in the best author-editor relationships, there may be books that aren’t working. Trust me, plenty of Samhain authors have been rejected by their editors. Which is why, if you’re really interested in a relationship with Samhain, it’s important to persevere. One or two or even more rejections doesn’t mean we’re not interested in working with you if the right project came along. Situation change, people change—sometimes you see an old acquaintance in a new light. As in dating, it’s flattering and attractive to know someone likes you enough to keep trying, and every book is a new opportunity.

There’s no chemistry.
Many editors know from the first few paragraphs—or even sentences—when a book is a rejection. I once knew as soon as I saw the hero’s name. Before you panic that I’m basing decisions on such insignificant details—or run off to do a Find and Replace for your own hero’s moniker—know that it wasn’t really about the name itself (which could easily have been changed if I’d loved the story and which was not truly my reason for rejecting it). The point is, sometimes editors know immediately—from the premise, from the writing, from a character name—that they and the author don’t share the same sensibility. That doesn’t make it a bad book or a stupid character name. It just means there’s no chemistry there. And you’re probably not going to find it very pleasant to work with someone who doesn’t appreciate your writing style, sense of humor, or even character names.

I don’t know how to be what you’re looking for.
In spite of all my editing experience, sometimes books have problems I don’t know how to fix. For a book I really love or an author I’ve had an ongoing relationship with, I might request some feedback from from another editor. But in some cases, if I can’t figure out how to make your book better, I’m not the right person to edit it. We all want to be loved for our best and worst selves, and editing has to be about both accenting strengths and overcoming weaknesses. Not every book or author’s weaknesses are a good match for every editor’s particular skill set.

I’ve got this friend who would be perfect for you!
At Samhain we make every effort to help great books succeed. We all have different tastes, different interests, different skill sets, and we all realize that not every book is the right match for every editor. Our fabulous administrative assistant keeps a detailed spreadsheet of our likes and dislikes to make sure we’re getting submissions that will have a fair shot with us, and it’s very common for editors to try to “set up” a great submission with another editor. Several of the authors I’ve signed to Samhain were originally submitted to another editor, and I was thrilled when they found their way to me.

I hope we can stay friends.
I think the most important—and sometimes most difficult—thing to remember about rejections is that they’re not personal. None of us take any joy in rejecting a book, and none of us mean anything personal by it. The queries I get seem to come from really interesting people, and I love working with authors, meeting them at conferences, and interacting with them online. Rejection only creates awkwardness if you let it, so don’t let a past rejection—or the fear of a future one—color your relationship with an editor, stop you from seeking out a networking contact, or prevent you sending another book.

You have to kiss a lot of frogs before you find your prince.
My favorite part of this job is helping authors make their books better, and I often wish that I could take every book that shows potential. But as wonderful as they are, committed relationships are hard, and the editing process can be grueling, even for books that are highly polished. It’s not something you want to share with someone you don’t enjoy working with or for a book you don’t wholeheartedly love. And just like love, none of us should have to settle for less. So as cliché as it is, when it comes to rejections, it’s really not you—it’s me, it’s the process, it’s the industry. But we’re all here because we believe in the power of happy endings, and we all know that love and success can come when you least suspect it. So don’t give up!

What’s your best advice on handing rejection—or dating? What questions do you have about Samhain’s “dating” process or anything else? It’s ask an editor day, so ask away!