Then, when i get one back in the mail, i know instantly that i’ve been rejected, but i also get to open a cool envelope and possibly get a personalized message inside it. yes, it’s neurotic, but if you’re going to be neurotic about rejections, you should at least be able to make it work for you.

AndrewN @ 3, I promise you that not all publishing rejections come with a letter that is nice. Also, if you get the writing rejection, you don’t get a first pay check, much less a last one, at least not from that particular editor for that particular piece.

I understand the practicality of not getting bogged down in years of revisions, but I know my first drafts aren’t good enough to publish.

I followed the “I was not” link, everything there should be mandatory reading at high school. It applies to all writing where you need clear communication, except blog comments. I learnt to rewrite everything two or three times – emails, papers, letters – to cut out the irrelevant and tighten up the language. It has served me well in my career.

Rejection in a business communication does not come with a nice letter, it comes in the form of your last pay check.

I’m currently sitting on a manuscript I’ve gotten a lot of good feedback on, wrote (I think) a kicking query letter for and even have an agent in mind to submit it to, but I’m pathologically incapable of completing the synopsis so I can send it off.

I feel like a little kid on the edge of a swimming pool and everyone who loves me is standing there yelling “jump in, it’ll be OK!” while I stand there shivering. I want to swim, I really do, but my feet… won’t… move.
It’s demented.