The recent rains in Rhode Island flooded the basement of a friend of mine who lives there. Somehow she managed to escape the surging waters, overflowing streams, and flooded roads surrounding her farm, and drive down to visit me in Pennsylvania. When I asked her if she wanted to go out to dinner, she said, "No, let's just stay home and laugh about my basement." My friend wasn't being facetious. She just has the ability to laugh at things that don't go her way. I guess that's why I like to laugh at rejections. It's good therapy in a tough world, and some of them really are funny. You can read about my funniest rejections, but last night I got to thinking up more.
I once had twelve picture book manuscripts rejected in one hour, by telephone. That's an average of one rejection every five minutes – an all-time record! I've had manuscripts accepted in three days and others after 125 submissions. When I wrote a chapter book about my parakeet, Winky Blue, my editor at the time told me it was too slight for a book, and would make a better magazine article. But Mondo Publishing accepted it, and then asked for five more.
What is your funniest or most entertaining rejection? Please leave a comment and tell us about it! Then hopefully you'll soon be smiling about an acceptance.
