For the authors who can’t take “no”.

Every so often I get letters from authors who think their work is better than everyone else’s, and that a rejection means that a) I haven’t read it, or b) I have read it, but I must read it again to appreciate its wondrous quality.

Of course I can’t say “Look, I’m sorry, but your work is substandard”, as much as I’d like to sometimes. But, what I can do is give that author two pages stating precisely what they need to do: leave it, and try somewhere else. I don’t just disregard submissions – I do read them all – but, by and large, the chances aren’t great. We take ten from eight hundred. Repeat: 10 out of 800. Likewise, because there are so many submissions, it’s likely the author will get a standard rejection letter.

If you get one of the two page letters from me, read it carefully. It’s the best advice I can give to you and, if your work and attitude are poor, sometimes the most attention you’ll ever get from a busy industry that doesn’t like whiners, bullshitters, or people who can’t take “no” for an answer.