Today, I finally got a phone call from a publisher saying they would publish the book I'd written. I'd gotten loads of rejection letters, so I was so excited. Until I realized it was my dad, feeling sorry for me. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, I came home to find two letters from a publishing house that I'd submitted my manuscript to. The first was congratulatory, stating that my book had been accepted for publishing. The second was apologetic, stating that the first letter had been intended for someone else. FML
Today, I finally received the phone call I had been waiting on for years. The agency who is trying to approach my father in an attempt for me to get in contact with him called me with the news that they found him. Too bad he died about 25 years ago, so he can't consent with making himself known. FML
Today, after two years of hard work, I finished writing my novel dedicated to my father. I timed everything so that the paperback would arrive at his house just before Christmas, then I booked a flight to surprise him so I could see his reaction in person. He just texted me, my mom told him. FML
Today, I found out that the person sending me secret love letters was actually my dad, who felt sorry for me. FML
Today, I got a missed call from my dad, who hasn't talked to me in months and has vowed not to have anything to do with me. I called him back excitedly and apologized for missing his call, and we had a 20-second conversation about how his phone accidentally dialed my number. FML
Today, my dad texted me saying he had "big news." I immediately called, thrilled, because I assumed he meant that he finally found a job and that our money troubles were over. The "big news" was him being excited at seeing an actor from one TV show he likes in another TV show. FML
Today, my father called me for the first time in two weeks since I moved away. Excited, I answered the phone. It was a mistake. He thought he'd called my sister. FML
Today, I excitedly told my brother I submitted a short story for a competition for the first time ever. His reply? "Congrats. I guess the first letter of rejection is a special occasion." Gee, thanks for that reality check. FML
Today, I received a call from the company I applied to, only to have my father pick it up and make fun of the man's accent. They won't call me back or take any of my calls, and my dad is completely unapologetic. FML
Today, I found out that the creepy weirdo who's been sending me messages for a while is just my dad. His excuse was, "I wanted you to feel like someone would actually like you." FML
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Top comments
DragonText 4
Many famous people got rejected in the beginning, J.K. Rowling, Eminem, you just gotta keep it at it!
dinosxxrawr 22
that's sweet of your dad. someone will want publish your book! some of the best authors get rejected at least once.
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Comments (66)
Fedezzer 20
So many rejection letters and maybe we shouldn't be too sorry. Perhaps the book wasn't very good. Just saying.
kurodansei 16
You just had to be the guy ...
Comet_Candy 23
There's always one...
Fedezzer 20
Maybe the fact that there is always "that guy" shows there's a truth behind it. Maybe "that guy" is the only one without enough empathy to lie to people's faces.
limabeans101029 21
JK Rowling was rejected by 12 different publishers before she was successful- don't give up.
AshleyScruggs 14
What is your book about?
mattyiscool123 26
Just keep trying I know you could do it
krunchy_kitty 8
If you're sending your manuscript directly to publishers, you're wasting your time and postage. The big publishing houses and most of the smaller ones do not even glance at over-the-transom submissions. If you want to work with a traditional publisher you have to get a literary agent first. A great resource is the archives of the Miss Snark blog (an agent tells you the real scoop) -- no longer being updated but still very useful. Note that an agent will want to know that you've workshopped your ms in a writer's group, that you have some previous publishing credits, and that you have a platform (a newspaper column, a widely read blog) for promoting your book. If you don't have any of that, then yes, self-publishing is your best bet.
cmb8280 24
Aww, I
worldclassrager 41
Don't give up twilight was rejected fifteen times..,
misfortunate17 6
Aww, I know it sucked, but your father did a noble thing. Props to him for loving you.
DarthIronbat 5
John Green once said, "All writing is rewriting." You WILL get published eventually- ask for advice and feedback from the publishers, improve your story, and you'll get published.
Dsweetheart88 2
Sweet of him