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Post by skyfire on Mar 6, 2010 17:36:04 GMT -5
Spotted this in the most recent issue of Writer's Digest, and I think some of you here might like it.
As a part of their "Inkwell" section, the magazine has proposed something called "Reject a Hit."
You have 400 words or less to write a rejection letter for a book that would ultimately go on to become a hit. They aren't going to pay anything (it's for fun), but some of the letters sent in to them will get published in subsequent issues.
You submit by putting your letter in an e-mail; it'll go to wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com and the phrase "InkWell: Reject a Hit" has to be in the topic line.
I'm definitely going to do Twilight (et al) later this evening, and I might hit the Harry Potter franchise as well.
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Post by SimSim on Mar 6, 2010 17:53:57 GMT -5
You should go for something difficult, like a well regarded classic. No work is without it's flaws.
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Post by yojetak on Mar 6, 2010 18:56:11 GMT -5
You should go for something difficult, like a well regarded classic. No work is without it's flaws. Yeah I think it'd be much funnier to do something that hasn't had such a terrible backlash. Pick one that's well loved by everyone. |
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Post by davedan on Mar 6, 2010 19:22:02 GMT -5
I would have thought Joyce's Ullyses would be an easy mark.
Catch 22 was actually rejected at one stage (and there is a story that originally it was Catch 21).
Catcher in the Rye has actually been bagged by a number of people before and is topical considering the death of JD.
The Satanic Verses would be easy but more difficult if you had to not mention religious contraversy.
Personally I think you should do it for one that you really love. For me that would be something like Catch 22, The Great Gatsby, Bliss, The Name of the Rose, Focoult's Pendulum, The Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough, Harry Potter etc
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Post by skyfire on Mar 6, 2010 22:12:07 GMT -5
You should go for something difficult, like a well regarded classic. No work is without it's flaws. The sample they did was one for Dracula. |
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Post by John E on Mar 6, 2010 22:43:59 GMT -5
I've read some scathing reviews of Lord of the Rings, and they made some damn fine points.
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Post by DeadpanDoubter on Mar 6, 2010 23:40:24 GMT -5
You should go for something difficult, like a well regarded classic. No work is without it's flaws. The sample they did was one for Dracula. ...wait, that's not a classic? Don't kill me, don't kill me. I second the Harry Potter/something that really interests you suggestions. I personally loved all of the books, but there were such gaping holes from the very first book. >.> |
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Post by Art Vandelay on Mar 6, 2010 23:48:15 GMT -5
I'd say the bible would be a great one to do.
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Post by yojetak on Mar 7, 2010 0:17:38 GMT -5
I'd say the bible would be a great one to do. the mormon bible! /obvious |
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apedant
Full Member
Over himself, over his body and soul, the individual is sovereign--J S Mill.
Posts: 139
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Post by apedant on Mar 7, 2010 19:15:06 GMT -5
I second the Harry Potter/something that really interests you suggestions. I personally loved all of the books, but there were such gaping holes from the very first book. >.> I believe JK rowling has 13 of the real things, before she found her publisher. In fact I think most of the greats have had difficulty getting published. |
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Post by MaybeNever on Mar 12, 2010 22:36:33 GMT -5
First books from unknown authors tend to get rejected a TREMENDOUS amount. This probably wouldn't be too hard to do - the rejection letter would look just like any other!
My dad's been trying to publish for like five years, and has a mountain of rejection letters. These days he just sends in a manuscript with a note reading "dear assface, I look forward to reading your insipid rejection letter". I'm not sure he's really trying anymore.
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