Seeing the Bright Side of Rejection

By Lori Domingo @loridomingo22

To say that I was beyond excited to be nearing the finish line of my MFA program would be an understatement. I had in my hands a completed, full-length novel – my first in my genre of choice, Christian fiction. Part of the requirements for one of my classes was to research a favorite author in the genre so I’d chosen Catherine West. Armed with my information on the literary agency that represented her, alongside the positive feedback I’d received over the course of my three thesis classes, I was eager to send out my first query in hopes of securing an agent. Sure, I could have started with a smaller agency or a publishing house that didn’t require agency representation, but I figured I might as well take a step of faith and go right for a big one.

I clearly remember sitting with my finger poised over the “submit” button for what seemed like forever before finally gathering up the courage to hit it. I finally did – and in an instant, my first query was gone, and the waiting game began. I knew it could take sixty days to receive and answer, if one came at all, so I did my best to “forget” about it. It took less than a week for the response to arrive.

I opened the agent’s email (once I got over the shock of hearing back from her so soon), and was filled with hope by her opening sentence: “Thank you so much for writing me regarding LIGHT OF GRACE. I like your book idea and I think it has potential.”  Excitement flowed through me the likes of which I’d never known. Could this really be my chance?  The chance I’d dreamed of since I was fifteen years old?  My heart fell, however, as I read her next words: “I wish I could pursue representation, but unfortunately the large publishers with whom I work require a more fully-developed platform.”  Discouragement washed over me – a fully-developed author platform was the one thing I didn’t have.

While I was aware of the platform and had all the pieces in place, I honestly had no idea what to do to foster growth. True to my nature, I immediately wanted to just give up because it all seemed overwhelming. It was in that moment, however, that I felt God tapping me on the shoulder, encouraging me to keep on reading. The agent went on to say that I needed to take a year and work on growing my social media presence. In my head, I was hearing, “Yeah, right – and just how do I do that?”

I believe God used her last words to me to open my eyes to the positive side of this agent’s rejection: “I would advise taking another year or so to share your message and serve others while building your social media numbers, at which time you could have a shot at a major publisher.”  As I read those words through my tears, I realized that in her rejection, she had given me words of encouragement to keep me moving forward. A calm came over me, along with a new sense of determination. I wasn’t ready to give up on “Light of Grace.”

I share this story in hopes that it will encourage my fellow writers – especially those who, like me, are “new” to the world of being an author. Rejection will come – and it’s a tough pill to swallow – but look behind the negative and I bet you’ll find the positive hiding there. Never give up on your dream!

Lori Domingo is a multiple award-winning Christian/Inspirational Fiction author, whose most recent devotional piece, “Seen,” received an Honorable Mention in the 91st Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competition’s Inspirational Category. Lori earned my MFA in Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University in April, 2023. Lori currently resides in the Tampa, Florida area with her spunky eighty-four-year-old dad.  Visit Lori at: https://loridomingo.com/ , on Twitter @loridomingo22 , or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LoriADomingo