Thursday, June 15, 2006

Rejection Handling. I bet Ted Turner didn't get one!

I think I've heard of this before but it deserves repeating:
Lulu.com is offering authors whose work has met similar rejection the chance to put it behind them... by printing their rejection letters onto rolls of customized toilet paper.

For this I'll even forgo my 'no quoting' rule and quote Sir Winston Churchill just as Lulu has:
Dear Sir, I am in the smallest room of the house. I have your letter before me. Soon it will be behind me.

For some reason though, I get the feeling Ted Turner never got a rejection letter when he tried to publish his memoirs:
Turner, the outspoken yachtsman, philanthropist, CNN founder and ex-husband of actress Jane Fonda, is writing his memoirs, "Call Me Ted: The Life and Times of Ted Turner," to be published by Warner Books in fall 2008.

Please pay close attention to the publishing company, that would be Warner Books. I guess it helps to have owned the publishing company (Time Warner owned Warner books until recently)...

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13 comments:

Anonymous said...

And I'm not so sure Ted even wrote his own memoirs. I won't be reading them ;)

Anonymous said...

I'm sure there are a lot of 'names' who, not only never recive a rejection, but who didn't even need to send out a three plus synopsis. I read recently that Katie Price has been contacted by a publishing house with an offer to write 4 novels for a £500,000 advance. The woman's a glamour model, not an author!

Melly said...

LOL Benjamin, but I never even entertained the thought, actually both of them: Ted writing his memoirs - yeah right! and reading it - you made me laugh!
Perhaps he's looking for a ghost writer???

Jennifer, that so counts!

Sharon, 4 novels??? Where did they get that fine idea from?

Flood said...

It's so frustrating, but I comfort myself with the thought that Ted's book will be on the remainder table in time for Christmas '09.

Anonymous said...

Celebrities definitely have their perks, don't they? A glamour model writing 4 novels . . . well, Vanna turned out to be smarter than she looked. If they flop, they can join the remainder table along with Ted's book. :)

Flood said...

Another.

"They offered a huge deal and I like the idea of seeing my book on a shelf. The plot's top secret so far but let's just say I have a wild imagination."

:eye roll:

Melly said...

Flood, I still think it would be nice to have a novel on the remainder table, whine.

Deborah, I don't make assumptions regarding the brains of any beauty (although I do think Orlando Bloom isn't that smart...). It's not what irks me. What does is that they contacted her becuase she would actually sell, and she would sell because that's who we are as a society.

I'm all gigly and giddy inside, Flood. oooo, good fer her (can you read that last in a real annoying voice?)

Anonymous said...

. . . they contacted her becuase she would actually sell, and she would sell because that's who we are as a society.

How very true. :(

Flood said...

One more note: On June 26, I will be posting an interview with a Lulu.com author. While I understand and agree with detractors for POD, my subject's reasons for going that route are rather moving.

We have to remember that people write for different reasons, and it may not always be to get their message to a huge group of people.

Still, I doubt Ted is being altruistic. I wonder what he feels he has to say that would benefit us?

ps Do you mind if I post 15 times to one entry here? You often give me a lot to think about and I feel the need to respond as I consider your post throughout the day.

Anonymous said...

Oh no Deborah, only :)
Didn't mean to... sorry.

Flood, I so don't mind. In fact, it's quite refreshing. We've all been blogging for a while, so your fresh spirit is... well.. refreshing. Did I say that already? :)
And your comments are always very interesting. So by all means. I take it as a compliment and thank you :)
I'll be sure to catch that interview btw.

Anonymous said...

No offense taken. :) Our society has been conditioned to judge by appearances and status, and the marketers know it. Brains and hard work don't mean squat.

It's hard not to be jealous and resentful of this woman, who has put in zero hours on her novel and managed to gain not one sale but four. And all because she's a sexy TV star. Even worse, she'll make millions while we'll be lucky to get a paltry $5,000.

Anonymous said...

Melly-

This post struck me funny. I've stopped collecting my rejection notices. Too many. The walls in my closet are covered. I so like the toilet paper thing. What a brilliant idea. As was the Churchill quote.
Have a great weekend.

~Michael

Melly said...

Deborah, well aren't these just universal truths?

I'm glad you enjoyed the post, Michael. It was indeed meant to be light and funny :)