Rejection is awkward. Whether it is you on the receiving end or you’re an innocent bystander watching someone else getting rejected, it can be downright uncomfortable. Writers are amongst the most rejected professionals out there and, while we know that rejection is a staple of our work and is ultimately inevitable, anticipating it doesn’t soften the blow (or ink in this case).
After Twitter account Letters of Note shared an incredibly awkward rejection letter dated all the way back to October 1928, it quickly made me want to go to my happy place far far away. When you read it, you’ll understand why.
Addressed to an individual referred to as Mr. F. C. Meyer, Australian-based publisher Angus & Robertson wrote a blistering response to Meyer’s request to publish his poetry and, if unwilling to, send him the names of other publishers.
They declined both requests. Here is the “winner” of all rejections.
All other rejection letters can step down. We have a winner. pic.twitter.com/dQijZsIgqL
— Letters of Note (@LettersOfNote) December 3, 2017
Nearly a century later and the response is still cringe-worthy. The good news is, according to Letters of Note, Meyer didn’t let the scathing rejection kill his hopes of publishing his work. He published a book of poetry in 2001.
Incredibly, it looks like F. C. Meyer didn’t give up after that punch to the guts. pic.twitter.com/V0fl8UiacT
— Letters of Note (@LettersOfNote) December 3, 2017
While his poetry wasn’t exactly raved about, everyone has their own measure of success. We do wonder what the Angus & Robertson publisher’s would say to that. Guess we’ll never know.
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