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Gertrude Stein Exasperated Editor's Hilarious Rejection Letter

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First Posted: 02/07/11 04:55 PM ET Updated: 05/25/11 07:30 PM ET

marbury.typepad.com:

This is a letter sent to Gertrude Stein by her exasperated editor, who had just ploughed his way through (or not) one of her rambling manuscripts (here's a reminder of her high style):

Read the whole story: marbury.typepad.com

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This is a letter sent to Gertrude Stein by her exasperated editor, who had just ploughed his way through (or not) one of her rambling manuscripts (here's a reminder of her high style):...
This is a letter sent to Gertrude Stein by her exasperated editor, who had just ploughed his way through (or not) one of her rambling manuscripts (here's a reminder of her high style):...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Andra Claudia Garcia
Avant-Garde Journalist
10:10 PM on 02/08/2011
This would be a great letter

Dear Whomever,

NO

Thank You,
Rejector
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Nutcase
Of, By and For - Elsewhere known as Psycho MD
03:55 PM on 02/08/2011
It seems he was intent on trying to destroy the ego of the author and thought he was doing it in a humorous way. So, he understood neither writing or humor.
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Nutcase
Of, By and For - Elsewhere known as Psycho MD
03:56 PM on 02/08/2011
nor
01:12 PM on 02/08/2011
I remember hearing about the following rejection letter -- a short two sentences -- although I do not know who it was from or to whom it was sent:

"Thanks for your submission. I will waste no time in reading it."
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Derek Lantin
Writer.
05:59 AM on 02/08/2011
At least the Late Mr. Fifield had a sense of humor!
It is nice to see some humorous comments on this (awful) subject....the torture by rejection that is meted out by literary agents is quite undescribable.
My first two novels were, actually, not bad books, In both cases, I sent details and a professionally prepared "Query Letter" to every appropriate agent I could find.
The rejection slips arrived like confetti for both books.
It is amazing how rude the Literary Agents can be, especially as they are dealing with people who have labored long and hard to produce something. Most of the agents clearly had not even bothered to read the query letter, many did not reply at all, and the remainder send standard rejection slips. The effect of this torture by rejection has a life-sapping effect on one's morale..
Fortunately, my third novel ("Come here and I'll Show You") was snapped up by an agent quite early on in the process and the torture was short-lived.
I hope (pray) that my next book will be equally lucky!
Sincerely, Derek Lantin. http://dereklantin.booksabuzz.com
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04:13 AM on 02/08/2011
It certainly tops the heavily perfumed slip I once got from Gordon Lish!