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It's a shame publishers send rejection slips. Writers…

“It's a shame publishers send rejection slips. Writers should get something more substantial than a slip that amounts to a pile of confetti. Publishers should send something heavier. Editors should send out rejection bricks, so at the end of a lot of years, you would have something to show besides…” quote by Jerry Spinelli
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“It's a shame publishers send rejection slips. Writers should get something more substantial than a slip that amounts to a pile of confetti. Publishers should send something heavier. Editors should send out rejection bricks, so at the end of a lot of years, you would have something to show besides a wheelbarrow of rejection slips. Instead you could have enough bricks to build a house.”

Jerry Spinelli

About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Writers often receive trivial rejections, leaving them with nothing tangible to mark their effort.

In simple terms: Rejection notes feel insubstantial and unhelpful.

Key Takeaway

Seek meaningful feedback instead of empty refusals.

Themes

creativity resilience feedback

Mood

frustrated hopeful

Type

advice motivational

When to use this quote

  • author submissions
  • career development
  • personal growth
  • literary workshops

Key Concepts

validation psychology motivation

Questions to Reflect On

  • How could constructive criticism be delivered more constructively?
  • What tangible support would help writers persist?
A Different Perspective

A brick metaphor may oversimplify complex editorial decisions.

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