For some reason, Literary Rejections on Display got me thinking about the worst rejection I’ve ever received. Most editors have been polite to me and I’ve never had my work overtly insulted. But one day, I received back a Self Addressed Stamped Envelope that I sent as part of a submission to an agent. Inside there was nothing but a ripped up piece of paper. Pulling it out, I realized it was part of the cover letter I had sent with my submission. The agent had torn a scrap off the bottom of my cover letter and written in blunt pencil: I understand, Joy. But no thanks.

I guess it was a kind of recycling?