Book Review
“Recipes and Rejection” by Karen Cecilia [Book Review]
Recipes and Rejection, the recently published book by playwright and performer Karen Cecilia, explores the topic of rejection.

Recipes and Rejection, the recently published book by playwright and performer Karen Cecilia, who also plays the theremin, explores the topic of rejection, i.e., the stinging slap to the ego engendered by the negative response known as a rejection letter.
Based on the 100 examples included in the book, rejections reflect a mixture of patterns that seem to come from standardized templates. Some cite the vast number of submissions – an anemic attempt to lessen the impact of the blow, while others include an invitation to resubmit in the future, implying a semblance of hope. Then there are the rejections that say your submission “does not meet our editorial needs,” akin to blowing smoke in your face.
Some rejections are so homogenous they don’t even acknowledge you as a person and are addressed to “Dear Playwright,” or the absolute worst – “Hello.”
Whatever form the rejection takes, all are sterile and crushingly impersonal, although admittedly, a few do make a passing effort to be kind. Of course, in the end, no matter how many bows and ribbons it’s wrapped in, it’s still rejection.
One of the most blunt rejections – like ripping off the bandage – Karen Cecilia received reads thus:
Hi Karen –
Appreciate your thinking of us for this one, but I’m afraid we aren’t going to use it.
Best,
Occasionally, the rejection is more personal and reveals that the submission was read, such as the one below. However, the meager feeling of appreciation evoked by the revelation is quickly dispersed by an offer of “script coverage service,” a service for which, undoubtedly, a fee must be paid. The artful insinuation is that if you took advantage of our paid services, your stuff might come up to snuff.
Dear Karen,
Thank you for submitting A Simple Girl From Munich to our office for consideration, and apologies for the delay in getting back to you! It was a pleasure to be introduced to your work. The dream sequences you created were quite clear, which led to a striking contrast with Eva’s reality. We also enjoyed the family dynamic you created, which led us to sympathize with Eva. Unfortunately, after discussing the piece with Ken we have decided that the project isn’t quite right for us at this time. We will keep your script and information on file and your submission will certainly be considered for potential future readings should they open up.
Additionally, if you would like further feedback on your project, we also offer a script coverage service that you can find out more about at http://www.davenporttheatrical.com/script-coverage/
I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors.
All the best,
It is enlightening to note that the play under consideration in the previous rejection, A Simple Girl From Munich, Eva Braun, went on to win the Walter Prichard Prize for Playwriting Excellence at Hunter College.
Cecilia injects a sense of, often humorous, intimate compassion with recipes designed to mitigate the wounding sensation brought on by rejection.
Gary Haig’s recipe, entitled THE OUT-OF-WORK ROCKSTAR is not only exactly what the patient needs but also wonderfully analgesic:
RECIPE #3
THE OUT-OF-WORK ROCKSTAR
Half vodka
Half Coke (not that kinda coke – the soda kind).
Grab a receptacle that’s as clean as you can manage. Throw in one single ice cube. Don’t use any more and waste precious space in the drink. Mix both liquids. Half one, half the other. Vodka is cheap and available anywhere and the coke will give you energy on the days when you don’t feel like doing anything. Drink like you’re not getting gigs anymore.
Rejection always hurts, whether from a literary submission, a job interview, or a romance. It means a lack of approval and an absence of acceptance. It can lead to anger, anxiety, depression, jealousy, and sadness.
Yet it can also stimulate creativity, determination, and success, as witnessed by Karen Cecilia’s resume which goes on and on with awards and productions. Indeed, she is bringing a show, TIMESTAMP, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this year.
Essentially, there are two ways to handle rejection. First, as Neil Gaiman famously said, “The best reaction to a rejection slip is a sort of wild-eyed madness, an evil grin, and sitting yourself in front of the keyboard muttering ‘Okay, you bastards. Try rejecting this!’ and then writing something so unbelievably brilliant that all other writers will disembowel themselves with their pens upon reading it because there’s nothing left to write.”
Or, second, stop writing and get a real job. Either path one chooses is made a little bit easier by the recipes in Recipes And Rejection.
Karen Cecilia’s Recipes And Rejection: 100 of the best worst rejection letters as a playwright & recipes from fellow artists to self-soothe is available on Amazon.
Author: Karen Cecilia
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: March 23, 2024
Format/Length: 138 Pages, Paperback
ASIN: B0CYXSRFKV
ISBN-13: 979-8884895850
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