My Rejection Letter From Happy Fun Time Children’s Stories.
This was one of my first posts, and it’s still one of the most popular. Go figure.
Dear Mr. Idiotprufs,
Here at Happy Fun Time Children’s Stories, we gain no greater satisfaction than when we create new and fresh children’s literature. So, believe me when I express to you, we empathize with and appreciate your desire to write children’s stories. That being said, please stop it.
We believe that your talents lie in a genre away from children’s literature, very far away from children’s literature.
Take for example the first story you sent us, Little Timmy’s First Kite and the High Voltage Power Lines. A little boy’s first kite is a good idea for a children’s story. A little boy’s first experience with radical skin grafting: not so much.
Similarly, your story, The Poorly Constructed and Precariously High Treehouse, starts out with a treehouse–a good subject for a children’s story. It ends with a full body cast, and an addiction to painkillers–a bad subject for a children’s story.
And for the love of all that is good and merciful, please stop sending us stories that involve diseased chimpanzees.
For your reference, here is a list of topics unsuitable for children’s stories:
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from the zoo.
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from the circus.
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from a research lab.
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from a secret underground facility run by evil albino Nazis.
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from a secret underground facility under Bill Gates home.
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from a secret underground facility run by evil albino Nazis, under Bill Gates home.
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from Martha Stewart’s house. (If Miss Stewart were to ever have a chimp, we are certain it would not be diseased.)
- A diseased chimp that has escaped from a one-eyed organ grinder.
- A one-eyed organ grinder.
- A diseased chimp with intestinal parasites.
- Intestinal parasites.
- Parasites of any kind. (Tapeworms are not lovable and are seldom named Henry.)
- Virtually any idea that has ever manifested in your head.
In regard to your proposal for a series of books based on the ghost of a mischievous monkey that haunts children who won’t eat their vegetables: it’s not a good idea. That doesn’t even take into consideration the certain legal difficulties that would arise from your main character: Mysterious George.
We hope that you will heed our advice and take to heart the following suggestions:
- Seek professional help.
- Whatever medications that are certain to be prescribed, take them.
- Stay as far away from children’s literature as you possibly can.
Sincerely,
Happy Fun Time Children’s Stories
P.S. In retrospect, stay as far away from actual children as possible.