» What Rejection Letters Really Mean

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If it’s a form rejection letter, try not to read too much into it. Editors are busy, and they are desperately trying to pare down a veritable mountain of submissions into a manageable pile. They rarely have time for any comments in a rejection. And sometimes they are so inundated, or so behind, that they do mass rejections without even reading it. So, by sending a form rejection they did not say you were a bad writer, they just said not this story, not this time. And the reason may have nothing to do with what you wrote; it could be that someone else also sent a story they just bought which is about talking asparagus or alien lichens or giant hummingbirds from hell. And they cannot publish two stories about the same subject.

The Personalized Rejection is actually brag-worthy. It means they liked it enough to encourage you. If the editor has any suggestions for improvement in that rejection letter, consider using these suggestions in a rewrite. Unless the editor totally did not get what you were doing and wants to materially change the story until it’s unrecognizable, which happens, it’s worth a try. They are giving you free advice and sometimes editors charge for such advice, so it’s a gift when they offer help. Use it wisely, but do not assume they want a rewrite sent right back. If they want a rewrite they will say so.

Try to avoid sending a rejected story to a market that has already seen it. Keep track of where you’ve sent things so you do not make that mistake.

read more at authorspublish.com

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