Rejections – Can we talk? Nicely? All of us?

Because I submit my writing for publication and because I apply for residencies and fellowships, I get rejections. I get many more rejections than acceptances. That’s the norm. Most decent rejections keep the wording simple by stating something along the lines of, “Thank you for submitting to X Journal. Although we will not be using this work in our next issue, we wish you the best in placing it elsewhere.” That’s all a rejection has to say to cover the topic nicely. Sometimes they include a compliment even though they are not accepting this particular submission. One journal told me, “Unfortunately we weren’t able to find a home for your work in the magazine, even though your work shows clear quality and potential. We hope to have the opportunity to read your poetry again in the future.” That’s nice and they will hear from me again. Another rejection said that although they would not be publishing my essay, they recommended a few other journals that might consider it. That is a clear case of going beyond what’s necessary.

Unfortunately, sometimes the examples of going beyond aren’t so nice. Some of the wording I get helps me decide that there is no need for me to submit there again. One of these included the phrase "for no apparent reason". The editor included that remark in their rejection. I understand they may not want to go into it, but all they had to say was the simple equivalent of “No thank you.” as stated above. They don’t have to give a reason. Another editor told me they would not be accepting my work because they are a different animal and I should read their journal since reading it is free. (I had paid a few dollars as a voluntary submission fee.) That seems to be saying, we don’t publish your kind of poetry, don’t waste our time. I keep a “don’t bother submitting again” list. They’re on it. I won’t rattle their cage again. I believe that is the message they were sending – don’t bother submitting to us, don't repeat your mistake. 

Possibly my least favorite is what I call the ultimate hubris of rejections. That is the “encouragement” to continue writing even though they are not accepting my work or admitting me to the residency. Are they thinking what they have to offer would be so important to my writing that without it, I would give up entirely? Again, rejections are the norm. Statistically, when I submit my work, it is more likely to be rejected. I submit my writing with that knowledge, so there is no one rejection that would make me think I should go find something else to do or maybe continue writing but not show it to anyone. If I ever do either of these it would be after a series of decisions and deliberations, not because of any one rejection.  

Ghosting and mocking are two things editors do that make me think, I’m done. I’m done with them. If a journal is open for submissions, is actually allowing submissions, I want to hear from them twice after I send them my work. I expect an acknowledgement and a decision. The first can be a simple bounce-back email saying, “We have received your submission.” The second is their decision. To accept submissions should be to accept some responsibility to be minimally courteous. To ignore authors, to be a ghost in the process, is a sign the editor does not respect those who show enough interest in their journal to submit. They could do a simple “No thank you.” rejection. Once I’ve been ghosted, I’d need a compelling reason to submit again. A journal that once ghosted me later solicited my work and published one of my poems. Sometimes a contest will say the winners will be posted on a website or on social media by a certain date. As long as it’s stated that way, and that’s what happens, that’s good. If I don’t see my name on the list, I know I can keep submitting that work elsewhere. One time a contest had so many winners, runners up, and honorable mentions that I joked with myself they could have just said, “Everyone. Everyone but you, Ellie.”

Occasionally an editor will make me cringe when I see them posting, mocking, some of the writers who submit and the mistakes those writers have made. If someone submits too many poems for a chapbook, makes a humorous typo, submits too often, or any other infraction I realize the editor is having some fun, but it’s at someone’s expense. It makes me think, if I submit there, I could become someone’s joke. An experienced editor may be far above a newbie writer on the literary food chain, but I think less of them when they crow about it.

The editors, though, are not necessarily the bad guys. Most of them are volunteers or paid minimally. People don’t edit literary journals for the big bucks; it’s usually a labor of love – an interest that has gone way beyond a hobby. Getting a rejection does not merit abuse from any writer. If you get rejected, it’s not appropriate to tell the journal what an opportunity they have missed or to ask them to reconsider more carefully or to start hurling obscenities at them.  If you submitted last week or last month and haven’t received a decision yet, do not start harassing them. Decisions sometimes take a few days, but they are more likely to take a few months. After six months, you might inquire if you have the skills to do so nicely. If not, leave it alone. Maybe you are being ghosted, but probably not. Your work may be in a cue for other readers to consider. If you can’t be patient, don’t submit or submit only to journals that accept simultaneous submissions. Your work will be out there, being considered. Even though rejections are a statistical norm, that’s not an absolute. Acceptances do come in as long as you keep submitting and do so nicely.