A few days ago, I was doing a Q&A with an alumni website (to promote my short story collection "Family and Other Ailments" that just came out) and the topic of submissions came up. People who don't write don't know how that stuff works... so I said I submitted a lot because that's the only way to get the stories out there. I didn't use the term "numbers game" but that's what it is. Instead I used the actors analogy, that everybody understands: 200 coming to audition for 2 parts, and said writing was like that. Take the punches, move on.
My least favourite phrase in rejection letters is "we're passing on this". It makes me feel like I'd sent them a pack of 3-day old sushi. The other one that amuses me is the rejections that start with the word "unfortunately". Perhaps it's unfortunate for me, but surely if they haven't deemed it worthy for their journal, from their perspective it's actually "fortunate" they don't have to accept it!
From what I hear of the old days before politiical correctness was a thing, and editors could send highly abusive rejection slips, calling your work "drivel" "tripe" or whatever else, I'd rather rejections that erred on the "fake empathy" spectrum than that kind of verbal insult! (I'm a sensitive flower...)
But yes, Lev, "share your disappointment" is pretty funny. (Errr ... probably not dear editors!)
When I was trying to get my first book of short stories published, one editor wrote "I don't like your metaphors and such." I actually found that line hilarious.
You have a good attitude toward rejections. Most serious writers could wallpaper their homes with rejection notes. I can take most rejection letters or e-mails casually. However, occasionally, I have gotten rejection notes that are personally insulting. One editor said that because I was a graduate student in English at the University of Chicago that I must "hate literature." I sent a copy of this rejection letter to the editor's English Department chair and complained that the editor was not acting professionally. I was asking the editor whether he wanted to publish my poems or not, not for approval of my choice of graduate school. Such editors need a psychologist, in my opinion. Best wishes!
I prefer the standard rejections. Just say no, and leave it at that. If an editor occasionally asks to see more work, I remember that and send more. Otherwise, short and to the point works for me.
A few days ago, I was doing a Q&A with an alumni website (to promote my short story collection "Family and Other Ailments" that just came out) and the topic of submissions came up. People who don't write don't know how that stuff works... so I said I submitted a lot because that's the only way to get the stories out there. I didn't use the term "numbers game" but that's what it is. Instead I used the actors analogy, that everybody understands: 200 coming to audition for 2 parts, and said writing was like that. Take the punches, move on.
Agree. Move on. But at least it's the writing they reject, not us personally (however much we're attached to the work).
My least favourite phrase in rejection letters is "we're passing on this". It makes me feel like I'd sent them a pack of 3-day old sushi. The other one that amuses me is the rejections that start with the word "unfortunately". Perhaps it's unfortunate for me, but surely if they haven't deemed it worthy for their journal, from their perspective it's actually "fortunate" they don't have to accept it!
From what I hear of the old days before politiical correctness was a thing, and editors could send highly abusive rejection slips, calling your work "drivel" "tripe" or whatever else, I'd rather rejections that erred on the "fake empathy" spectrum than that kind of verbal insult! (I'm a sensitive flower...)
But yes, Lev, "share your disappointment" is pretty funny. (Errr ... probably not dear editors!)
When I was trying to get my first book of short stories published, one editor wrote "I don't like your metaphors and such." I actually found that line hilarious.
You have a good attitude toward rejections. Most serious writers could wallpaper their homes with rejection notes. I can take most rejection letters or e-mails casually. However, occasionally, I have gotten rejection notes that are personally insulting. One editor said that because I was a graduate student in English at the University of Chicago that I must "hate literature." I sent a copy of this rejection letter to the editor's English Department chair and complained that the editor was not acting professionally. I was asking the editor whether he wanted to publish my poems or not, not for approval of my choice of graduate school. Such editors need a psychologist, in my opinion. Best wishes!
Wow. That is truly bizarre. More than the handwritten rejection a friend got years ago: "This is not the kind of thing we publish!"
I prefer the standard rejections. Just say no, and leave it at that. If an editor occasionally asks to see more work, I remember that and send more. Otherwise, short and to the point works for me.
I agree! Some of them are smarmy and condescending even though that's not the aim. One that I got told me how they shared my disappointment.
I don't think so.
"Shared my disappointment." That's hilarious!