Your stuff is kinda good
Your stuff is kinda good
I figured I should write a quick counterbalance to my “Your stuff is weird” post about my first acceptance. Let me tell you about some good, and not so good rejections letters I’ve received. I know there is a big push here for positivity, so I am not dwelling on the negative in the least. I simply don’t want to upset the writing universe by highlighting an acceptance; I have to type some yin to that yang.
1 - The good rejection:
Like my cover letters, I respect rejections that are quick, concise, polite. Thank you for your submission but it doesn’t quite fit our publication/call/theme. That’s all it should be. Thanks, but no thanks.
2 - The irritating rejection:
These don’t cross the threshold into terrible territory but they give enough of a tease to leave the writer aggravated. Hey, thanks for reaching out and sending your writing. We know that you took a lot of care putting the story/poem together, but we are truly disappointed that we can’t publish it. Make sure to try us again soon! It’s not you it’s us. The ‘get ‘em next time kid’ vibe that provides no value and serves no purpose other than soothe the rejector.
3 - The terrible rejection
(3a):
To me this is the worst kind. They tell you how many rounds you made it through, and that three out of four of our editors wanted to print it but in the end, sorry, you didn’t make it. But you were so close! If it was that good, you could have printed it, and if not, see “The good rejection.”
(3b):
I haven’t seen this one that often (as I never “pay” for the opportunity to get feedback on my piece) but it has come across my desk once or twice: Sorry, you didn’t make it, but if you’d like a detailed critique send us $… What? You said no, and then you want my money to tell me why? Infuriating.
Now that I’ve enumerated my reactions to rejections, I want to make it clear that they are a necessary evil. I have boxes of rejections compared to folders of acceptances. Be it 1., 2., 3a or b, the rejection is always deflating at first read. But I know my stuff isn’t for everyone, and I don’t expect it to be. I do expect a quick, concise, polite no so I can move on to the next submission.
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