It’s easy for an emerging writer like myself to become obsessed with rejection. That’s mostly what comes back from all the packets I mail or documents I upload with a hopeful, electronic click.
Amaranthus caudatus: Love Lies Bleeding.
One could (and some do) ponder hidden meanings in how editors — or perhaps their interns — word polite form letters: “We have given your work careful consideration and regret that we are unable to publish it…” Well, at least they considered it. And carefully. Perhaps they really do regret not publishing it. Maybe if….
I try not to jump on that hamster wheel. But if I do, I make it quick. And private. I’d rather focus on my writing.
Of course, I love those editors who accept my pieces. And although I have many more rejection than acceptance letters in my files, I’ve had some successes during these last two years of full-time writing. Out of eleven pieces of literary nonfiction sent out, I’ve placed nine in journals ranging from The Gettysburg Review to Fringe Magazine.
But I still dread the return of those self-addressed envelopes, so light with the parsimony of dismissal I consider letting a breeze carry them into the gutter. After all, I know what’s inside. Instead, I open (and for some reason, save) every one.
I’m most grateful for the ones that surprise me. They’re still rejections, but they offer some feedback. Few editors provide critique, and I understand; it’s a time-consuming, messy process. But some let me know I came close to making the cut. Others make a few comments on what they liked or why the piece didn’t match their current needs.
I don’t blame editors who keep their responses impersonal. I respect efficient means for handling an overwhelming (and often unpaid) workload. If I were an editor, I’d hesitate to write a personal note for fear it would raise false hopes or open the door to debate. It’s easier (and perhaps kinder) to slam the door with a terse, vague form letter and move on.
Thinking about what I’d do makes me even more grateful for all you editors out there who do now and then offer a few personal comments or some insight into where a piece fell in the decision-making process. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
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