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Moving Up the Rejection Ladder
By Margaret Terhune
A few weeks ago, I received a great rejection letter from a literary journal. It was almost as exciting as when I got my first paying contract. While other people raise an eyebrow when I refer to a good rejection letter, my writing friends smile knowingly for they are familiar with the hierarchy of editor responses.
The letter began in the usual way: “Thank you for offering your work to…we regret that we cannot use it at this time.” Oh well, I thought, another one for the “no” box. Then I noticed the hand-written note at the bottom. I’ve learned to appreciate any personal touch: an editor’s signature, a post-it note with a few encouraging words, a note scribbled somewhere on the page. These are all excellent indications that your work has been read and considered by at least one person.
A quick side note on rejection letters: my husband thinks it’s bizarre that I keep these letters but they’re actually a great source of satisfaction. Not only are they proof that I continue to write and send but they are also an excellent way to refer back to editor’s names and addresses. I know of people who have papered walls with these letters; I prefer to keep mine together in a box.
“I enjoyed your poem and wish you luck in placing it,” the note read. “I’m sorry we can’t use it… please consider us again. Keep writing.” Please consider us again – these are the magical words, opening the door just a few inches wider. This particular journal only reads submissions for a short period each year, so I shall have to wait before resubmitting. Normally, I would send something else out within a few weeks, while the favorable impression is still fresh in the editor’s memory.
I still get plenty of generic rejection letters, ranging from curt notes to longer letters. Some are polite and encouraging while others give the impression that the work was thoroughly unworthy of being read. I particularly dislike the ones which contain a checklist of reasons for rejection ranging from “not suited to our present needs” (I invariably get this one) to “poorly written” (I wonder if they ever use this one?).
In the midst of all this banality, a personalized letter makes me feel that I’m still headed in the right direction. The fact that an editor took the time to jot a note is a great motivation to continue sending out my work.
AGENTS & EDITORS
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- Literary Agents List
- Preditors and Editors
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Tips for a Successful Editor Appointment
- Want More? Here’s How to Get It
- What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel
- Windup for the (Story) Pitch
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
CALLS FOR SUBMISSION
- 2024 OCT Calls for Submission
- 2024 SEP Calls for Submission
- 2024 AUG Calls for Submission
- 2024 JUL Calls for Submission
- 2024 JUN Calls for Submission
- 2024 MAY Calls for Submission
- 2024 APR Calls for Submission
- 2024 MAR Calls for Submission
- 2024 FEB Calls for Submission
- 2024 JAN Calls for Submission
- 2023 DEC Calls for Submission
- 2023 NOV Calls for Submission
- 2023 OCT Calls for Submission
COMPUTER TIPS
- ASCII Characters
- Building Your Web Site and Doing It Right
- Don’t Be a Victim-Scams, Identity Theft, Urban Legends
- Don’t Spread Scams
- How to Annoy Your Website Visitors
- Internet Safety: Guide to Keep Your Information Safe Online
- Knowing Your Target Audience
- Stopping Viruses from Propagating Through Your Email
- The Top 10 Email Errors
- Word Processors Through Time: Before MS Word & Google Docs
FORMATTING & GRAMMAR
- Achieving 250 Words / 25 Lines Per Page
- And Sammy, too? Oh, No!
- Changing Double Hyphens to EM Dashes in Word
- Edit Easier
- High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Misused Words
- Navigating In Your Novel
- Proofreaders Marks
- Research Links
- Rules for Writers
- Slang and Jargon Souces
- Tightening Your Manuscript and Trimming the Word Count
INSPIRATION-MOTIVATION
- A Dream Realized
- Beyond the Basics
- Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work
- Finding Time to Write
- Five Ways to Promote Yourself
- How Not to Procrastinate
- How to Quit Writing and End up on the Bestseller Lists
- Ideas Escape Me
- Keeping an Idea Book
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Time for Self-Care While Running a Business
- Moving Up the Rejection Ladder
- Pop Quiz: Who Are You?
- Rules for Writers
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- The Art of Being Rejected–475 Words
- The Juggling Act
- The Literary Food Chain
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Write Better Naked
- Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
- Writing By Moonlight
MARKETS
- 35 Online Work Ideas to Earn Good Money Whilst Studying
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- An Interview with Holly Ambrose
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- EBooks-Fears to Possibilities
- Finding Markets Fiction and Nonfiction
- Freelance Writing 101
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
- How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
- How to Write a Novel Synopsis
- How To Write Your Own Press Releases
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Magazine Links
- Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
- Market News–All Genres
- Need a Clip? Open a Newspaper
- Newspaper Writing Resources
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Science Writing Organizations
- Selling to Children’s Markets
- Submission Tracking
- Submitting to UK Markets
- Syndication 101
- To Specialize, or Not to Specialize?
- Ultimate Guide to Being a Freelancer 2023 Update
- What Are Your Chances of Getting Published?
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Why E-Books?
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
- Write Your Way to $1000 a Month
- Writing Groups List
- Youth Writing Markets
ONLINE SAFETY
PUBLISHING
- Agents: Knowing When To Hold One and When To Fold
- Copyright Primer, Know Your Rights
- Getting Offers from Multiple Literary Agents
- How To Market Your Book After You’ve Written It
- How to Write a Novel Synopsis
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Money As a Corporate Freelancer
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Publisher’s Websites
- Publishing, Writing Terms, Acronyms
- Science Writing Organizations
- Submission Tracking
- Syndication 101
- The Great Limbo Mystery Question
- What Are Your Chances of Getting Published?
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Why E-Books?
- Write the Perfect Book Proposal
VIDEO & STREAMING LINKS
WRITING TOOLS - APPS
- And Sammy, too? Oh, No!
- Beyond the Basics
- Changing Double Hyphens to EM Dashes in Word
- Dumb Little Writing Tricks That Work
- Finding Your Writing Compass: A Guide to Freelance Adventures
- Free AI Tools That Can Be Used In Business Writing
- Helpful Books
- High Hopes–Avoiding Common Mistakes
- Ideas Escape Me
- Knowing Your Target Audience
- Magazine Links
- Misused Words
- Newspaper Writing Resources
- Path to Self-Publishing Success
- Reconsider Hand Writing
- Research Links
- Slang and Jargon Souces
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- Unblocking Your Muze
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- What NOT to Do When Beginning Your Novel
- Why Article Writing Should Be A Part Of Your Career Development Strategy
- Word Processors Through Time: Before MS Word & Google Docs
- Working with a Critique Group
- Writing Groups List
- You Can Write A Short Story Part 1 The Story Idea
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 2 The Meat of the Story
- You Can Write A Short Story: Part 3 The Climax
WRITER'S LIFE
- A Dream Realized
- A Writers Dream-The Home Office
- Affirm All You Want
- Finding Time to Write
- Finding Your Writing Compass: A Guide to Freelance Adventures
- How To Be a (Shiver) Reporter
- How To Write Your Own Press Releases
- Keep a Clipping File
- Keeping an Idea Book
- Love to Write: Here Is How You Can Build Your Career
- Making Time for Self-Care While Running a Business
- Mommy’s Muse
- Moving Mountains
- Mud Pies
- Teach Yourself to Write
- The 8 Habits of Highly Successful Young-Adult Fiction Authors
- The Art of Procrastination
- Various Types of Writing for Young Writers
- Working with a Critique Group
- Writer’s Conferences Do You Really Need To Attend?
- Writing Conferences-Educating and Inspiring
WRITING CONTESTS
WRITING CONTESTS
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• ALL WRITING CONTESTS
- 2024 OCT Writing Contests
- 2024 SEP Writing Contests
- 2024 AUG Writing Contests
- 2024 JUL Writing Contests
- 2024 JUN Writing Contests
- 2024 MAY Writing Contests
- 2024 APR Writing Contests
- 2024 MAR Writing Contests
- 2024 FEB Writing Contests
- 2024 JAN Writing Contests
- 2023 DEC Contests, Workshops, Webinars
- 2023 NOV Contests, Workshops, Webinars
ABOUT WRITING CONTESTS