Comments on: An Editor’s Perspective on Rejection http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/ Just another WordPress weblog Sat, 06 Mar 2010 18:13:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: How to Write Full Time and Stay Sane: 5 Tips on Dealing with Rejection « Ricki Schultz http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-223122 How to Write Full Time and Stay Sane: 5 Tips on Dealing with Rejection « Ricki Schultz Thu, 11 Feb 2010 04:00:20 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-223122 [...] As well, on his Web site, sci-fi writer, photographer and Web designer Jeremiah Tolbert offers an editor’s perspective on rejection. [...] [...] As well, on his Web site, sci-fi writer, photographer and Web designer Jeremiah Tolbert offers an editor’s perspective on rejection. [...]

]]> By: Merc http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-181128 Merc Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:37:15 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-181128 lol, Rob! ;) No, actually, I DO find it pretty interesting to see how editors choose to word rejections and what goes into the thought process. O:) (Don't have any recommendations on the foot choking. ;) Does the Heimlich maneuver work?) lol, Rob! ;) No, actually, I DO find it pretty interesting to see how editors choose to word rejections and what goes into the thought process. O:)

(Don’t have any recommendations on the foot choking. ;) Does the Heimlich maneuver work?)

]]> By: Rob Darnell http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-181106 Rob Darnell Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:26:11 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-181106 Merc, don't pay much attention to me. I'm just a guy who chokes on his foot a lot. Merc, don’t pay much attention to me. I’m just a guy who chokes on his foot a lot.

]]> By: Merc http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-180974 Merc Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:56:51 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-180974 I really like seeing the other side of it, so thanks for sharing your perspective. :) I enjoyed the post (and the comment section so far). I really like seeing the other side of it, so thanks for sharing your perspective. :) I enjoyed the post (and the comment section so far).

]]> By: Rob Darnell http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-180968 Rob Darnell Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:31:37 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-180968 Well, here's mine. I guess it says the same thing yours does, so I don't know. I just feel a little awkward every time an author thinks I was giving him personal feedback and I ponder whether such confusions could be avoided without being rude. Dear AUTHOR, Thank you for submitting "TITLE" to ABYSS & APEX. It was well received here, but after some thought we have decided not to accept it for publication. I hope you'll consider us again, and I wish you the best success in placing this story elsewhere. Best regards, Rob Darnell, Assistant Editor ABYSS & APEX http://www.abyssandapex.com Well, here’s mine. I guess it says the same thing yours does, so I don’t know. I just feel a little awkward every time an author thinks I was giving him personal feedback and I ponder whether such confusions could be avoided without being rude.

Dear AUTHOR,

Thank you for submitting “TITLE” to ABYSS & APEX. It was well received here, but after some thought we have decided not to accept it for publication.

I hope you’ll consider us again, and I wish you the best success in placing this story elsewhere.

Best regards,

Rob Darnell, Assistant Editor
ABYSS & APEX
http://www.abyssandapex.com

]]> By: Jeremiah Tolbert http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-180944 Jeremiah Tolbert Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:06:05 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-180944 er, gonna be confused by it. er, gonna be confused by it.

]]> By: Jeremiah Tolbert http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-180942 Jeremiah Tolbert Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:05:37 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-180942 No matter what you write, some people are gonna confuse it. My standard rejection letter is: <blockquote> Dear AUTHOR, Thank you for sending us "TITLE". I've reviewed your submission, and decided not to purchase it. The story didn't grab me, unfortunately. Thank you for your submission, and best wishes for you and your work. </blockquote> I haven't see any rejections that I thought were overly flowery, at least not that I can recall of. I don't really have an opinion without seeing something specific. No matter what you write, some people are gonna confuse it.

My standard rejection letter is:

Dear AUTHOR,

Thank you for sending us “TITLE”. I’ve reviewed your submission, and decided not to purchase it. The story didn’t grab me, unfortunately.

Thank you for your submission, and best wishes for you and your work.

I haven’t see any rejections that I thought were overly flowery, at least not that I can recall of. I don’t really have an opinion without seeing something specific.

]]> By: Rob Darnell http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-180937 Rob Darnell Mon, 29 Jun 2009 18:01:09 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-180937 I want to add, the polite form rejections sometimes confuse authors. I've had authors reply to my rejections thanking me for my kind words when I didn't say anything special. Do you have an opinion on that? Personally, I think a lot of editors are making their rejections too flowery so they won't offend the author. I'm not sure I agree with the method. I want to add, the polite form rejections sometimes confuse authors. I’ve had authors reply to my rejections thanking me for my kind words when I didn’t say anything special.

Do you have an opinion on that? Personally, I think a lot of editors are making their rejections too flowery so they won’t offend the author. I’m not sure I agree with the method.

]]> By: Jeremiah Tolbert http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-180895 Jeremiah Tolbert Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:11:32 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-180895 Rob, I never say that I want to see more or have the author submit again unless I really do. That's just me personally though, and I get what you're saying about that line in rejections. I agree on the not responding part. That's pretty much what I do. Rob,

I never say that I want to see more or have the author submit again unless I really do. That’s just me personally though, and I get what you’re saying about that line in rejections.

I agree on the not responding part. That’s pretty much what I do.

]]> By: Rob Darnell http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/comment-page-1/#comment-180891 Rob Darnell Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:08:25 +0000 http://www.jeremiahtolbert.com/2009/an-editors-perspective-on-rejection/#comment-180891 Most rejections I see say something like, "We hope you'll submit again." and I don't think that's the editor saying "I think you got chops." It's more like market telling you, "We're not closed to you." I don't like giving feedback in my rejections. It's not because I don't have time, it's because I don't know what to say most of the time and I don't want to mislead the author. Every now and again an author will reply asking for feedback on the story I just rejected, this doesn't bother me much, but I'm not likely to respond. I agree that reading slush can be helpful to a writer's career, for the reasons you pointed out, but what I notice most is that a good percentage of the authors are better writers than I am and it's a reminder of what I'm up against when I submit somewhere. Most rejections I see say something like, “We hope you’ll submit again.” and I don’t think that’s the editor saying “I think you got chops.” It’s more like market telling you, “We’re not closed to you.”

I don’t like giving feedback in my rejections. It’s not because I don’t have time, it’s because I don’t know what to say most of the time and I don’t want to mislead the author. Every now and again an author will reply asking for feedback on the story I just rejected, this doesn’t bother me much, but I’m not likely to respond.

I agree that reading slush can be helpful to a writer’s career, for the reasons you pointed out, but what I notice most is that a good percentage of the authors are better writers than I am and it’s a reminder of what I’m up against when I submit somewhere.

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