Comments on: This Week’s Editoral Advice: Do Not Reply to Rejection Letters

By: Jeremiah Tolbert

Jeremiah Tolbert — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:42:09 +0000

I personally think it’s a waste of time and you don’t need to do it. Other editors might not mind–I’m not sure there is a consensus on this issue. Thank me in the next submission–otherwise, it clutters up my submissions inbox. Not a huge deal though.

By: Kristan

Kristan — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 13:40:35 +0000

Question: What about shooting back a quick Thank You for a rejection? Like, thanks for the timely response, or thanks for the feedback, or whatever? Waste of time, or paints you as a nice, professional writer?

By: SMD

SMD — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 03:08:01 +0000

I’ve never understood why someone would argue with an editor over a rejection. I’ve been tempted to respond to say thank you for comments, but never to argue over a rejection. It seems ridiculous. I’ve always figured that until you get your foot in the door with a story, you have no reason to talk to the editor outside of the cover letter…

An editor is one editor in a sea of editors. Sometimes your story just isn’t right for that particular person at that moment. Another editor might think differently. And rejection is part of the business. If you can’t handle it, get out.

Oh, and re-read the guidelines when I submit to EscapePod every time. I hope I get them right, but if not, that’s due to my being a moron. But I doubt I’m screwing up on the guidelines…

By: Todd

Todd — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:34:46 +0000

Sorry, but what kind of primordial slooshbag responds argumentatively to a rejection letter? Oh brother. Algis Budrys would be livid!

By: Rob Darnell

Rob Darnell — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:25:51 +0000

Yep, the horrors of slush reading, but I decided to give up slush reading last week. It was time to quit.

By: Jeremiah Tolbert

Jeremiah Tolbert — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:57:20 +0000

I’m not sure it’s a safe assumption that escape pod submitters are reading the guidelines very often or at all ;) But I see you rpoint.

By: Matthew Sanborn Smith

Matthew Sanborn Smith — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:46:14 +0000

No, I understand it’s for everyone. And I didn’t mean this blog doesn’t have a lot of readers. What I meant was, if Escape Pod has 100 submitters a week, we can assume that a much higher percentage of those 100 will read the Escape Pod submission guidelines, than will read this blog post, especially as this post sinks further into the quicksand of time and more posts.

By: Jeremiah Tolbert

Jeremiah Tolbert — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:18:41 +0000

Eh, this advice as aimed at submitters everywhere, not just Escape Pod.

And you might be surprised at how many people read this. But yeah–I have rewriting some of the EP guidelines on my agenda.

By: Matthew Sanborn Smith

Matthew Sanborn Smith — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 15:10:20 +0000

If you haven’t already, you should condense this to a couple of lines and add it to Escape Pod’s submission guidelines. I’ve seen other magazines cover post-rejection information in their guidelines. More people who submit are reading Escape Pod’s guidelines than reading this blog.