Rejection letters from literary agents and editors of
literary journals can be discouraging for authors, especially impersonal,
one-line responses. But writers who want to succeed at getting their work
published know rejection is an unavoidable and even necessary part of the
writing process. So it’s important to know how to interpret the different types
of rejection letters—and then use this knowledge to improve your
submissions!
First, know that a rejection from a literary agent or
editor is not personal. If your work is rejected, it doesn’t automatically mean
your writing isn’t good enough. It could simply be a matter of poor timing (the
agency has received a picture books on the same theme along with yours); the
submission wasn’t appropriate (you submitted a children’s book to a romance
publisher); or the agent or editor simply didn’t feel passionate about your
work (but the next one may!)
However, if you find a common thread mentioned in many
of the responses—too many plot problems, underdeveloped characters, etc.—it may
be time to take another look at the work you’re submitting.
(Note: When choosing to make revisions based on
feedback, think carefully before you edit. Follow your heart and consider the
comments thoughtfully to avoid knee-jerk reactions.)
There are different types of
rejections emails send to writers. A form email rejection is
easy to spot, but doesn’t offer much in the way of information: “Dear Writer—No
thanks.” Or “Dear Author—Please try again.” Some literary agents or editors
will simply reply with something like, “Not for us.” A form letter, no matter
what the exact phrasing, is a nice, generic way of saying “no thanks.”
Standard phrases used in
form rejection letters from literary agents and editors of literary journals
might include ‘Cannot use it/accept it at this time’, ‘Doesn’t meet
our needs’, ‘Have to pass on this’, ‘Not a right fit’, ‘Not for us’. If you
don’t hear from the publisher (or agent) within a reasonable amount of time
(say three months), assume that no answer is their answer (that is, they have
rejected your manuscript and are too impolite to get back to you).
However, when a literary agent or editor has
taken the time to include a personal comment about your submission—even if the
comment is a critique—we recommend you submit future work to anyone who cared
enough about your work to offer an opinion.
Send the agent or editor a thank-you note, and if/when
you resubmit, reference the comments from the original rejection. Some literary
agents always invite writers to submit again—it’s part of their form rejection
letter. But others make such an offer more cautiously. They might say, ‘We invite you to submit more
in the future’, or ‘Do you have anything else we can consider? Please send.’
Whether it’s a vague response or a sincere offer, send
a thank-you note and a new submission (when possible). Remember to reference
the original comments in your cover/query letter.
But finally, sometimes an author receives a rejection
that offers sincere appreciation of their writing, often going into detail
about what makes the writing worthy. It’s still a rejection, but it’s also
priceless validation of a writer’s talent. If you get one of these, it’s good
as gold! (And be sure to send a new submission!)
When dealing with a manuscript rejection, keep in mind
that agents and editors are people. They have varying likes and dislikes, and
sometimes they have bad days… Again, rejection is not personal. You should let
mean-spirited or impersonal rejections go and cherish any comments or
constructive criticisms that come your way. Many editors and agents truly want
you to succeed, so pay attention to what they’re saying about your work and its
place in the literary market.
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