Out of several hundred rejections (not counting all the non-responses) the closest to encouraging that has come to me is the one that said, "I hate to turn down a story that has a Studebaker in it." It is the only one I've saved. The Studebaker story did eventually find a home. Acceptances, even conditional ones, are always encouraging.
Yes, Henry, there's nothing more encouraging than an acceptance of course, but I'm always grateful for a rejection that gives a clue as to why a story or article isn't wanted. It encourages me to do a re-write if I agree with the editor's comments, or to send it elsewhere if I don't!
Agreed, Linda. If an editor is open to a re-write, I generally try to comply, even if I don't entirely agree with the comments. To make it work for the editor and for me is always a deep learning exercise. And if the editor is any good, the story usually improves in the process, surprising the writer as much as the reader.
4 comments:
Out of several hundred rejections (not counting all the non-responses) the closest to encouraging that has come to me is the one that said, "I hate to turn down a story that has a Studebaker in it."
It is the only one I've saved. The Studebaker story did eventually find a home. Acceptances, even conditional ones, are always encouraging.
Yes, Henry, there's nothing more encouraging than an acceptance of course, but I'm always grateful for a rejection that gives a clue as to why a story or article isn't wanted. It encourages me to do a re-write if I agree with the editor's comments, or to send it elsewhere if I don't!
Agreed, Linda. If an editor is open to a re-write, I generally try to comply, even if I don't entirely agree with the comments. To make it work for the editor and for me is always a deep learning exercise. And if the editor is any good, the story usually improves in the process, surprising the writer as much as the reader.
I agree Linda, kind words go a long way, and we remember them.
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