Posted by on May 10, 2007 in rejection | 6 Comments

If you want to be a writer …

Learn the rhythms of the literary world. Like now: May and June are the months all writers can expect an avalanche of rejections as editors of USA magazines clear their decks for the summer break, as agents clear theirs in preparation for their holidays, and as autumn-based publications finalise their shortlists and reject all those stories they’ve been hanging onto ‘just in case” one of their top choices turned out to be unavailable for some reason.

The odd acceptance or two leaks through as well, but the painful and crippling weight of all those people who are saying ‘no’ far outweighs the pleasures of the ‘yes’.

But it’s not just you. Seven rejections a week is not a judgement on your literary merit (although it feels like it!) it’s simply the result of spring cleaning. Knowing this doesn’t lessen the pain, but it does help you dig your way to the surface and move on.

And another thing to consider. When all those American journals cease reading for three months, it’s the ideal time to focus on a longer piece of work; a novel, a play, a screenplay or opera – whatever it is that you’ve been putting off because of the busy round of submissions and rejections, this is the moment to get it back out and devote your summer to its progress.

6 Comments

  1. Quillers
    10th May 2007

    That’s interesting to know, Kay. I never thought of it like that. I suppose the editors of British publications will be getting ready for their summer hols too. Looking on the bright side, at least if/when I get all those rejections that I’ve been waiting for, I’ll know the stories are free to go elsewhere.

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  2. Linera Lucas
    10th May 2007

    Thank you. Thank you. I just got a slew of rejections, (well, it felt like a slew to me) and although I dutifully sent the story out yet again and again, it was harder. Now I understand the system, I feel better.

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  3. Mary Akers
    11th May 2007

    This is so true! Thanks for the reminder, Kay. I’ve felt more than a little swamped by the quantity of late.

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  4. Kay Sexton
    15th May 2007

    Glad to share my experience. I always find May it a bit like being hit with a rejection sledgehammer.

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  5. TitaniaWrites
    16th May 2007

    That’s very interesting, Kay. I am having a bizarre experience this week: two print magazines, one in the UK and one in the US, claim to have no record of the stories I sent them by email several months ago. Is this part of the rhythm, disappearing submissions? Ah well…. Better send them out again.

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  6. Kay Sexton
    16th May 2007

    Weeell, I hesitate to say yes, but it’s a fact that certain publications do seem to ‘lose’ the contents of their slush pile inboxes around this time of year. I’d suggest learning the lesson and not subbing there again, unless you really, really rate the publication.

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