A post and ongoing thread about being an editor and having to reject work; also about being rejected myself and coping with it as it’s a downside of the writing game...

1) Everyone who tries to get their work published regularly in different places encounters rejection / not being included. This includes editors (who get called ‘gatekeepers’) if they send off their own work.

4) Writers should appreciate that as magazine editors are human beings and are usually volunteers, they are not infallible. Editors have particular interests and tastes and being rejected is no indicator of being a bad writer.

10) Try again. If your work gets turned down by a dream journal/ mag don’t ghost them or feel they hate your work and hold a grudge. Try again and again. The feeling of achievement can be all the more sweeter when something that’s difficult is achieved.

8) make sure you submit to a lot of different litmags as at least one of them will be right. Always consider any edits suggested as the fresh eyes of an editor can improve work. Avoid rudeness or over-defensiveness. Have an open mind as you as a writer are dealing with a human 2

2) The experience of being rejected initially is a downer. It can make you feel worthless and what you write to have little value. If it happens over and over again, it’s grim.

12) Being rejected in any aspect of life is not nice but with hard work, good energy and perseverance good things can happen with writing. Read a lot, write a lot, try classes/ workshops, get feedback and submit, submit, submit. pen

3) The editorial process of accepting/ rejecting work is subjective. Human beings are in charge of this process, therefore it is naturally imperfect. Writers should therefore not bank on their work going through a perfect judgment process.

5) if magazine advertise widely, especially on social media, they will have a deluge of work sent through from writers. Responding to everyone can be a mammoth organisational task, which can be slow and imperfect. This is why it takes time to respond to people.

6) Given the challenge of dealing with vast submissions, writers should make sure submissions are organised and follow requirements to avoid editors’ precious time.

9) If you go into the process of submitting your work not expecting too much, any acceptances and positive feedback will be a huge bonus. If you have high expectations, the process could be painful!