Thanks for the shoutout! Very kind of you. I love the enthusiasm! :-D
It's interesting to reflect back on all those years of poetry submissions. Fortunately I learned early on to follow the guidelines: that can't be stressed enough. I guess I should be glad that they took the time to write rejections almost every time (excepting those who said they don't send them out to anybody) though I got the sense that more than a few of them were templates they had on hand to copy and paste. I could tell the difference between a "meh" rejection and a genuinely heartfelt or sympathetic one very easily.
Good to know I wasn't committing a faux pas by not responding to the rejection letters. The only thing I can complain about is that like a heap of sand, it all collects over time. I'm glad I managed to get as many poems published as I did, but when I began writing short stories I just didn't have the heart to repeat the process.
The elephant in the room is: we are too oversaturated with both writers and journals. It's difficult to know what to do about it. On the macro scale, if all us writers and the editors are living their true professions it's nobody's fault. Unfortunately, though, it will mean that a "survival of the fittest" struggle could happen.
Felix, I'm so stoked for you! Any more exposure to your phenomenal work is a delight for me!
Thank you for bringing that up. I'll be addressing that in the follow-up to this post. On the editor/publisher side of this, I can attest that at one point offering personal rejections becomes a bit overwhelming, just because they get so many submissions and not enough time to write personal letters, compounded by the fact that it's free labor and they oftentimes also have full-time jobs and other responsibilities to deal with.
I recommend editors/publishers to still invest in someone offering personal rejections/acceptances (they don't have to be miles long) and perhaps recommend other potential publications to submit to that may be a better fit. I have personally done that myself. A few kind words and a recommendation makes a writer's day. And they feel uplifted even while being rejected. From the writer's side, I definitely do. It makes a difference!
I personally was okay with having received rejection letter responses from the writers. As long as they're not rude! But I heard other editors/publishers getting pissed off about it. So I'm just here relaying the message.
Yes, absolutely. There are as many writers as journals! I personally gave up on mostly submitting work. Substack gives me so much more exposure than any traditional publication, fortunately or unfortunately.
I'll be sure to check out the follow-up when it comes out! I think discussing this last decade and the oversaturation is important, especially given that Substack is a step up in terms of attention, as you said. Personally, knowing that over 50 people will read a poem I write on Saturday really helps in terms of motivation. Even if only a few read it. Wish it had been around when I started out! But it is what it is.
Recommending journals that are more suitable can make a world of difference. Of course not every editor is a literary journal expert. Perhaps some kind of editor network would resolve that? Either on somewhere like Substack or on a different platform. Then editors network, and if there's a good rejection they'll know who to suggest.
Yes. Because the people who signed up for you want to read you. Alas, with publications, mostly writers who contribute read them. It must be because where they promote people don't care so much about reading, unlike on Substack. Hence some of the publications are on Substack too.
For editors, this comes with time, because they also read other publications and know what kind of work they publish. That's how I assessed where to submit. But there are also groups on social media where writers and publishers guide each other. FB has several.
Thanks a lot, Nadja for this write-up. Grammarly and Hemingway are places I recommend frequently. Many have never heard of either. I also give them iwritelike.com so they can have a bit of fun between collecting rejections, which I do organise over at https://literarium.net/ (as posted on the other thread). Interesting to read that you prefer Substack now over submitting work. I still do both.
Thanks so much for these recommendations, Alexander! I've been submitting for a while and it got a bit frustrating waiting and being rejected. I still submit to my favorite publications. But it feels good to have control over what I write and publish. I also know the reach of readership is going to be much larger here than in any other publication, unless it's a big shot magazine, but I know I'll most likely never be published there lol.
Yeah, the submission game is like an ugly no cosmetics or skins Korean grinder where you take forever to gain any xp and each rejection drains all your stamina and sends you back to the entrance, naked, without armour or weapons. 🤺
Since you have been on both sides, how do you read this rejection?
---
Thank you for submitting "The Chronicles of Samuel Carter" to XXXXX Magazine. We appreciate the chance to read it. Unfortunately, the story does not meet our needs at this time. We're going to pass.
We wish you the best of luck finding a home for "The Chronicles of Samuel Carter" and hope to read something new from you soon.
---
Is this a standard template or do they really hope to read something new from me soon? Who knows... Either way, it's a numbers game. Keep on swimming...
What does "Unfortunately, the story does not meet our needs at this time." even mean? LOL It's a lukewarm invitation for you to submit again. So it means, if you ever want to, you definitely can. Just wait until it's appropriate (if in their guidelines it says wait 6 months, so submit 6 months later).
I was an editor at a literary journal for several years as well! Everything here is so true! I learned a lot about why a good piece may get rejected, and how many people don't read the guidelines...
"Remember you’re submitting to a publication run by another human (or humans) with a busy life of their own and stresses and struggles they have to deal with as well. Respect their time and hard work and treat them with humanity." This is a good reminder for just about everything!
Yes, all this! And indeed, everyone is human, we should always remember to treat each other with respect and dignity. Even if frustrations arise. But there's always another side to the story.
Great post. One question I’ve always had and that I never found a clear answer to: what’s the difference between a cover letter and a third-person bio? I always just provide the latter, not out of laziness, just lack of knowledge.
I appreciate you, Andrei! A cover letter for a publication submission would normally include a greeting, a bit about your work, a bit of gushing about the publication you're submitting to you, and a third-person bio. I usually introduce myself, thank the editors for doing a wonderful job in the community and the stuff they publish, and end with my bio. Every publication has their own rules, but it's more or less loose. I don't know if they even read it though lol. I hope it should matter less than what you submitted.
Haven't ever submitted anything (well, outside of academia, but that has its own sets of rules) but this is a great piece of info and resource, especially your list of selected publications. Thanks, Nadia.
Thanks for the shoutout! Very kind of you. I love the enthusiasm! :-D
It's interesting to reflect back on all those years of poetry submissions. Fortunately I learned early on to follow the guidelines: that can't be stressed enough. I guess I should be glad that they took the time to write rejections almost every time (excepting those who said they don't send them out to anybody) though I got the sense that more than a few of them were templates they had on hand to copy and paste. I could tell the difference between a "meh" rejection and a genuinely heartfelt or sympathetic one very easily.
Good to know I wasn't committing a faux pas by not responding to the rejection letters. The only thing I can complain about is that like a heap of sand, it all collects over time. I'm glad I managed to get as many poems published as I did, but when I began writing short stories I just didn't have the heart to repeat the process.
The elephant in the room is: we are too oversaturated with both writers and journals. It's difficult to know what to do about it. On the macro scale, if all us writers and the editors are living their true professions it's nobody's fault. Unfortunately, though, it will mean that a "survival of the fittest" struggle could happen.
Felix, I'm so stoked for you! Any more exposure to your phenomenal work is a delight for me!
Thank you for bringing that up. I'll be addressing that in the follow-up to this post. On the editor/publisher side of this, I can attest that at one point offering personal rejections becomes a bit overwhelming, just because they get so many submissions and not enough time to write personal letters, compounded by the fact that it's free labor and they oftentimes also have full-time jobs and other responsibilities to deal with.
I recommend editors/publishers to still invest in someone offering personal rejections/acceptances (they don't have to be miles long) and perhaps recommend other potential publications to submit to that may be a better fit. I have personally done that myself. A few kind words and a recommendation makes a writer's day. And they feel uplifted even while being rejected. From the writer's side, I definitely do. It makes a difference!
I personally was okay with having received rejection letter responses from the writers. As long as they're not rude! But I heard other editors/publishers getting pissed off about it. So I'm just here relaying the message.
Yes, absolutely. There are as many writers as journals! I personally gave up on mostly submitting work. Substack gives me so much more exposure than any traditional publication, fortunately or unfortunately.
I'll be sure to check out the follow-up when it comes out! I think discussing this last decade and the oversaturation is important, especially given that Substack is a step up in terms of attention, as you said. Personally, knowing that over 50 people will read a poem I write on Saturday really helps in terms of motivation. Even if only a few read it. Wish it had been around when I started out! But it is what it is.
Recommending journals that are more suitable can make a world of difference. Of course not every editor is a literary journal expert. Perhaps some kind of editor network would resolve that? Either on somewhere like Substack or on a different platform. Then editors network, and if there's a good rejection they'll know who to suggest.
Yes. Because the people who signed up for you want to read you. Alas, with publications, mostly writers who contribute read them. It must be because where they promote people don't care so much about reading, unlike on Substack. Hence some of the publications are on Substack too.
For editors, this comes with time, because they also read other publications and know what kind of work they publish. That's how I assessed where to submit. But there are also groups on social media where writers and publishers guide each other. FB has several.
"If you’ve been waiting patiently for too long, you can absolutely give the publisher a gentle nudge." -- this is good news!
You have every right!
Thanks a lot, Nadja for this write-up. Grammarly and Hemingway are places I recommend frequently. Many have never heard of either. I also give them iwritelike.com so they can have a bit of fun between collecting rejections, which I do organise over at https://literarium.net/ (as posted on the other thread). Interesting to read that you prefer Substack now over submitting work. I still do both.
Thanks so much for these recommendations, Alexander! I've been submitting for a while and it got a bit frustrating waiting and being rejected. I still submit to my favorite publications. But it feels good to have control over what I write and publish. I also know the reach of readership is going to be much larger here than in any other publication, unless it's a big shot magazine, but I know I'll most likely never be published there lol.
Yeah, the submission game is like an ugly no cosmetics or skins Korean grinder where you take forever to gain any xp and each rejection drains all your stamina and sends you back to the entrance, naked, without armour or weapons. 🤺
Exactly this. Which is why I'll also write a post about how publishers can make the experience a little less demoralizing (I've been on both sides).
Since you have been on both sides, how do you read this rejection?
---
Thank you for submitting "The Chronicles of Samuel Carter" to XXXXX Magazine. We appreciate the chance to read it. Unfortunately, the story does not meet our needs at this time. We're going to pass.
We wish you the best of luck finding a home for "The Chronicles of Samuel Carter" and hope to read something new from you soon.
---
Is this a standard template or do they really hope to read something new from me soon? Who knows... Either way, it's a numbers game. Keep on swimming...
What does "Unfortunately, the story does not meet our needs at this time." even mean? LOL It's a lukewarm invitation for you to submit again. So it means, if you ever want to, you definitely can. Just wait until it's appropriate (if in their guidelines it says wait 6 months, so submit 6 months later).
Submit the same story again! Because at THAT time, it will definitely meet their needs. 😂 I am going to serialize it on Substack instead, I think.
I was an editor at a literary journal for several years as well! Everything here is so true! I learned a lot about why a good piece may get rejected, and how many people don't read the guidelines...
"Remember you’re submitting to a publication run by another human (or humans) with a busy life of their own and stresses and struggles they have to deal with as well. Respect their time and hard work and treat them with humanity." This is a good reminder for just about everything!
Yes, all this! And indeed, everyone is human, we should always remember to treat each other with respect and dignity. Even if frustrations arise. But there's always another side to the story.
Thank you for sharing, Nadia!
You got it, Priya! :)
Great post. One question I’ve always had and that I never found a clear answer to: what’s the difference between a cover letter and a third-person bio? I always just provide the latter, not out of laziness, just lack of knowledge.
I appreciate you, Andrei! A cover letter for a publication submission would normally include a greeting, a bit about your work, a bit of gushing about the publication you're submitting to you, and a third-person bio. I usually introduce myself, thank the editors for doing a wonderful job in the community and the stuff they publish, and end with my bio. Every publication has their own rules, but it's more or less loose. I don't know if they even read it though lol. I hope it should matter less than what you submitted.
Timeless advice, Nadia - what a resume you have! And good luck to Felix!
Oh shucks, thanks Troy! <3
Nadia, so appreciate the inside scoop. Seems respect, diligence and persistence go a long way! Happy writing!
Absolutely! And you got it :).
Haven't ever submitted anything (well, outside of academia, but that has its own sets of rules) but this is a great piece of info and resource, especially your list of selected publications. Thanks, Nadia.
It's my pleasure. Should you ever need more, let me know!
Thank you! First thing is to finish the novella :D
Really good, thanks
Thanks for reading! :)
Thanks for sharing 🙏🏽
Of course!
Really helpful. Thank you!
You got it! ;-)
Your words work for submitting to an agent as well. We need to remember that we're all just humans!
Absolutely! Thank you. <3