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Craft of Writing

George W. Bateson

Rejection Slip Blues
And Some Thoughts On How To Overcome Them

Okay, so you have researched, written your piece, and sent it off to an editor — only to find it back in your mailbox with a polite, impartial, or even a downright soul-destroying rejection slip. What then? Maybe a black cloud of despondency settles over you, or the angry thought that the publisher does not have brains to see what a masterpiece he has lost, or you simply decide that writing is a mug’s game and not worth the effort. We all know these feelings, but all is not lost; there may be a very valid reason why that editor rejected your piece, and it’s that reason that needs to be looked at and sorted out. So start by re-reading your rejected material and asking yourself the following questions.

Was It The Right Market?
Take a good look again at the publication you sent the piece off to. Yes, I understand that you may be sitting there saying, "This is a load of nonsense." You would not have sent it off to the wrong editor in the first place, but the basic rule for breaking into journalism is as ever — study the market thoroughly. Knowing what the editor wants is of paramount importance, but many writers do send off material on a subject that is completely wrong for that publication.

Details of what an editor wants can be obtained by writing to the publication for guidelines or checking publications such as the:

  • "Writer’s Markets," which are published by "Writer’s Digest" and list more than 4000 markets
  • "Writer’s and Artist’s Year Book,"  which is a U.K. markets book published by A&C Black of London, England
These books can be found in most popular bookstores and through online booksellers.  You also can use Web sites such as www.writersmarkets.com/index-guidelines.htm. Getting your guidelines from Writer’s Market’s publications or the Internet can save a great deal of time, but remember that these print publications are usually updated only annually. Web sites may be more up-to-date, but you still should not rely on them blindly. Editors and editorial policies change, once you've looked over the guidelines, you should follow up with the publication, either by letter or phone, to be sure that there have been no changes. (Editor's Note: You also can learn a lot by looking over several recent issues of a publication.)

Did You Query First?
This sounds pretty basic, but you would be surprised how many new writers don’t realize that for nonfiction articles, and even for some short fiction, most publications want you to query first. Many a rejection could have been avoided simply by sending a query letter. So, before you start to write that brilliant article, ask if the editor you have in mind wants it. Even if it is the right piece for the right publication, should the editor have recently received a similar piece, then you will suffer yet another rejection. So it’s better to know this before you put all that time and effort into the writing.

Treat your query letter as your “foot in the door.” Make sure you address it to the right editor. Many large circulation magazines have editors, or assistant editors, covering the various sections. A telephone call to the publication will normally get you the name of the right editor.

The way your query is written will give that editor an immediate insight into your ability as a writer. Finding out whether the publication is aimed at a highbrow, middle-of-the-road, or popular market can help you customize your query letter to that particular publication.

Find out if the publication accepts queries — and submissions — by e-mail; many do. It offers advantages both to writer and editor such as:
  • It saves postage. In some cases, only a single stamp; in others several. In any case, they all add up.
  • It saves time. E-mails are instant and not affected by postal delays. 
  • It can get your submission directly to the person you want. Your e-mail is sent directly to the editor’s desk and, as a matter of course, many check their e-mail several times daily. It takes but a few minutes to read your query, make a decision, and type a reply, be it acceptance or rejection.
    • Remember, just because you send your query by e-mail, it does not mean that your query itself should be sloppy and informal. Presentation is just as important as in the letter sent by snail mail. So follow the same format you would use for any query.

Did You Do Enough Research?
Most editors are extremely busy people. Their responsibilities extend far beyond reading through the piece you have sent them, and like all busy people, they have to have a certain amount of trust that what you have written is correct. If there is the slightest doubt regarding the validity of your work, it will be rejected. In order to prevent this, research is very important.

There are many sources of information available: archives, past issues of a publication that could be relevant to the piece you are doing, libraries, and the Web. Through the advent of the Internet, sources not readily available just a few years ago are now at your fingertips. Remember, though, that research is more than simply gathering together several facts and lumping them into an article. The way to an editor's heart is to research that extra bit that makes your piece stand out from the rest, be it an anecdote, a personal experience, or that little known fact gleaned from simply www.profnet.com. This will have the editor reaching for the checkbook rather than the rejection slip.

A Final Word On Beating The Blues
Stop using that rejection slip as a tissue to wipe your tears. Instead, look at it in a more positive way. Professional writers always have several pieces on the go at one time. They may be researching one piece, sending a query letter on another, and, even though they are pros, receiving rejection slips on others. However, they have learned over the years to combat rejection slip blues with work and by taking a good hard look at what the rejection slip actually says.

If you are lucky enough to get some comment on the piece, try to find out what they want, re-write it, and submit it again. If the piece was rejected out of hand, don’t despair. What is not suitable for one editor may be just the thing another is looking for. So take a good look at your piece, forget the “I love yah, baby” thoughts about it, and ask yourself why it was rejected. That’s the best way to overcome the “rejection slip blues.”


About The Author
George W. Bateson was born in England, where he still lives with his wife Marjorie. He has had articles and short stories published in various magazines and newspapers as well as having material broadcast on BBC local radio. He contributes a regular feature in a U.K. quarterly magazine and, at the moment, is working on a crime genre novel.