Notes from the Editor
How Rejection Can Lead to Better Writing
Anyone who has ever submitted their work for publication is familiar with the agony that goes along with awaiting a response. Seeing one's hard work in print is often the ultimate validation as a writer. The downside to the submissions process is that inevitably, someone will say no. Rejection can be incredibly difficult to deal with, especially for the new writer just starting to send their work out. The sense of failure and disappointment can be overwhelming. However, it is possible to learn from rejection and in turn, become a better writer.
Rejection is never personal
This is often the hardest thing for new writers to understand. They send out their work with confidence and high expectations and when it's not accepted the first time around, they are immediately discouraged. Every editor is different and every editor will interpret a piece differently, according to the standards of his or her journal, magazine, publishing house, etc. They are making decisions based solely on the quality of the writing, not the writer's personality. Who the writer is as a person is secondary to how good or bad their work is.
Rejection happens to everyone
No writer escapes rejection, no matter how many books they've had on the bestseller list. New writers are more subject to it since they have had less time to perfect their craft. The important thing to remember is that the only writers who ever succeed are the ones who continue to work at it, no matter how many times they are told no. The only writers who truly succeed are the ones who don't give up.
Rejection has valueNo one wants to hear that their work isn't liked; however, criticism, if offered constructively, can be beneficial. Many times, a writer will receive a standard form rejection advising them that their work was not accepted. There are certain instances, however, where an editor may take the time to offer advice or notes. Anytime an editor offers advice to a writer, it should be considered valuable information, and any changes that might be suggested are meant to improve the work. Remember, to an editor, it's all about the writing, not the writer.
Rejection is an unavoidable part of the writing process. However, it is important to keep in mind that every editor is different as every writer is different. A piece that is rejected by twenty journals may be accepted by the twenty-first. Rejection is an opportunity for growth and learning as a writer. For those who persevere, rejection is simply a small step on the road to publication, rather than a stumbling block to success.
typewriter
|
What do you think about this article?
More in Writing & Publishing
Latest Articles