Something I’m still trying to learn how to manage as a writer is rejection. If there is something I’ve been told to expect from my mentors, it’s rejection after rejection after rejection. And while I understand rejection is a part of the process for getting stories published, it’s still something I have a hard time with. Not because I feel like my writing deserves to be published, but because I’m just a little sensitive, haha.

There is this fear of rejection that I just can’t seem to get over. It’s a feeling that has kept me from submitting stories and even finishing them. It’s an internal feeling of self-doubt that almost every writer experiences.

The story I submitted was on its 2^nd or 3^rd draft, and when I hit send, I was excited and confident. When I got a rejection email back, of course I was a little sad. I let the story sit for a while after that (about 8 months), and just recently, I revisited it. Reading through it for the 100^th time, I realized that there were definitely some improvements that needed to be made. Writing is re-writing.

Lessons from My Rejection

Here are some things that I learned from this story submission and rejection:

1. Read and follow the guidelines: When I submitted this story, I made sure to follow the submission guidelines to a “T.” I’ve heard rumors that if you don’t, most publications won’t even consider your work. I’m a rule follower by nature (I know, lame), but that’s just who I am. I did send the publication an email asking for clarification on something. They answered my question then proceeded to passive aggressively instruct me to follow the submission guidelines on their website. I can only imagine they get tons of questions that can so easily be answered by simply reading the guidelines. So, yeah. Follow directions, kids.
2. Expect to wait…like a long time: I remember submitting my story in June of 2023 and receiving a rejection email in December. Six months seems like a long time to wait, but after talking with a friend of mine, I realized it’s pretty standard (at times, it can even take longer). Which make since, given that a small group of people have to read their way out of hundreds of submissions.
3. No, no, and no: Apparently there are three types of “no’s” when it comes to getting a rejection. This was something I was vaguely aware of. My friend came in clutch, again, and broke it down for me. It’s useful to keep track of the kinds of No’s you get, if only to track the progress you’re making on your story.
   • No #1: The rejection is impersonal and usually has the words: “We had many submissions…
   • No #2: The rejection has some feedback and sounds a little more encouraging.
   • No #3: The rejection has some specific feedback on aspects of your story and typically has an implied “please submit again” kind of vibe.
4. Keep Going: If there is one thing to take away from the advice of other writers who have “made it,” it’s to keep going. The story that got rejected will probably be rejected at least 10 more times, if not more. The important part is that I believe in this story. I know it’s worth telling. I plan to keep working on it until it’s in the shape it needs to be. I plan to keep going.

I hoped you enjoyed my little tale of rejection. Tell me about a time you had a story rejected. What lessons did you take from it? Leave a comment, and I will see you next week.