Thank-you letter?

pangalactic · Aug 23, 2010

I've been following a discussion over on another forum and thought I'd see what the good folks here have to say on the matter. The question being, is it considered good form for a writer to send a thank-you note on receiving a rejection letter from an editor? Or is it just an intrusive waste of time?

For me personally, it's not something I ever do. If I've had a personal (i.e. non-form) rejection from a market and I'm submitting again I'll always put something in the cover letter thanking the editor for taking the time to show me where I went wrong last time (or whatever they said in the letter, if it wasn't that), but that's the extent of it. I obviously always give a pre-emptive thanks for taking the time to consider the story in the covering letter as well.

What do you think? I'd be particularly interested to hear from any editors who have views on the matter.

Cheers,
Chris

Gray Rose · Aug 23, 2010

I'm not a short fiction editor. In general, I would prefer not to receive "thank yous" in response to rejections, and I received a few really bizarre ones; but I also received a few thank-you notes from people I know vial Livejournal which were rather sweet, so I wouldn't rule it out in principle. For myself, I never, ever respond to rejections. The possibilities of failure are endless.

pdr · Aug 23, 2010

Usually...

I send a thank you e-mail to an editor who has sent me a personal and helpful rejection. It is brief, just a thank you for your help type one liner.

johnnysannie · Aug 24, 2010

A "thank you" note for a rejection - personal or not - is not only not expected by the editor but not generally done. If you are writing a professional, whether or not you are making a living from it, be professional.

You wouldn't send someone that interviewed you for a job you didn't get a thank-you note, would you?

KTC · Aug 24, 2010

I would say NO.

NicoleMD · Aug 24, 2010

I've done it on a couple occasions out of 200 rejections. One was for a very personal, enthusiastic rejection that I don't feel bad at all about sending. The other was for a speedy response and shouldn't have been sent, but I was still a young writer back then.

So I wouldn't say it's NEVER appropriate, but it should be done very rarely if you do.

Nicole

stormie · Aug 24, 2010

The only time I ever send a short thank you is when I receive a detailed explanation of why they're rejecting a novel length manuscript.

As for short stories--no. Not even when it's a personalized rejection. There's no need to, since short story editors are inundated with mss, and your name and work most likely would be forgotten right after they hit send.

Jamesaritchie · Aug 24, 2010

No thank you note unless the editor goes above and beyond the call of duty.

KyraDune · Aug 24, 2010

I've never sent a thank you note for a rejection.

Robert E. Keller · Aug 24, 2010

I sent one editor a thank-you note for some detailed revision advice that I thought was pretty solid, but otherwise, no. When a story is declined, the editor doesn't want to bother with me again until the next submission--which is good, because I'm not overly fond of rejections and I like to forget them as quickly as possible and move on. The system of declined, move on works well for all involved.

scarletpeaches · Aug 24, 2010

No, no, no, no, no.

Izz · Aug 24, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
No thank you note unless the editor goes above and beyond the call of duty.

I once had four large paragraphs of detailed personal rejection from an editor at a highly respected SF zine, which helped me immeasurably in improving the story. I sent him a thank-you note.

That's the only time i've ever done so.

Jamesaritchie · Aug 25, 2010

Izz said:
I once had four large paragraphs of detailed personal rejection from an editor at a highly respected SF zine, which helped me immeasurably in improving the story. I sent him a thank-you note.

That's the only time i've ever done so.

This is a perfect example of when you should send a thank you note. Above and beyond.

Port Iris · Sep 1, 2010

Jamesaritchie said:
No thank you note unless the editor goes above and beyond the call of duty.

I've received a few thank you emails, and while they are nice to get from time to time, I would suggest not sending one. If you feel obliged to send one that has been extremely helpful, just follow a few simple rules.

Be polite.
Be brief.
Do NOT disagree with anything they've suggested.
Absolutely do NOT ask for a chance to submit a revised version.

The majority of responses to rejections that I've received have broken at least one of these, and that is likely why responses are not looked well upon by editors.

Jamesaritchie · Sep 1, 2010

Port Iris said:
I've received a few thank you emails, and while they are nice to get from time to time, I would suggest not sending one. If you feel obliged to send one that has been extremely helpful, just follow a few simple rules.

Be polite.
Be brief.
Do NOT disagree with anything they've suggested.
Absolutely do NOT ask for a chance to submit a revised version.

The majority of responses to rejections that I've received have broken at least one of these, and that is likely why responses are not looked well upon by editors.

I've received a few thank you notes and e-mails, as well. I don't mind getting them, I just don't have the time to read them. But there are exceptions. If I find a writer with promise, and give a detailed critique, one that takes half an hour or longer, I do appreciate a thank you in return. It isn't necessary, but it is appreciated.

Thank-you letter?

pangalactic

Gargling blasters

Gray Rose

Beware of the Thorns!

pdr

johnnysannie

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

NicoleMD

Onomatopotamus

stormie

storm central

Jamesaritchie

KyraDune

Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces

Robert E. Keller

Likes heroic fantasy and hot coffee

scarletpeaches

Izz

Doing the Space Operatic

Jamesaritchie

Port Iris

Jamesaritchie