I'm not really facing this issue myself right now, but I'm curious about it. If a magazine rejects one of your stories, in general how long are you expected to wait before submitting another story to the same magazine? I mean- it seems a little weird to say, "You rejected my last story, now read another one." As far as I know, only the New Yorker addresses this in their guidelines. They state they would only like two submissions per year. How do you think other editors feel? Any personal experience with this issue?
How long to wait before submitting again?
- Thread starter Lee G.
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In most cases, you can submit directly after receiving a response from the magazine. In other words, don't overlap.
As with all cases, make sure you check guidelines first...
As with all cases, make sure you check guidelines first...
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Unless you really annoy them and send them two dozen stories all at once or you are in some other way annoying, they probably won't remember you. With the thousands of submissions some magazines get a month, your submission was a drop in the bucket.
Don't worry about it. If they get tired of you, they'll let you know. Keep plugging away at it. The more often you submit, the more likely you are to strike someone's fancy.*
*of course, I emphasize that you must have publishable quality for this advice to work.
Don't worry about it. If they get tired of you, they'll let you know. Keep plugging away at it. The more often you submit, the more likely you are to strike someone's fancy.*
*of course, I emphasize that you must have publishable quality for this advice to work.
Hi,
What makes you think you have to wait? My rule is "whenever I have something new I think they'll enjoy." I know the tastes of a lot of editors, but I write a lot of odd things. The markets pop into my head as I'm finishing the work. Time has nothing to do with it.
Now, after being PUBLISHED in a particular market, I sometimes wonder how soon they want to hear from me again. There's an odd twist. ;-)
What makes you think you have to wait? My rule is "whenever I have something new I think they'll enjoy." I know the tastes of a lot of editors, but I write a lot of odd things. The markets pop into my head as I'm finishing the work. Time has nothing to do with it.
Now, after being PUBLISHED in a particular market, I sometimes wonder how soon they want to hear from me again. There's an odd twist. ;-)
scottVee said:
My personal rule is, after being published in a particular place, move on.
That's just me - I'd rather be able to list a dozen different markets in my bio than one a dozen times.
Since breaking in is the hardest part, doesn't that make life that bit more difficult for you, Mike?
My advice would be to submit again as soon as you had something suitable, Lee - as long as the guidelines don't say otherwise.
My advice would be to submit again as soon as you had something suitable, Lee - as long as the guidelines don't say otherwise.
I've done this a couple times because, while the first story is out there, I've written the second story which I think is a MUCH better for that magazine.
I have to have a solid reason to send them something right away, though. It doesn't have to be anything deeper than "Hmph. Well, they'll like THIS! Ha!"
I have to have a solid reason to send them something right away, though. It doesn't have to be anything deeper than "Hmph. Well, they'll like THIS! Ha!"
Unfortunately I am always the world's worst to assume that just because a magazine rejects one story from me, that the editor and I are probably just not a good stylistic match. And yet, yes, I have had second and third attempts picked up by magazines that previously rejected me, but I do usually have to give it some distance because I just can't bring myself to submit again while the sting of the first rejection is still fresh. I may wait up to a year or more before trying them again. I always figure there are too many markets out there who are or will be receptive to my work to waste too much precious time haranguing one publication.
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Check the guidleines first, then submit. I have several venues I submit almost everything to - sometimes it's a perfect fit, sometimes not so perfect. But I always try for a perfect fit.
arrowqueen said:
Never been an issue so far. Every story is judged on merits, not because you did ok last time. As an editor, I have on several occasions rejected stories by writers we've accepted in the past if the story's not up to scratch. I've also suggested that one extremely talented writer, who was in danger of swamping us with brilliant work, explore other markets.
If my stories are good enough to get in, they get in. If they're not, they don't, and it has nothing to do with my previous history.
A general rule of thumb...
is every three months.
If you know the editor you can ask hir if s/he'd like another story. If you don't then spread your work around and come back to where you've been successful in three months.
is every three months.
If you know the editor you can ask hir if s/he'd like another story. If you don't then spread your work around and come back to where you've been successful in three months.
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