This is actually a question (combined with a rant)

Mystic Blossom · Jan 27, 2010

I know that generally, you're not supposed to respond to rejections, but I received a very sweet one this morning that I would like to thank the editor for. Think it'll be frowned upon? For the record, it's an e-mail correspondence.

In sad news, yet another rejection! This poem is getting to be a hard sell, because I can't quite figure out what kind of magazine would want it. I'm definitely used to rejection, and was definitely expecting a lot of them, but I'm beginning to wonder if it even HAS an audience, never mind what it might be.

Ah well. I'll just have to keep trying.

Jamesaritchie · Jan 27, 2010

Nver, ever, for any reason respond negatively to a rejection. But it does no harm to respond positively. When an editor goes out of his way to be nice, to explain, etc., a short, polite thank you e-mail is fine.

Elaine Margarett · Jan 27, 2010

First, sorry for the rejections!

Whether or not you should respond, I don't know. Personally, I wouldn't. First, I wouldn't waste my time or the editor's. Secondly, it doesn't seem professional.

But this is only *my* opinion and I'm frequently wrong. <g>

Jamesaritchie · Jan 27, 2010

Elaine Margarett said:
First, sorry for the rejections!

Whether or not you should respond, I don't know. Personally, I wouldn't. First, I wouldn't waste my time or the editor's. Secondly, it doesn't seem professional.

But this is only *my* opinion and I'm frequently wrong. <g>

For a standard rejection, it isn't very professional. But when and if an editor goes one step beyond, which is rare, it's nice to get a thank you.

I've been on that side of the desk, and when I do use precious time to tell a writer why I'm rejecting his work, a thank you comes across as nice.

kellion92 · Jan 27, 2010

I wouldn't send a thank you. I would refer to the note next time I had a submission.

scarletpeaches · Jan 27, 2010

I know someone who responded to a rejection with a thank you and an enquiry as to whether they could submit future works. The editor said yes and they subsequently bought two books from this writer.

the addster · Jan 27, 2010

I've sent a short thank you in response to personal rejections. As long as you are sincere and brief, I don't see the harm. I have had responses thanking me for the thank you and detailing a little more of what they would like to see.

MacAllister · Jan 27, 2010

I've been thanked for personalized rejections, as well, and have never taken it amiss.

Wayne K · Jan 27, 2010

I got a "Thank you, you made my day" for a similar response, in a similar situation. It's nice to be nice.

Jamesaritchie · Jan 27, 2010

Let me put this another way. For every writer who responds to a personalized rejection with an appropriate "thank you for taking the time", an editor may get several e-mails from writers who say something like, "Yur a dum sumbitch who woudn't know good righting if it was tatued on yur ass."

That "thank you for taking the time" makes up for a lot of crap, and even if I never buy anythng from that writer, I will at least pay careful attention to his submissions, and start reading them in a good mood. That matters.

Chris P · Jan 27, 2010

I did thank an editor for a wonderful rejection letter for a short story. He mentioned things that happened in the story (proving he'd read it), said he enjoyed it but that it wasn't something that he could currently use. When put in those terms, I believed him instead of thinking he just rubber stamped a rejection with a flimsy reason.

Being civil to me took no more than two minutes of his time. It took me no more than two minutes to be civil back.

This is actually a question (combined with a rant)

Mystic Blossom

My heart's a battleground

Jamesaritchie

Elaine Margarett

High and Dry

Jamesaritchie

kellion92

A cat may not look at a king

scarletpeaches

the addster

MacAllister

'Twas but a dream of thee

Wayne K

Jamesaritchie

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred