Rejection, rejection, rejection...

[Naomasa298]

Just a general question: do most publishers have the same form rejection letter for every rejection? Lightspeed states in their guidelines that they will only say "send more" if they actually want more. Is that common among publishers or do most just respond with "hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future" and similar taglines to keep a polite tone?

Yes, most publishers just send the same bit of text for every rejection, but that bit of text varies from publisher to publisher. If Lightspeed only want a partial manuscript, that is unusual. Most that I've come across want the whole story, although Heroic Fantasy Quarterly do the same as Lightspeed.

 

[Tallyfire]

If Lightspeed only want a partial manuscript, that is unusual. Most that I've come across want the whole story, although Heroic Fantasy Quarterly do the same as Lightspeed.

They just mean they would like to see more submissions from you in the future. The exact text is:

We cannot offer personalized feedback on each story. If we say, “send more,” however, it does mean that we hope to see something else from you.

 

[Naomasa298]

They just mean they would like to see more submissions from you in the future. The exact text is:

Yeah, that's pretty normal. Like Clarkesworld always say:
"In the past, we've provided detailed feedback on our rejections, but I'm afraid that due to time considerations, we're no longer able to offer that service. I appreciate your interest in Clarkesworld Magazine and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future."

 

[X Equestris]

Just a general question: do most publishers have the same form rejection letter for every rejection? Lightspeed states in their guidelines that they will only say "send more" if they actually want more. Is that common among publishers or do most just respond with "hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future" and similar taglines to keep a polite tone?

Generally, editors are buried under enough submissions they aren’t going to encourage authors they don’t truly want to see more stories from, but some do use this kind of language in their basic form rejections.

Most of the time, I’d call encouragement to submit more stories in the future a slightly higher-tier form rejection. There’s a rejection wiki you can consult to be sure, but it’s far from comprehensive.

 

[Set2Stun]

It depends. Plenty of magazines have a lower tier and a higher tier rejection - I've received both before from multiple pieces to the same place.

Ope looks like X Equestris just beat me to it. I was just about to paraphrase this bit:

editors are buried under enough submissions they aren’t going to encourage authors they don’t truly want to see more stories from

I keep separate email folders for my rejections. One is for general rejections, the other is for "submit again."

 

[Tallyfire]

There’s a rejection wiki you can consult to be sure, but it’s far from comprehensive.

This is exactly the kind of thing I was looking for! Thanks.

I keep separate email folders for my rejections. One is for general rejections, the other is for "submit again."

Here I thought I was prepared with the one “Rejections” folder…

 

[Naomasa298]

It kind of depends whether the reply you get is a standard boilerplate response, or whether it's been personalised in some way, even if it's only half a sentence.

 

[Cuneiform]

Nice warm high tier rejection from Home Constellations. But a rejection nonetheless. The only thing high tier rejections do is remind me that sometimes rejections really aren't about the quality of the work. Form rejection after form rejection makes you forget that. Even if you've been published.

 

[DoctoreX]

Is this rejection? Or how to call it?

"Dear Azrael
We’ve now had a chance to review your manuscript, but the situation is a bit more complicated.
Overall, we liked it, but at this moment we would rather offer you the opportunity to write a different book instead.
Would that be a topic you’d be interested in?
Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and all the best in the new year,
[Name Redacted]
Director"

 

[Set2Stun]

Even though it's a rejection, it's a very good one! I'm guessing this is for a non-fiction proposal? Hope the topic they suggested is something you'd be interested in writing about.

 

[Naomasa298]

Is this rejection? Or how to call it?

"Dear Azrael
We’ve now had a chance to review your manuscript, but the situation is a bit more complicated.
Overall, we liked it, but at this moment we would rather offer you the opportunity to write a different book instead.
Would that be a topic you’d be interested in?
Wishing you a peaceful Christmas and all the best in the new year,
[Name Redacted]
Director"

It kind of depends who's asking. It's certainly not a form rejection - unless that's what they send out to everyone.

If it's a vanity publisher, and they want money from you for anything, stay well clear. If not, it doesn't hurt to enquire further.

 

[DoctoreX]

It kind of depends who's asking. It's certainly not a form rejection - unless that's what they send out to everyone.

If it's a vanity publisher, and they want money from you for anything, stay well clear. If not, it doesn't hurt to enquire further.

No, it’s not a vanity publisher - it’s a decent mid-sized fantasy publisher in my country. Based on our current discussion, it looks like they’re willing to pay me (not very well) to write a YA fantasy novel (which is not what I usually do) but the devil may be in the details. We’ll continue the discussion in January.
Still quite a surprise.

 

[DoctoreX]

Even though it's a rejection, it's a very good one! I'm guessing this is for a non-fiction proposal? Hope the topic they suggested is something you'd be interested in writing about.

It’s a fantasy publisher, so not non-fiction. Honestly, based on our discussion so far, it looks like I would’ve chosen a different topic for the “other” book. Lets see how it will go - my first choice is still to sell them the existing manuscript, even if that means revising it into a version they’re excited about.

 

[Naomasa298]

No, it’s not a vanity publisher - it’s a decent mid-sized fantasy publisher in my country. Based on our current discussion, it looks like they’re willing to pay me (not very well) to write a YA fantasy novel (which is not what I usually do) but the devil may be in the details. We’ll continue the discussion in January.
Still quite a surprise.

Sounds promising. Good luck with it!

 

[DoctoreX]

Sounds promising. Good luck with it!

Thank you!

 

[Set2Stun]

27-day form rejection from Haven, plus an agent rejection.

Up to 139 now. I'll make it to 150, just gotta close off some more submissions as "no response" this week.

 

[Naomasa298]

18-day personal rejection from Escape Pod. Too bleak. Damnit, I need to write happy stories!

*Note to self: add more bunnies*

 

[Set2Stun]

Haha, yeah I've been noticing this on a few submission pages - asking to send more positive stories, because the bulk of what they receive is dystopian sci-fi. I've been making a conscious effort to write stories that are a touch more uplifting, or at least have a happy-ish ending.

 

[Naomasa298]

0-day rejection from The Dark.

 

[Set2Stun]

Received an acceptance today from AntipodeanSF. It's not a paying market, but the reach will be good for me. They were established in 1998 (so they should have a solid reader base) and in addition to the magazine, they will feature the story on their weekly podcast and public radio show. I've been asked to narrate the story for that, which I've never done before. But I'm determined to give it a go.