The Art of Rejection
Yesterday, I received a rejection letter from Jubilat. While I'm not bitter (not really), and believe rejection is part of the publication process, I realized that I'm starting a new "rejection cycle" because I'm sending out my poems for publication again. The whole process sent me back to an old poem/spoof I wrote in grad school. It's so old that I used my then maiden name in the first line.
As you can see, the poem was put together from all of the many forms and letters I've received through the years. Ever notice how some publications send out slips of paper and others send letters with hand-written notes? The hand-written notes are encouraging.
And then there are those that send subscription and donation cards with your rejection. Now that's gall. Jubilat sent a rejection slip and a subscription card.
Ultimate Rejection
Dear January, Dear Ms. Gill, Dear Author, Dear Contributor:
Thank you for your submission to _____.
Thank you for submitting to____.
We appreciate your interest in us. We’re honored that
you would consider ___ as an outlet for creative work.
Look, we know how it feels. We are writers too. It happens.
Although there is no true consolation for rejection,
We regret that it does not meet our present needs.
We regret that the manuscript you submitted does not fit our editorial needs.
Unfortunately, space does not allow us to accept work at this time.
“Not quite.”
We are a small magazine, infrequently published. At present,
we’re reading well over a hundred poems a week.
We receive approximately 1700 pieces of poetry and prose a week.
We publish only 2% of what we receive.
We’ve reached a point where we’re simply unable to accept any unsolicited material
until January 1, 2024,
which makes a personal reply difficult.
We regret the use of this form.
In the meantime, we hope you continue to offer support
by telling everyone you know about us.
As an independent literary magazine in the current “arts challenged” climate
subscribing, and outright generous gifts, is the only way we can survive.
We are, however, interested in your progress.
So we hope we haven’t added to your pile of rejection slips.
Nevertheless, we appreciate you thinking of us.
We do appreciate your interest and hope you’ll think of us again in the fall.
Please feel free to submit by our next deadline.
Thank you for showing your work to us.
Best of luck in placing your work elsewhere.
Keep reading_____, and keep trying.
Thanks and sorry.
As you can see, the poem was put together from all of the many forms and letters I've received through the years. Ever notice how some publications send out slips of paper and others send letters with hand-written notes? The hand-written notes are encouraging.
And then there are those that send subscription and donation cards with your rejection. Now that's gall. Jubilat sent a rejection slip and a subscription card.
Ultimate Rejection
Dear January, Dear Ms. Gill, Dear Author, Dear Contributor:
Thank you for your submission to _____.
Thank you for submitting to____.
We appreciate your interest in us. We’re honored that
you would consider ___ as an outlet for creative work.
Look, we know how it feels. We are writers too. It happens.
Although there is no true consolation for rejection,
We regret that it does not meet our present needs.
We regret that the manuscript you submitted does not fit our editorial needs.
Unfortunately, space does not allow us to accept work at this time.
“Not quite.”
We are a small magazine, infrequently published. At present,
we’re reading well over a hundred poems a week.
We receive approximately 1700 pieces of poetry and prose a week.
We publish only 2% of what we receive.
We’ve reached a point where we’re simply unable to accept any unsolicited material
until January 1, 2024,
which makes a personal reply difficult.
We regret the use of this form.
In the meantime, we hope you continue to offer support
by telling everyone you know about us.
As an independent literary magazine in the current “arts challenged” climate
subscribing, and outright generous gifts, is the only way we can survive.
We are, however, interested in your progress.
So we hope we haven’t added to your pile of rejection slips.
Nevertheless, we appreciate you thinking of us.
We do appreciate your interest and hope you’ll think of us again in the fall.
Please feel free to submit by our next deadline.
Thank you for showing your work to us.
Best of luck in placing your work elsewhere.
Keep reading_____, and keep trying.
Thanks and sorry.
Comments
Whatever doesn't kill us is the stuff of fiction an poetry!
*smile*
LOL. GMTA.
I saw on Bud Bloom's site that you'll be at Dodge--me too!!!
Maybe we could do a PoThurs reading or something.
Lisa
(ljcbluemuse.blogspot.com)
Very cool!
However annoying they are, though, it means you are one step closer to placing your piece.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the poem, and have a great time at Dodge!
This is a poem we can all commiserate with.