9 Odd Dumb Things I Have Learnt From 121 Rejections!
Are they helpful since I still fail most of the times?
Seems stupid, No? Why should you listen to someone who has faced so many rejections, doesn’t have big magazines under her name and is still trying? All I say is there is no harm. Maybe you will get a single point that might help you.
But first, a bit of context.
Going back in time, it was the year of 2020 when I first sent out a story, Mama’s milk, and forgot about it. Three consecutive acceptances later, I thought I would never fail.
But that soon stopped. I started getting polite denials.
What? They didn’t want this fantastic piece I have given my mind and soul? How could that be? A quick search told me that is how it worked.
Last year, I took it seriously. I started tracking all my submissions.
Now, I rage and curse internally whenever I get a rejection mail, no matter how polite and well-intended. But they keep coming.
121 and more of those in a year and I would like to believe I am a bit wiser to write this list. Read on and it might help you too.
1. Read through the publication archivesÂ
Even though some publications are clear about what they want, it is always a good idea to read a piece or two for gauging if my work would fit with the publication. I know it sounds tedious. And some have their work behind a paywall. But it works better in our favour.
2. Submit to publications with set themes or promptsÂ
They get limited entries, and I get the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and try something new. My last published piece, The Mehra family, was exclusive to the theme that the publication had set in their call, freedom.
Yet, even when it is a good to experiment, I don’t force myself to do something I won’t enjoy.
I am not fond of writing science fiction. But a while back, I got inspired by a prompt and submitted a piece to the publication. It was not selected but I had fun writing it. So, I published my first Tech-horror, You’ve got a notification!, here and it is one of the most loved pieces here.
So why not try new things.
3. Submit if they say they are open to new thingsÂ
If you are unsure, submit anyway if the publication says so. Don’t self-reject. Maybe, the editors are looking for something new. As long as you are following the guidelines, and not going completely off the track, like submitting fantasy to Sci-fi magazines, submit.
4. Submit to calls with extended deadlinesÂ
I have been on both sides of the publication. It usually means they have not received the quantity or quality of the writing that they were aiming for. I think that increases chances of acceptance if I submit my best writing possible to the place.
5. Send to the ones with quick response timeÂ
Whenever I have written a piece, I always start with places that can let me know quickly whether they would publish it and then move on to the ones with longer response periods. My logic is simple. What if it gets accepted quickly later? It would be time wasted and spent in agony by me.
6. Submit to places that send back feedbackÂ
We often tend to work in isolation and lose objectivity over our pieces. I am one of those writers too. Are you the same?
If a publication offers to send reviews, I am grateful because they have to send out a ton.
Taking the review into account is my prerogative, but it never hurts to have a second opinion. I have taken some and worked on them to make my story better. But I have also disregarded some that didn’t go well with my idea.
7. Self-evaluateÂ
As attached as I am to my writing, it is hard to grasp it may not be best for the market the publications cater to. Not every story or article I write might be suitable for publishing. So, I try to send only my best possible work to the publication because everyone else will. And let me know what you think.
8. Don’t lose hopeÂ
This is the most difficult part. The rejections stay with me a lot longer than the acceptances.
Yet, I submit. I have some publications that I want my work to feature in. And I keep trying them.
But what about the pieces that find no home?
9. Publish my work anyway
I have some stories that I want people to read. This may mean putting out the work that has not found a place where it was intended for, or writing specifically for my Substack.
But I also take this route when I do not have the patience for submissions for a particular story, like Jyoti, again, one of the most loved pieces on my Substack.
At last, the idea is to show people my work.
These are the practical things that I do so that I don’t spiral down in a web of self-doubt and hatred. Otherwise, there is always good food and books for worse days.
In addition to the tips, here is a picture of me. This is what I look like submitting yet again even when I know there is more than 90% chance of it being rejected!
Now, to the lighter topics, have you ever wondered
Why do men wear uniforms even after school?
Are the men being lazy or fooled? Do they collectively decide to coordinate? Are we being left behind?
This article was first published on Authors Publish Magazine.
The things you list here are an anathema to writers, basically saying that we should write what these editors want, not what we want. I save myself from that trap and the hassle that goes along with it. I gather my stories into a book and submit to my publisher. Or you can self-publish.