The Rejection Archives: Rejection #1 (Form)

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Aeryn Rudel

Something new on the ol’ blog today. I thought it might be fun to go through my extensive archive of rejections and share a few with you on a weekly basis. So let’s crack open the vault and have a look at some no’s, not for us’s, and we’re gonna pass’s.

Today I have the very first rejection I received in what I call the “Duotrope Era,” basically when I started seriously tracking my submissions.

Rejection Number: 1
Story Sent: 4/16/2012
Rejection Received: 5/5/2012
Rejection Type: Common Form Rejection

Thank you for submitting your story, [Story Title], to [Publisher]. Unfortunately, we have decided not to publish it. To date, we have reviewed many strong stories that we did not take. Either the fit was wrong or we’d just taken tales with a similar theme or any of a half dozen other reasons.

Best success selling this story elsewhere.

This is a pretty standard form rejection, but I like that the publishers lists some reasons why you’re story might have been rejected. As standard form rejections go, it’s a good one: polite, encouraging, and to the point. The publisher still uses this form rejection–I got one a few months back. If it ain’t broke, and all that. If you submit work in the same genres I do, you’ve likely seen this rejection a time or two.

The interesting thing about this rejection is when I received it, I hadn’t done much in the way of consistent story submissions, so despite this being a common form rejection, it stung. You see, I hadn’t developed that thick rejectomancer hide yet, and, like many authors, I read all kinds of things into this simple rejection. In the years since I’ve learned not to do that, that rejections are not personal, and the best medicine is to get back to work and submit the story somewhere else. Now I take rejections like this in stride because I know even if this publisher didn’t like the story, another might.

Thoughts on this rejection or this type of rejection? Tell me about it in the comments.

Category: Rejection LettersTags: rejection, Rejection Letters, Rejectomancy, Submissions, Writing, writing tips

6 Comments on “The Rejection Archives: Rejection #1 (Form)”

Maura Yzmore
February 5, 2019

This is like a ‘sight word’ of form rejections for us speculative flash writers — the recognition of where it comes from is instantaneous and visceral!

I love F&SF tiered form rejections.
http://www.ccfinlay.com/blog/nectar-for-rejectomancers.html
The first time I got a Template/Tier 3, I realized (decided?) there might be hope for me after all.

Reply
- Aeryn Rudel
  February 5, 2019
  
  I’ve received two personal rejections from F&SF, and they are among my most treasured. 🙂
  
  Reply
Jason E. Maddux
February 6, 2019

I received this same rejection last week, and I agree, Finlay’s rejections are always welcome, though I’d gladly take an acceptance eventually.

Reply
- Aeryn Rudel
  February 6, 2019
  
  Heh, yeah, me too. Some day. 🙂
  
  Reply
Donald Standeford
February 6, 2019

Thanks for the information. By facing a problem of what most readers, rejection of manuscripts, your unique blogs help quite a bit.

Reply
- Aeryn Rudel
  February 6, 2019
  
  Thanks, Donald. Glad to hear it. 🙂
  
  Reply