Comments on: Ask Becca: 5 Worst Mistakes When Submitting to Literary Magazines

By: Rebecca Ann Jordan

Rebecca Ann Jordan — Fri, 12 Sep 2014 05:12:00 +0000

That’s a perfect example, Sara. Editors not only reject stories that aren’t the right tone/style/genre, but they get pissed off and they. will. remember. you. It sounds like you have this research thing down to an art form. Congrats on the publications!

By: Rebecca Ann Jordan

Rebecca Ann Jordan — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:38:00 +0000

In reply to Nathaniel Tower.

Totally–but I’ve yet to see something with such a high acceptance rate. Highest one I’ve seen is 44%, and they wrestled with me to such a degree that I actually gave up on them rather than try to be published by them. So yeah, there’s something off in the editorial process if the acceptance rates are so high. Either that, or they just have such a low pool of submissions…

By: Rebecca Ann Jordan

Rebecca Ann Jordan — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 18:36:00 +0000

In reply to Yelena B. It's definitely easier said than done--I still get rejection depression, but it does get easier after a while.

By: Nathaniel Tower

Nathaniel Tower — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 13:42:00 +0000

Great insight, Rebecca. I am pretty confident that I made all these mistakes at some point. Why do we always find these great pieces of advice after we make the mistakes?

I do think that point #3 should have a counter point: Don’t only go for easy acceptances. Every writer needs to challenge him/herself, and an acceptance at Joe’s Fiction World with a 99.87% acceptance rate and 3 monthly readers isn’t going to lead to any major breakthroughs!

By: Yelena B

Yelena B — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 08:25:00 +0000

Yeah it’s definitely a process isn’t it? 🙂 I especially agree with not allowing yourself to get depressed if you are rejected. One step at a time. 🙂