31 rejections letters. 12 were sent out via email and 19 were sent in self-addressed envelopes.
I wrote rejection letters today. I tried to view it simply as clerical work. Papers get stacked up and sometimes you need to just sit and get caught up on correspondence. I enjoyed reading all of the proposed titles and glancing through manuscripts and inquiries. Publishing houses, obviously, receive more submissions than they could ever possibly publish. I have a feeling rejection letters will be part of my daily to-do.
The writer in me couldn’t help but feel a bit disheartened. I know how challenging it is to be chosen for publication, but something about seeing people’s names and the hard work they put into their piece I was rejecting on behalf of the editor-in-chief made it so real. I typed the emails that sent bad news to smart and deserving people. I know, as I have a lot of work currently pending for decision at literary magazines, waiting for that email is excruciating. It hurts even more when it’s a rejection.
It’s all part of the process, and honestly, the likelihood of rejection makes the field that much more challenging and rewarding. Writing wouldn’t be worth it if anyone and their brother could throw some words together and see it on the shelf at Barnes & Noble.
Writing those rejections reassured me, in a selfish way, that personally, I am on the appropriate side of the publishing process. I want to help those whose ideas and execution are worth putting into print to share and connect with the world. If I can’t produce them myself (not saying I can’t), I at least want to assist others, because that is something I know I can do.
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