I am supposed to be doing the third draft of my YA novel, but I’ve decided to spend this week and weekend wrapping up this phase of the anthology work.

[As a quick aside, I’ve written about how using my project management skills on myself as a writer has transformed my ability to complete projects. (I don’t claim it makes the process of writing better, lol. I just know it gets me across the finish line.) Well, those skills have emerged for the anthology process too, We have a spreadsheet with links. This week I started folders for the Yeses and No’s and Maybes. And I started making notes in the files, which is where this post comes in.]

One of the things I appreciate when I submit work is a response. I realize that people who receive large volumes of submissions can’t keep up with providing a response to everyone, but my coeditor and I decided we would provide one or two lines that are specific to the piece in our rejection letters.

Many of the folks submitting didn’t seem to read the call and sent work that didn’t fit the theme. It’s easy to say: we’re not using this because it didn’t fit the theme. But we’re taking it one step further and making an editorial note or two on the submissions. It takes time, but it feels like the right thing to do.

I have one memorable rejection a few years back where I was invited to be in an anthology and my name was used in fundraising and promotions for the anthology. After I submitted my story I got a two sentence form rejection. I knew one of the editors really well and I was flabbergasted. Not at the rejection, but at the communication about it. It would have been so simple to put in a line or two to say, we considered this story but ultimately found that it needs a few more drafts of development—or whatever.

I have a Masters in Publishing. I don’t remember much of my coursework, but I do remember a class I took on editing. The teacher taught us how a critique is delivered is just as important as the content of the critique. I think it’s the same for a rejection letter. I value writers’ efforts and it is an honor to see work from writers of different perspective and all levels of development.

In that editing class, we were graded as much on the wording of our feedback as on the editorial insights we imparted. As a writer, I know how vulnerable it feels to get a rejection. I’ve committed to extending a tiny bit of grace to writers now that I’m the one doing the rejecting.

Onward!

K.