Why was I Rejected?
Common reasons why your writing may have been sent to the slush pile
Rejection is a part of getting published, and as a writer you're bound to run into it eventually. Here are some common reasons why your writing may have been rejected.
1. It was full of errors.
This is the number one problem with writing that is passed in my direction. I’ve even been solicited by publishing houses that had errors in their sales letter. Several errors; obvious errors! You could have written the most magnificent article or developed the most amazing plot, but an editor’s job isn’t to fix your commas and spelling. As soon as they see an unmanageable number of mistakes, they have nothing against tossing your manuscript.
2. You selected the wrong publisher.
Some publishers will accept just about anything, but most have very clear guidelines for what they accept and publish. If you submit your cookbook to a publisher who specifically states they do not accept cookbooks, you can only blame yourself for being rejected. The same goes for fiction and non-fiction, and all the genres between.
3. It’s the wrong time of year.
Editors usually take seasonal content four to nine months in advance of the event. If you try to submit your articles on Mothers’ Day in March, an editor may not be able to make their deadline by using your material. Likewise, submitting next year’s Christmas articles in January might be too far in advance, and your article could be forgotten. Check each editor or publisher’s website for submission information.
4. Your style just isn’t what they’re looking for/they just published something similar.
This reason for being rejected is probably the least offensive because it has nothing to do with you whatsoever. What they are looking for and what you provide just doesn’t jive, and that’s ok. In the long run, you need to have a good working relationship with your editor and publisher. If your style is off, this is a mark against you already because it will be harder to communicate and compromise.
5. You didn’t follow the directions.
This is another zinger for authors. Each editor and publisher has a specific set of guidelines that they use and expect you to follow. If you fail to follow the rules, they often assume you didn’t do your research and just don’t care enough. In a perfect world, each editor would accept manuscripts in the same exact format, with the same exact style of contact information and SASE, etc. Submission criteria is as different from editor to editor as fingerprints. The rules vary so wildly between email or snail mail, one copy or two, SASE or postcard, who to address your letter to, how many pages to send, double spaced or not, query first or send first five chapters, etc. A writer can no longer assume their photo copied manuscript will be accepted. Read the directions several times and follow them to the letter.
These are only five of many reasons why your manuscript has been or might be rejected, and they are the most controllable by you. You can control the quality of your submission, whether or not you followed the directions, the timing of your query, the publisher you choose, and to an extent, what the editor is looking for. If you pay attention to these details, your chances of being accepted are much better.
