Well it's 893 rejections in three and a half years. That's just for short stories. And I'm not the only one to have this enormous pile of rejections, a couple of my writing friends have similar numbers.
I've posted for two reasons, firstly so that you can congratulate me. Wow, I'm a good little subber.
But secondly to stress what a tough old game this is. We're competing in an international field, against thousands of other writers. Recently I read a blog from a writer who was quitting, saying that he thinks he will never be good enough to publish in the top magazines. Fair enough. But I wondered, just how many submissions had the writer made? And mileage will vary for this. Some writers will never get as many rejections as me and publish more. (Good for them).
Another story: recently after three years of subbing and three years of form rejections, I received a re-write request from a professional publication. Now its true it would have been a better story if it had been an acceptance. But a rewrite request is still very encouraging. And this is from a publication where I've often thought, am I wasting my time?
If you've had as many rejections as me, you don't worry about individual rejections much. You just can't, otherwise you'll go bonkers. Yesterday I got a rejection, oh, so close. (You can tell from duotrope stats, and what other writers say), and I just thought, meh, oh well. Onwards.
Do you know how many rejections you've had?
Oh yes, I have a pile like that. It's so big it distorts the gravity around it. For some reason I keep each and every one. But, yes, these days I'm like, meh, when another one comes in.
ReplyDeleteThe quality of the writing is obviously important, but also I'm convinced luck is involved here. Catching the right reader on the right day, when the market needs a certain type of story. So you have to keep resubbing ...
Yep. It can be time consuming, but got to keep on the treadmill.
DeleteI haven't a clue, but there are many :D
ReplyDelete117. I just looked it up on Duotrope. Lol.
ReplyDeleteThat's after a year of subbing.
Well done, Cate and Lydia. Keep them coming.
DeleteDozens, surely. I don't keep track, and rarely submit anymore. Of course that doesn't mean I've stopped writing. I've just gone the indie publishing route. Ultimately it wasn't the rejections that pushed me that direction, though, as I am not much bothered by them. It was the enormous wait time.
ReplyDeleteSome are fast, and some are sooooo, slow. I have a sub out and it's approaching it's third birthday. No kidding.
DeleteMy rejection rate on Duotrope doesn't even count those from before I starting using it, or the novel rejections. Duotrope tries to cheer my by saying my acceptance rate is higher than most writers for the same pubs. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteI know! Duotrope is a darling!
DeleteWow, you put a whole new spin on persistence. I know I'm in the hundreds, but since I didn't really start pushing out my stories until early last year, I've got some catching up to do.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Deborah. Thanks for sharing.
Glad to help, Erin. (not that you need it)!
DeleteWow. You are definitely persistent. I hope you get some success soon.
ReplyDeleteIf I reach 1000 and still nothing, then I'm a quittin'.
DeleteI do know how many rejections I've had. I've kept a record of these things. The rate would probably be higher if I submitted more (really should do that).
ReplyDeleteI think it's great you are so persistent to keep submitting. :)
Those are a lot of rejections! I admire your resolve to keep on writing and submitting.
ReplyDeleteI have a spreadsheet showing every sub and competition entry I've ever made. As I've been doing it for ten years you might not be surprised to hear I've collected even more rejects than you.
ReplyDeleteOh and congratulations you good little subber you. A re-write request is very encouraging. Have you sent it in yet?
I think it's amazing that you've subbed that much - that is what a real writer does! I haven't actually submitted anything much, so don't have many rejections (one to date, actually, and for a story I knew was not ready to be subbed, but it got requested from a logline). But someday I will be ready to start subbing, and then I'll get back to you ;)
ReplyDeleteThat is a lot. A very lot. As I almost always find when I read your blog, I know I need to submit more. Way more.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the rewrite! I hope it turns into a sale.
Oh wow 893 rejections in three and a half years is impressive. it shows how much you've been writing. A great achievement. Lots of practice, too. I got lots of rejections,though not as many as I went into a doldrum state. I had to remind myslef it is tough and that even JKRowkling got rejections!
ReplyDeleteThen I decided I needed to read lots more and I concentrated on reading reading reading and doing short challenges, nw I write1sub1 monthly which has taken the pressure off and it seems to be paying off, though I do wish I was a prolific as you are. Congratulations and good luck!
Deborah, Deborah, Deborah... yes, I just like typing your name.
ReplyDeleteBut really - if you've subbed that many times without success then what hope is there for the rest of us?
They say that there is a book in all of us. I say, bugger off and keep it to yourself and let me get mine published first! Only joking :)
I know full well my work is no where good enough to be considered for submission, but I enjoy the little journeys it takes my imagination, and if they help others to lose themselves for a while, then I'm happy :)
Oh no!
ReplyDeleteI knew answering Michael's joking post in a similar vein, would lead me into trouble. Don't worry. I've been published over 300 times.
And is your work good enough for publication? That's the editor's job, not yours.
Heh! Just imagine being rejected nearly 900 times and not getting anywhere! That would be something.
A pro-rewrite? Fingers crossed for you! I haven't counted my rejections (yet), but they're all organized nice and neat on a spreadsheet.
ReplyDeleteWell done you for fighting on! You have to keep believing in yourself before others call believe in you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paula. I believe. I believe (said in a frantic voice)!
DeleteWow, nearly a thousand!
ReplyDeleteBut 893 rejects to garner over 300 publications (if I'm reading the comments right) is a good conversion rate, far better than I'm achieving!
I've been intending to pub my rejections sometime, but I was waiting till I'd actually written/sold a few more stories (as in three years I've finished very few stories. Started loads. Finished few.)
I think it's important for us to be open about our rejections, because newbie writers have the impression that they're the only one getting them, and this makes them think, as you say 'Am I wasting my time?' I've often thought this myself, and have given up on stories after... oh, two rejections, only to discover that when I drag them out of the trunk a year later, they sell on the third attempt. If I'd kept going, I could have sold it a year ago!
It's important for everyone to see that getting rejections, lots of rejections, is a normal part of the process (unless you're Ted Chiang). I salute you for leading the charge!
I also suspect you're the major hope for 'Rocket Science' in next years BSFA awards.
Hey Colum,
ReplyDeleteI fear I've misled you. My acceptance rate is more like 15% than 33%. I only counted the number of rejections for my stories, but three hundred acceptances includes my poems as well. Still, not too shabby. Acceptance rates are fairly meaningless, because it all depends on where you sub to.
Except. When I was first starting out, I was amazed to find out just how much people get rejected. Even writers I was trying to emulate. So it really helped me. I'm glad it's encouraged you.
And oh yes, I've had acceptance to professional venues on the 14th sub, and I've heard stories of stories being accepted on 20th, 30th and more submission.
So that's my advice, if you want to get published just keep on the old treadmill.
And thanks so much for the shout-out on your blog. It would be so great if Rocket Science got some noms next year.