Last Updated on March 26, 2019 by Nathaniel Tower
As a writer, nothing is better than an acceptance. And nothing is worse than a rejection. Of course, sometimes a rejection includes a bit of silver lining that might soften the blow a little. This comes in the form of an invitation to submit again.
But what does a publication really mean when they ask you to send them something else? Let’s explore what you should do when you get one of these more positive rejections.
First, determine if they really want you to submit again
Unfortunately, not every request to see something else is sincere. Sometimes publications are just trying to be polite. Whenever you get an invitation to send more work, you should first determine if they really want you to submit again or if they’re just trying to make the rejection less harsh. Let’s look at some examples:
Example 1: They really want you to resubmit.
This will come in the form of a very positive personalized rejection letter that mentions some good things about your work. Ultimately, they will say they are passing this time around but they would definitely like to see something else. The more personal and positive it is, the more likely it is they want to see more of your work.
Example 2: They are indifferent.
These are usually form (or very close to it) rejection letters that end with something along the lines of, “we encourage you to send us more of your work in the future.” Don’t get too excited about these. They aren’t hoping that you’ll submit again. They just wouldn’t mind too much if you did.
If it’s not personal and the language isn’t positive, they aren’t really inviting you to send more work. That doesn’t mean you can’t. It just means they aren’t asking for it.
Example 3: They really don’t want to see more of your work
These are either form rejections or personal rejections that are mostly critical (in the very negative sense). They might talk about how they receive thousands of submissions and can only select a few, or they might point out several things they didn’t like about your submission without giving any positives. Then, seemingly out of the blue, they sign off by saying “feel free to send us something else when you have something you think will be a better fit.”
There’s nothing in this invite that suggests it’s sincere. If you get this type of rejection, send again at your own risk. It’s unlikely they are interested in publishing you.
Regardless of the type of rejection you get, the next thing you must determine is what they want you to send them.
Figure out what they want to see next
Most of the time, a publication will be pretty clear if they want to see a rewrite of the piece they are rejecting. If they don’t explicitly ask you to revise it and send it again, then your best bet is to send them something else completely.
Example 1: They want a rewrite.
If a publication wants to see a rewrite, they will give specific suggestions for what they want to see you change. This doesn’t mean line-by-line edits, but it will be actionable feedback you can apply to the story. More importantly, they will tell you to send it back when you’re ready.
Example 2: They want a different story.
If they ask you to send something else or encourage you to submit again, they are asking for a new piece. Don’t be tempted to revise a story they’ve rejected in this case. You should instead look for something else you have that is similar to the aesthetic they publish but doesn’t have any of the “defects” they cited in their rejection.
Example 3: They don’t really want anything.
We discussed this already above. If the invite isn’t encouraging, then don’t waste your time sending another piece to that publication unless you’re just trying to rack up rejections.
Once you’ve figured out what to send, you need to plan your approach.
Thank them and give them some space
An invite to submit again doesn’t mean they want to see another submission today. Or tomorrow. Publications are busy and get tons of submissions. Give them some space. It’s proper to send a brief note thanking them for their feedback and the opportunity to submit again. But resist the temptation to send them more work right away. I typically recommend waiting at least a month before sending something else. This demonstrates that you are taking the time to consider what they really are looking for. They will appreciate this.
Send your best work
Whenever you are submitting your work to a venue, make sure you are sending them your best. Don’t try to cut corners or think you can slide one of your second-rate pieces past them just because they asked to see more of your work. When you do submit again, don’t be shy about mentioning that you’re submitting again per their request. While many publications don’t bother to read cover letters prior to accepting a piece, the ones that do will appreciate the note.
Rejection is inevitable
No matter who you are as a writer, you will be rejected. While it’s never a good feeling, it usually feels better when a publication offers encouragement. Don’t take this encouragement lightly. When they sincerely ask you to send more work, you should do it. You’ll have a much better chance of getting accepted by them than you will by another place you’ve never sent work to before.
What do you do when a publication invites you to resubmit? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.
