While I was preparing Class Number 6 in the Article-Writing course this morning, I started thinking about something all freelance writers and authors experience as a normal part of our world—rejection. And that\u2019s what I decided to write about today.<\/p>\n
Rejection is a part of this business and it is important to keep it in perspective. I once heard someone say that he had never received a rejection letter for one of his articles. I am not usually inclined to call someone a liar. But give me a break! The only way this could be true is if he has never submitted an article OR if he, perhaps, has submitted just a very few articles to really targeted magazines all on a subject about which he is an expert. I can say that there are certain magazines that I\u2019ve never received a rejection letter from. And that\u2019s because I only worked with them once or just a handful of times and my articles were very narrowly, timely and appropriately focused for that magazine.<\/p>\n
Rejection is not necessarily about poor writing. Not at all. Why, then, are we rejected? Let me count the ways. Of course, you might be rejected because of poor writing skills or maybe you got lazy with this particular article and just didn\u2019t do a good job on it. But, if these things are not the case, then it is something else. Here are some possibilities:<\/p>\n
\u2022\tBecause your idea just isn\u2019t timely
\n\u2022\tThe magazine has done something on this subject recently and they don\u2019t want to revisit it right now.
\n\u2022\tThe editor is inundated with articles and, while yours is good, it just didn\u2019t make the cut.
\n\u2022\tYou didn\u2019t target the right magazine with your idea.
\n\u2022\tThe magazine is going out of business.
\n\u2022\tThe editor who previously requested your article has left and the new editor doesn\u2019t like it. I swear, new editors are power freaks who refuse to go with what the former editor has already lined up. When you\u2019ve had a good relationship with an editor, and she leaves, you can almost always wave goodbye to that opportunity. On the other hand, if you\u2019ve had trouble breaking into a magazine, wait until the editor leaves and then pitch your stuff to the new one.
\n\u2022\tA magazine changes their format\u2014this happens more than you might think\u2014so keep abreast of changes in magazines so you are always informed and prepared. If you are writing within a certain field, you might want to subscribe to some of the key magazines so you\u2019ll stay abreast of subtle and blatant changes.
\n\u2022\tThe editor got up on the wrong side of the bed. Or she had a fight with her
\nboyfriend and he has the same name as you do.
\n\u2022\tThe editor happens to hate the subject you\u2019ve pitched (cats, dogs, kids\u2014whatever).
\n\u2022\tThe magazine advertisers would be offended by the subject matter or the slant. <\/p>\n
See, it isn\u2019t always you. Sometimes it\u2019s not you, at all. Just continue to do your best to present a quality product, on a topic that\u2019s definitely within the magazine\u2019s realm of subject matter and style and always approach the editor in a professional manner. Follow this rule of thumb and remember these 10 reasons why articles are rejected and then rest assured that you\u2019ve done nothing wrong.<\/p>\n
To learn more about the article-writing process, sign up for my Article Writing Course at http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_magarticles.htm<\/a> <\/p>\n Order my great little book for freelance writers and authors who are promoting their books: \u201cA Writer\u2019s Guide to Magazine Articles.\u201d Contact me, Patricia Fry, to discuss your freelance writing career. PLFry620@yahoo.com <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" While I was preparing Class Number 6 in the Article-Writing course this morning, I started thinking about something all freelance writers and authors experience as a normal part of our world—rejection. And that\u2019s what I decided to write about today. Rejection is a part of this business and it is important to keep it in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t
\n http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/writingpage.html<\/a> <\/p>\n