Rejection and Acceptance Letter Etiquette: An Update

About three weeks ago I posted a query to writers and editors alike: Should a writer respond back to acceptance and/or rejection letters? You can read the original post here.

I had never read any articles about it nor had I ever discussed it with fellow writers. I felt it was a subject that needed to be addressed.

An issue that arose regarding my post was there needed to be a distinction between writers having work accepted for an online publication versus print. Correspondence with an editor for a print publication won’t end with the acceptance letter. There are contracts to sign, galley proofs to review, royalty negotiations, etc. In general, and this is my personal experience, online pub acceptances are more akin to “handshake” agreements, based on writer guideline rights, and require less follow-up.

As most of the responses I received were on my Facebook post, I thought I’d share these opinions here at the blog as well.

ACCEPTANCES:

“I usually respond to acceptances, just to say thank you and to let them know that I am still interested because I find a lot of acceptance notices request confirmation of this.” - Chantal Boudreau (Writer)

“I respond to most with a thank you, looking forward to publication, etc, or with requested information.” - Erin Cole (Writer)

“I always respond to an acceptance with a thank you.” – Thomas Pluck (Writer)

“I usually send off a ‘thank you’ for acceptances...” – Chris Allinotte (Writer)

“It is extremely important to reply to every acceptance. The editor has liked your work. You really need to let them know you have read their acceptance letter. To not respond is in very poor taste, and grounds for an editor to never accept anything else from the writer. We editors want a response when we accept your work. If we don't get that response, however short ("Thank you!" etc.) then we are left feeling you couldn't care less.” - Scathe Meic Beorh (Editor of The Bradburyesque Quarterly)

“As an editor, I don't expect a reply to anything other than a revision request. That said, I think the whole editorial staff at Every Day Fiction does one of your "butt chair wiggles" when we hear back from writers (accepted or rejected) thanking us for the time we put into our responses. As a writer, I always respond positively to both acceptances and rejections. It might just be a little drop of good karma, but every drop helps."

- J. C. Towler (Writer and editor at Every Day Fiction)

“Editors are inundated with mail, and unless they’ve written something that warrants a reply, etiquette demands I stay quiet. If it’s a book, the acceptance leads to a steady flow of mail, understandably.” - Rumjhum Biswas (Writer)

“I do, always, reply to acceptance letters. Usually it’s just a little note that expresses my happiness at the acceptance and anticipation about working with them/seeing my work in their pages/whatever. My reasoning is a) I want to establish a relationship with that editor since I'll be working with them, and also for potential future projects b) sometimes letters don’t say when publication is expected, I like to get an estimate at least c) it seems like the right thing to do. As an editor I appreciate it when the writer responds to an acceptance letter because it helps make them real to me, rather than just some nebulous form around a pen name. Also, since we’ll be working on edits and stuff together, it’s nice to get started in a friendly-type way.” - Rhonda Parrish (Writer and editor of Niteblade Magazine)

REJECTIONS:

“I hardly ever respond to rejections. The rare time I do, it is in response to useful feedback provided with the rejection (they get a thank you to let them know I appreciate their time and consideration) and in one case I responded because one publisher sent me a rejection notice more than a year after I had submitted a short story.” - Chantal Boudreau (Writer)

“Editor rejected story but gave feedback on why. I responded to ask, if I changed the story in that way, would she like to see it again. Only done this one once, though she responded that yes, she did want to see the next draft.” John Wiswell (Writer)

“I never respond, unless like you, they have taken the time to give me valuable feedback.” - Erin Cole (Writer)

“I have responded to a few rejections when they had nice things to say but it wasn’t a good fit for them. I do not see a downside to being pleasant and professional. It is an investment which costs nothing.” – Thomas Pluck (Writer)

“... like you, if the rejection comes with helpful notes of any kind, I thank them for that too. Beyond that - no. The editors have sent out their letters and are now on to building the book/issue/etc, and most likely don’t want extra correspondence at that point.” – Chris Allinotte (Writer)

“Replying to rejections? Sometimes, if the editor has said something important. I have noted this through the years: query letters for short stories get them published far quick than without them. This is because the editor is developing a relationship with you as an actual person.” - Scathe Meic Beorh (Editor of The Bradburyesque Quarterly)

“Book rejections, if a form rejection, does not require a response."

- Rumjhum Biswas (Writer)

“I always respond to rejection letters with a hand written note thanking them for their time and consideration in regards my story. I also include a $2.50 Visa gift card with a note saying ‘this cuppa Joe is on me.’ And at a convention a woman walked up to my booth handed me her card and asked if I knew who she was, when I told her no, she reminded me that I sent her a thank you note for a rejection letter. She bought two of my books and said she wasn’t surprised to see me doing well. This is not what I thought would happen when I sent those thank you notes, there was no ulterior motive. I sent them because I wanted to say thank you.” – Crystal Connor (Writer)

“As a writer I never reply to rejection letters for reasons that are probably obvious. (As an editor) I never expect or want replies to rejection letters though, even to personal rejection letters. There’s nothing wrong with them (so long as they aren’t arrogant or argumentative) but they aren’t necessary either.” - Rhonda Parrish (Writer and editor of Niteblade Magazine)

*

In his memoir ‘A Simple Act of Gratitude’ author John Kralik writes about how sending ‘thank-you’ notes changed his life. Based on the responses above, maybe it’s time I made this very same change.

Thank you to all the writers and editors who took the time to share their views.

-Angel

Why Liking the ‘Like’ Button Sometimes Scares Me

As most of you are aware, a ‘Like’ button can been found on almost every personal blog, social and business site. Hell, there’s one right above this post. I’ve read countless articles on the power of the ‘Like’ button. It’s a great tool that provides an opportunity for you to stay connected to your target audience. It also grants you exposure in newsfeeds which may in fact generate a more “viral” traffic to your site or page and possibly increase the sales and/or recognition of your specific product or service.

Important? Yes, I think so. But that’s not what I’m leading to here.

When someone ‘Likes’ your page, what exactly are they ‘Liking’? Is it the overall design of the page? Is it the product(s) you’re offering? Is it sweet, wonderful you? Is it an addiction to clicking buttons?

I’ve heard women speaking with each other about men they’re dating.

“I like him,” Woman #1 says to Woman #2. “But I don’t ‘like him’ like him.”

You see, it can become so complicated. And the answers to these questions are still not what I really want to talk about. My actual focus is on ‘Liking’ the books of authors whose work we haven’t read. That’s right, books we have not opened and read. Yet because they ask us to, we click ‘Like’. Like a favor. Like somewhat of a… lie.

It’s one thing to ‘Like’ an author’s page, but to say we ‘Like’ the book they wrote, but haven’t read seems quite misleading. Would you ever say you ‘Like’ the food at a restaurant you’ve never dined in?

Let’s face it, as a writer my main objective is to be read. After that, I want to know the reader enjoyed what he or she read. I want to know if they ‘Liked’ it. I want to know if they hated it. Okay, I really want to hear them say they ‘Loved’ it, but I don’t know if that button exists yet.

In truth, I worry that my desire to get my books ‘out there’ will lead me to only look at the numbers (i.e. # of books sold, income earned, sales ranking, etc.) and not on the satisfaction of my reader. I worry that fishing for “Likes’ will ultimately override the honesty of reader feedback I receive. And I’m starting to see that from other writers. I don’t want it to appear I’m judging or bad-mouthing any writers. We all want success and follow different roads there. I do my upmost to help the writers around me achieve success too. And I want success as much as the next guy, but for me, I don’t want people clicking the ‘Like’ button for my book unless they read it and truly ‘Like’ it.

I mean, are eight million ‘Likes’ worth more than the genuine joy one reader feels about your words?

Well, is it?

Erin Cole: Writer Spotlight

My recommended author of the week is Portland, Oregon’s very own, Erin Cole. Her work passionately entwines the quiet light of a prophetic voice with the fury of a wounded soul. “Embark through the shaded jungle, lunacy beware, for the wolf journeys on the writer’s unrest.” from Pursuit of the Writer.

She’s able to amuse us with the fundamental nature of her craft. “I play with words, and though I may not assemble them with eloquence and clarity as often as I try, they do infuse my world with vibrant color and meaning.” from My Guru. Then, just as easily, she reveals a significantly divine truth. “I reflect on the concept of an inner compass, some spiritual atlas that gives one drive and direction…” from My Compass.

Thankfully, Erin is gracious enough to share her writing philosophy with us. “For me, writing is a medium to explore the multitude of interests, beliefs, emotions, visions, and other facets I seek to discover and create to make sense of my world.” from Writing.

Erin Cole’s writing seeks out the scars we hide and mercifully declares them beautiful.

Works of interest include:

Unspoken Bonds
a powerful short story of familial relationships published on Helium:
http://www.helium.com/items/1441938-alzheimers-sacrifice-letting-go-duty-hardship

Who I Am Is Where I Came
flash fiction published on 13 Stitches:
http://13stitches.ning.com/profiles/blogs/who-i-am-is-where-i-came

My Guru
flash fiction work published on Six Sentences:
http://sixsentences.ning.com/profiles/blogs/my-guru

Writing
eloquent prose on the craft of writing published on Six Sentences:
http://sixsentences.ning.com/profiles/blogs/writing-1

Pursuit of the Writer
poem published on the Author’s blog:
http://erincolelive.blogspot.com/2009/06/pursuit-of-writer.html

Visit Erin’s blog to “Listen to the Voices” and discover other relevant epiphanies:
http://erincolelive.blogspot.com/

Author Interview: Lorianne Zeller

"I have published and been published, but what matters most is what I am writing today."
~Lorianne, from the Author’s blog.

Welcome to the first of many author interviews I will be hosting here at

A Rage of Angel. It is my distinct pleasure to introduce an exceptional writer whose work I greatly admire, Lorianne Zeller.

RAGE: In one sentence, describe everything there is to know about your writing.
LORIANNE: It evolves in its honesty, maturity and beauty at about the same rate that I do.

RAGE: Tell us your latest news.
LORIANNE: Started a new venture with http://13stitches.ning.com/, a community for writers. Also, some of my work will be featured this month at Outsider Writers Collective and also at Rusty Truck. I'm pretty excited about both, though I've appeared in Outside Writers Collective before, it's always a thrill to be asked.

Rusty Truck is a special thrill for me. I've religiously read it. Some of my favorite poets, whose work I respect have been published there, like Father Luke, Hosho McCreesh and William Taylor Jr. to mention just a few. Having my own words grace those same pages makes me feel all tingly and a little bit like bowing and scraping while chanting I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy.

RAGE: What do you like to do when you're not writing?
LORIANNE: You mean what things do I like to do while I'm thinking about writing but not actually doing it? Just kidding...sorta. Since moving last year to California, I've discovered I can make things grow, so I garden. I spend time with my kids as often as they will tolerate me (they're teenagers, so not that often). I paint and draw. I play a mean game of Texas hold-em from time to time.

RAGE: What do your family and friends say about your writing? Are they supportive?
LORIANNE: My extended family is barely aware of me, let alone my writing. My immediate family is very supportive and they always allow me the time and space necessary. They humor me when I talk to strangers or street people looking for experiences I will weave into stories. Both of my daughters write, not with the same rabid drive that I do and that's a good thing. My friends have always been my biggest supporters and best audience, cheerleaders and critics. I'd have to say they're the ones that keep me honest and grounded when it comes to the writing.

RAGE: One of my favorite stories you’ve written is the micro fiction piece “One Door Closes…” published on your Six Sentences blog. The confessional honesty and strong imagery really hit home for me. As a writer, I often feel like I’m hiding out “in plain sight” from my own family. Is this story based on true experience? If so, how has it changed you as a writer?
LORIANNE: That one is based on truth. To be honest even when it isn't easy, to say what’s difficult to say, to show myself as vulnerable and sometimes terribly unattractive in my humanity is something I work at in my writing, and my life.

I do come from this wildly talented family of artists, though I am the only one who writes. I think the hiding thing is part of the creative personality; like it's built in. My brother makes his living as an artist now, but as kids growing up in the same house, I never saw his work; none of us did. We were all shocked when he got a college scholarship to major in art.

I don't think having some of my family 'discover' my writing has changed how I write. I think I've been aware for some time that often a reader takes a piece as documentary, as a gospel truth reporting of facts or a diary entry, rather than a created work; understandable in my case since seeds of truth seem to always be sown within the furrows of the words. I mean we, our lives, are always in our writing... intended or not; it seems unavoidable doesn't it?

RAGE: What inspires you to keep writing?
LORIANNE: Life; if I'm brutally honest with myself, mostly the painful aspects of life. Other writers. God I love being in the company of other writers who take the craft seriously, but not themselves. Some kind of wonderful jambalaya always seems to result when you toss a wide range of creative folks into one pot. I sometimes write less often, sometimes more, but I'm always writing. Funny – I've never tired of it. My passion for it has never flickered to such a small flame that I could/would walk away from it. Words, language, writing...they've been the longest love affair of my life; fraught with all the wonder and all the angst of any love affair of course, but always enduring.

RAGE: If a publisher wanted to offer you the book deal of a lifetime, where can you be contacted? Where can we find your published work?
LORIANNE: Electronically I can be found all over the place via Google. Other than a brief stint writing non-adult content for an “adult” venture, I've always written under my own name. I already mentioned www.outsiderwriters.org, www.rustytruck.wordpress.com, and of course I can always be found at www.13stitches.ning.com

In print I can be found in some dusty old anthologies now lining birdcages or possibly in the basement of the now defunct Stand Alone Press; my mother might have a copy of a collaborative book I did with 3 other writers titled Table for Four and Other Reservations. That one I have to say was early in my poetic evolution and I am more proud of the title, which was my idea, than I am of any of the poems I contributed. Even thinking about them now makes me cringe. I really do believe what I am writing today is what matters most.


RAGE: Thank you so much, Lorianne!