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I will never forget how my fingers trembled when I e-mailed my first essay, "A Childlike Faith," to an editor for publication.
When I received a reply from Lisa Beamer, the editor of Christian Families Online, butterflies fluttered in my stomach,
and I prayed she didn't reply with, "Your essay was the most incoherent piece of trash I have ever read in my life."
For a moment, I felt like Dorothy offering a petition to the Great and Powerful Oz. If the editor rejected my essay, I definitely
wanted to click my ruby red slippers and disappear.
Fortunately, she accepted my story with an encouraging e-mail. Since that essay was published in 2001, my work has appeared in
books as well as regional and national magazines. I've experienced my share of rejections along the way, but my writing career
began with that first acceptance.
Lisa Beamer shared with me that she worked with a large number of first-time writers as editor of Christian Families Online,
and knew from personal experience that "there is nothing more defeating to a new writer than getting a rejection with no
explanation," which is often the case.
"If a submission was good and I knew it would be an asset to the magazine," said Beamer, "then a typo or two wasn't going to keep
me from accepting it. In many of these cases I worked with the authors to walk them through rewrites. I was very explicit in
what needed to be addressed and what changes needed to be made. My goal in these cases was to try to encourage the writer with
what was good about the article while helping her grow in the areas that might not come quite as naturally."
I wonder if I would have kept writing if the editor had rejected my first submission? Maybe, maybe not. Small events can change
the course of your entire life.
If you want an editor to accept your submission, you must learn to work with him or her. You may discover a very patient editor,
like I did. Or, it may help you to know how and why editors make mistakes.
Editors Have Deadlines
If preparing an article to perfection is stressful, imagine what preparing an entire publication must be like! Editors have
deadlines they are racing to meet before their publication goes to press.
"I have to admit that I have been snippy at times with my writers because they can be needy when I can't give back," said Shirley
Kawa-Jump, who edits New Homeowner Magazine. "They don't always know where I am on the production schedule and once in a
while I'll get an e-mail, then a 'did you get my e-mail' e-mail, then a 'not sure you got the first two e- mails' e-mail and then
I end up getting snippy because the writer wants a response and I'm in the middle of the production deadlines.
"Since I have been a writer myself I know the worst moments are the ones after you hit 'send' and you are waiting for the editor's
judgment. While I don't always get back to them as quickly as they would like, I do try to respond at some point with feedback so
that they can grow in their skills and confidence level."
Editors Aren't The Great and Powerful Oz
If you are a regular writer for a publication, but suddenly find your work being rejected by that editor, ask the editor for
feedback. Editors are not unapproachable. Asking for feedback and fixing what is wrong will show the editor that you are
flexible and willing to meet the needs of his or her publication. Consequently, inflexibility can cost you any further
assignments with that publication.
"Communicate with your editor and don't be afraid to ask what you are doing wrong—and right," said Kawa-Jump. "Your editor
wants you to grow, and appreciates anyone who wants to make her job easier."
Sue Lang, editor of The RevWriter Resource, agreed. "I strive to dialog with my writers if they get stuck in the writing
process or if there is a need for substantial editing. One example might be if an article is too long and something needs to be cut.
I don't want to do it without contacting the writer first. After all, she may be able to self-edit so that we convey the same
information, but in fewer words. Writing and publishing is a collaborative effort that relies on the ability of an editor and a
writer to engage in creative dialog."
Editors Are People
A writer may feel that her article is perfect for a publication, and is very disappointed and confused when she receives a
rejection letter from an editor. The writer thinks, "This is my best work. I've poured hours into my research. How can it be
wrong for this publication?"
"Editors are people, too," said Lang. "We're seeking to put forth the best product for our readers. We know the market and have
a sense of what the readership is looking for while the writer may be focusing on just the immediate article at hand. It helps if
the writer can keep the big picture in mind and understand that edits are meant to produce the best possible article or resource."
Editors Goof, Too
Sometimes an editor makes an honest mistake because she is working with many different writers. In the age of electronic
submissions, it's understandable when editors confuse one writer with another because manuscripts and assignments are zooming back
and forth.
"I received a query from a writer that was written really well, but the topic was something we had recently covered. I rejected
her query, but gave her the option to write an article with a different slant," said Emily Bivens, editor-in-chief of Every Writer.
"When her article came in several weeks later, I read it and thought it was on a completely different track. I e-mailed her that
I couldn't use the piece after all, and made a comment that it wasn't quite what I had in mind. She politely reminded me that it
was exactly what I had asked for, and sent my previous e-mail to prove it."
"I had mixed her up with another writer when I had responded to her initial e-mail, and had asked her to write on a completely
different topic! Of course, I e-mailed with an apology, an explanation and felt absolutely terrible that she had put in her time
and effort, so I paid her fee anyway."
Today, my stomach still flutters when I mail a manuscript to an editor, but I don't think that's a bad thing. It just means that
I want to do my best, and I'm hoping I didn't make any consequential errors. Editors are people, just like me...but I'm
keeping my ruby red slippers, just in case!
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About The Author:
Barbara Carr Phillips freelances from her home in East Tennessee. Her work has appeared in
Chicken Soup for the Soul
and many other print publications. She enjoys instructing others in the art of journaling. To sign up for one of her
journaling workshops, visit her at BarbaraCarrPhillips.com.
* This article is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
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