How beginning writers read rejection letters. (This is for any lurking editors out there 
)
What the letter says:
It’s a good flash piece, but in the end I decided to give it a pass. Thanks for thinking of us, and best of luck placing it elsewhere.
What the writer reads:
It’s a good flash piece, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
What the writer thinks:
GOOD! He said it was GOOD!! I’m on my way! I’m gonna be rich and famous any minute now! I should practice writing my name for all those people who are going to want my autograph!!
What the letter says:
Thanks for showing us your story “*,” but we’ve decided not to
take it for “**”. The writing is well done, but ultimately it just didn’t stand out for me. Good luck to you with it, and thanks for giving us a look.
What the writer reads:
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah The writing is well done, blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
What the writer thinks:
WELL DONE! He said it was WELL DONE!! I’m on my way! I’m gonna be rich and famous any minute now! I should practice writing my name for all those people who are going to want my autograph!!
What the letter says:
Thank you for your submission, but it does not fit our needs at this time.
What the writer reads:
blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah I can’t find a single positive thing to say about your story.
What the writer thinks:
Oh, no, it’s terrible!! Whatever made me think I could write? Oh, woe is me, I should just give up!!
I’d suggest that all three are irrational responses. Reading more encouragement into a rejection than is actually there isn’t helpful, but I don’t think crawling into bed and pulling the covers over your head is particularly productive either. All writers have to come up with their own way of dealing with rejection, of course, but I like the “guided missle” metaphor I read in some sales training book I read many years ago. A rejection is just signal that you’re off course, and need to make an adjustment to reach your target.
Of course, the metaphor breaks down, eventually, because very few writers want to blow up the “target” when they get there. But it’s still useful to think of a rejection as just an element of guidance. I picked the wrong market to submit that piece to. Do more research, find a market that seems to be a better fit.
At least, that’s today’s take on it.
\*Name removed to protect the innocent.
\*\*Name removed to protect the guilty.