tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post2762803312478461096..comments2024-03-28T18:09:43.267-06:00Comments on The Warrior Muse: To Reply or Not to Reply - That is the Question...Shannon Lawrencehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-91087060537918744832012-10-10T22:55:42.376-06:002012-10-10T22:55:42.376-06:00Well, I'm sure you'll keep us posted, so I...Well, I'm sure you'll keep us posted, so I'll be looking for details.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-27355837776359846922012-10-10T16:32:18.976-06:002012-10-10T16:32:18.976-06:00Becca, don't let that fear hold you back! Bel...Becca, don't let that fear hold you back! Believe me, they're not going to be mean about turning you down, and it's really not so bad unless you desperately wanted a specific publication. Even then, it's not that bad. <br /><br />Andrew, I keep waiting on the official publication date to arrive so I can make an announcement, but it keeps getting pushed back! I may have mentioned it in brief months and months ago, but I don't think I did a full post on it or anything. Right now, the tentative release date is Halloween, so I'm hoping that sticks, but I still haven't gotten my final contract to sign, so I'm thinking maybe not...<br /><br />Ibifiri, it's always good to "meet" someone who has gone through the same things. Thanks for coming by from Myne's page! I'm so sorry to hear about your work! I try to be good about backing things up, know I should, and yet I go months (years) thinking I should do it. That is one of my biggest, non-life-threatening fears. Good luck as you start again.<br /><br />Jamie, thanks, that's what I hope!<br /><br />Medeia, that is good to hear, as a hindsight reflection. I was figuring the same thing until I got that rejection and couldn't stand not writing back.<br /><br />Pat, thank you for the feedback! I think being polite gets overlooked, or people are unsure, like me, so it gets skipped so as not to bother someone.<br /><br />Sonnia, thank you, I appreciate it! Will be by shortly to collect and thank you at your blog.<br /><br />Li, thanks for your take on it! Someone mentioned above putting "thanks" in the subject line so they know what type of email it is and can skip it if they like. <br /><br />Julie, very helpful, thanks! I'm going to send you random thank you's and see how that strikes you... ;-pShannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-48312507546615533592012-10-10T16:24:31.938-06:002012-10-10T16:24:31.938-06:00Alex, good to hear that seems to be a valid way to...Alex, good to hear that seems to be a valid way to do it.<br /><br />Dawn, thanks for your feedback. You planning on submitting any further?<br /><br />Marcy, yeah, that's what worries me.<br /><br />Morgan, great to know, thanks! Cool that they wrote you back.<br /><br />Linda, that is a really good idea (the thanks in the subject)! I think I will do that in the future so they know what it is and can delete as they please.<br /><br />Shelly, definitely true that you can't always believe what you hear and read. This was actually by someone I know who is a quite prolific writer, so it carried extra weight with me.<br /><br />Em, I imagine you're right. Thanks for the feedback.<br /><br /><br /><br />Shannon Lawrencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00934641808195675935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-40215064296510243052012-10-09T23:56:57.591-06:002012-10-09T23:56:57.591-06:00Congrats on the positive rejections and for gettin...Congrats on the positive rejections and for getting a story accepted. Thank you is a lovely phrase. It can mean alot, but it can also mean nothing but another email to wade through. Since publishing is a business, I look at a thank you note as any business dealing. <br /><br />If the situation calls for it, scream it, but if you get a rejection, and it's both impersonal and doesn't impart anything helpful, delete it and move on. The only thank yous I do are the times when someone has taken a personal interest in my work. For example, Betsy Mitchell once rejected me after we'd had a very nice chat at lunch during a conference. She got a heartfelt thank you. The agent who I queried because of their website, nope. <br /><br />Overall, it is not expected in the industry and you won't be penalized for not saying thank you for a rejection. J.A. Kazimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10876584250229776810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-75808588755041969422012-10-09T16:34:34.662-06:002012-10-09T16:34:34.662-06:00I've had this debate with myself several times...I've had this debate with myself several times. I respond to boilerplate rejections with a "thank you for your time". The few personal responses/critiques I received were answered by my expressing gratitude that they took the time to write me a personal note and offer feedback. I feel as though I have done my part, and the editor/publisher can decide whether to read the email or just delete it (if they are that busy).Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08831231531918915804noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-61310624848655729362012-10-09T13:10:09.546-06:002012-10-09T13:10:09.546-06:00I've always loved reading your blogs. Which is...I've always loved reading your blogs. Which is why when I was asked to award 7 Beautiful Blogger Awards, I included your blog. <br /><br />http://brownbugz.blogspot.com/2012/10/beautiful-blogger-award-part-deux.html”>A Ladybug's Life<br /><br />SonniaSonnia J. Kemmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06401386282996356514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-67046291484383447362012-10-09T10:29:28.713-06:002012-10-09T10:29:28.713-06:00If someone has taken the time to comment then, eve...If someone has taken the time to comment then, even if it's a rejection, it does feel different. I woulod alwyays send a polite response and thank them for taking the time to read your submission. It never hurts to keep people on side! Great post, Shannon!Writer Pat Newcombehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12678017709861817691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-8505234076655382792012-10-09T03:58:44.771-06:002012-10-09T03:58:44.771-06:00I figured they were busy and wouldn't want to ...I figured they were busy and wouldn't want to hear back, but I wish I had written back for personalized rejections. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-35398256307174805992012-10-08T23:46:29.364-06:002012-10-08T23:46:29.364-06:00I think its a good idea to send thank you response...I think its a good idea to send thank you responses to personalised rejections. At the very least it keeps you in their minds :)<br /><br />JamieAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02548680159204361401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-84975641905668178292012-10-08T18:59:42.087-06:002012-10-08T18:59:42.087-06:00wow congrats on getting a work accepted. i have ha...wow congrats on getting a work accepted. i have had rejections, n then to add to it, my laptop crashed. since i didnt back up my files i lost all my work, so i have to start all over again. so i understand you on the writing journey. it is not easy at all, especially for African writers. saw your responds on Myne whitman's blog and i love your story. I had something similar, as well. www.secretlilies.blogspot.comIbifiri Kamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03935480773984052778noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-77587053109660927152012-10-08T12:50:19.885-06:002012-10-08T12:50:19.885-06:00Wait wait wait! You got something accepted? Did yo...Wait wait wait! You got something accepted? Did you already tell us this and I'm just forgetting? I don't remember that, though. I'm wanting to believe that my memory isn't getting that bad, but, hey, what do I know about it?<br /><br />I don't have this issue with responding to rejections, so I don't know what I would say. Probably what you're doing, though.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-72897190574540982892012-10-08T12:27:50.160-06:002012-10-08T12:27:50.160-06:00for me the fear of rejection keeps me from submitt...for me the fear of rejection keeps me from submitting plus i'm never sure exactly were to submit my works as it is only poetry Rebeccahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213055916162799647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-57298795920001711842012-10-08T11:44:48.075-06:002012-10-08T11:44:48.075-06:00If an agent has personally sent me a note of rejec...If an agent has personally sent me a note of rejection, I do thank him/her personally. All others I think - they won't really care.Karen Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01522178275164058849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-63966747982940682612012-10-08T10:19:29.058-06:002012-10-08T10:19:29.058-06:00I have to agree, if someone takes the time to reje...I have to agree, if someone takes the time to reject you but compliments your work, they deserve a personal 'thank you' back. <br /><br />And too, you can't always believe what you hear and read.<br /><br />Hugs and chocolate,<br />ShellyShellyhttp://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-22184512876910515072012-10-08T09:50:08.524-06:002012-10-08T09:50:08.524-06:00I respond to rejections on partials or fulls (book...I respond to rejections on partials or fulls (book manuscripts) only, by putting "thanks" in the subject line. It's up to the agent to decide whether or not this bothers him/her. But I can't help being polite and saying thank you, and I simply want the agent to know that I appreciate the time he/she took to consider my manuscript.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-11474216525089010062012-10-08T09:49:16.079-06:002012-10-08T09:49:16.079-06:00I ALWAYS respond with a thank you if the agent giv...I ALWAYS respond with a thank you if the agent gives personal feedback. And they've usually responded back after my thank you, thanking ME. LOL. I always think it's better to be nice--though I agree to not respond if it's just a form. :) Morganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15747144518868320969noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-38332741408490054162012-10-08T07:45:12.659-06:002012-10-08T07:45:12.659-06:00Thus far I have not responded to any rejections, p...Thus far I have not responded to any rejections, personalized or non. I figured they got enough email.mshatchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06308916014310536449noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-30206741372458659132012-10-08T07:37:48.151-06:002012-10-08T07:37:48.151-06:00I have only submitted twice for publication: the f...I have only submitted twice for publication: the first was for a magazine, and my articles were promptly rejected. I did not send a thank you. The second was an essay for consideration in an anthology, and was accepted. Of course this warranted an immediate reply from me :-) I think your philosophy sounds about right, though. Form letters probably don't require a response, but a personal note - even if it is a rejection - is certainly worthy of a quick "thanks for your consideration and for the constructive tips for improvement" etc. Good luck!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04993538503291293036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7646134662936278718.post-85455212525782717122012-10-08T07:05:40.955-06:002012-10-08T07:05:40.955-06:00A personalized rejection is different and I think ...A personalized rejection is different and I think I replied to a couple. The form ones, no.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.com