As writers, we all eagerly look forward to getting acceptances for our short stories, essays, and poetry—we love being published! So why would you ever want to get rejections? And not just one “no thanks,” but rejections from multiple literary journals! While this seems counterintuitive and a recipe for heartbreak, the experts at Writer’s Relief know it’s actually a smart submission strategy that can increase your acceptance rate. Here’s how savvy writers get rejected by almost 20 journals at once.

How To Get Rejected By Multiple Literary Journals At Once—And Get Published

Getting published is as much a numbers game as it is a reflection on the quality of your writing. Even well-respected, published authors have received their share of rejections from editors. The publishing industry standard is to submit a work up to 100 times in the hopes of getting one acceptance—that means receiving a lot of rejections in your search for a match! But the more targeted submissions you send out, the better your odds of getting acceptances. Take these steps to improve your results:

Research And Review Guidelines. Great writing is important, but if you don’t submit to the right places, even great writing won’t get published. There are hundreds (and hundreds!) of publications out there. It’s time consuming, but if you want to boost your acceptance rate, it’s important to research and read their guidelines to determine which journals are a good match for your writing and genre—and just as important, to eliminate all the literary magazines that aren’t a good match. Sending out scattershot submissions to random journals will get you lots of rejections but won’t boost your acceptance rate.

Submit On A Consistent Schedule. If you want more rejections—and more acceptances—you must make consistent submissions. Sending a few submissions, then not sending any, then many months later sending out a few more won’t result in the outcome you’re hoping for.

Many journals encourage simultaneous submissions, which allows you to optimize your reach. Remember, there’s no guarantee of publication until you get an acceptance and give rights to the journal. A pending status is never a guaranteed acceptance, so continue to play the field and submit your work to multiple literary journals.

Be Prepared. Create a document with your submission proofread and formatted to industry standards, as well as a good cover letter. When you find a journal with an aesthetic you like and your work fits the guidelines, you can make a submission in just a few clicks using the files you have prepared. It’s as easy as swiping right on a dating app! The easier it is for you to make submissions, the more submissions you can make in a timely manner. Then the rejections (and any potential acceptances) can start rolling in!

Find A Matchmaker. Formatting and proofreading work and researching lots of markets require hours and hours of commitment and expertise, and most writers would rather spend their time writing than doing busywork. While there aren’t any dating apps that match up writers and literary journals, you can find a capable matchmaker in Writer’s Relief. Our expert research team will pinpoint 25+ viable markets for your work, and our strategists will help you create—and stick to—an ongoing submission schedule. Learn more about our services and submit your writing sample to our Review Board today!

Getting more rejections isn’t a sign of failure—it’s the sign of a dedicated writer who’s making an effort and sending out work. Remember, each rejection brings you one step closer to publication. Success comes to those who dare, so get your work out there!

Whether you want to take the traditional publishing route or are thinking about self-publishing, Writer’s Relief can help. Give us a call, and we will point you in the right direction!

Question: How many submissions do you usually make for your work?