That's the question I asked in a poll on the Womagwriter Twitter account. As not everyone is on Twitter, I'm also asking it here. If you'd like to participate in the Twitter poll there's still time - it's the pinned tweet on the account and runs until the 25th.
Ideally I'd like actual responses to each individual story, and naturally I'd like them all to be positive! Obviously no editor can accept everything she's sent and I fully accept that I'll get rejections. The problem, for me, is when no answer comes at all. In that case can I eventually assume the story isn't going to be used and I'm free to submit it elsewhere? If so, how long should I wait?
I have stories which have been with a magazine for over two years. When I queried I was told they're still under consideration. That particular publication almost certainly will give me an answer eventually. Some never do, and they don't answer queries either.
Personally I'd find it helpful if all magazines, where the editor doesn't respond to each submission individually within a few months, were to have a cut off point after which the author knew the story was no longer under consideration.
So far over 90% of those who've responded to my poll say they would find this useful. Do you agree with them?
15 comments:
I think some mags need to request details of your next of kin, so they know who to contact in case you die while waiting to hear from them.
PFS
I responded to the tweet and would definitely like a response either way. Second best is a definite cut-off because the story might be suitable for another publication. I have the same frustration with competitions that don't give a specific announcement date or email to tell entrants when the results are out. I know magazines receive loads of stories but surely giving some definite guidelines isn't too much to ask.
I've responded to the Tweet already but definitely would like a response or failing that a cut off time so that I know I can refresh/rewrite/or bin said story!
Alyson
A six month time period would be great but i think a year ought to be enough. After a year we should be able to take it for granted that it's a rejection.I'm not twitter. So I can't take part in the poll.
I’d definitely like a cut-off point. I agree with Sharon - six months would be great, but a year would probably be more practical for the magazines.
Liz
I'd definitely like a cut off period. It would make things so much easier as I never like to send a story elsewhere unless I have a definite answer or cut off period. Sharon H
Two years is far too long to wait for an answer. I think 12 weeks is long enough.
I agree with that proposal, I think realistically 6 months is adequate time for a response either way. Much as I love to hear good news of an acceptance its definitely better to know within a fixed period as there might be an opportunity to submit them elsewhere.
Not on twitter... 6 months (or less) as a cut-off is fine. PFS had me chuckling :) Some of us (me!) are more, shall we say... mature? Two years would be crazy for me to hang on... and on... and on... in the hope... that I might be able to submit to another and wait another... (you get the idea).
Yes I think a cut off point is essential
I'd definitely like a cut off period.
I've got 23 subs out there that are more than a year old and I spend far too much time wondering if I'll ever hear back about them.
Wouldn't want to hear about them all at once though obviously.
I don't think I could cope with 23 rejections all at one time.
Oh, and I'm not on twitter, Patsy.
SW
@ PFS – It does feel that way at times.
@ Lindsay – My thinking is the cut off date would save editors work, as they wouldn't have to keep answering queries about very old submissions - and wouldn't have to read and reconsider the same story several times, because they'd had it years.
I agree about competitions. They really should give a date for when the winners will have been selected, so people know where they stand.
@ Alyson – I hope you're joking about the bin! But yes, we need a decision from where we subbed it, so we can decide what to do next - or celebrate our success.
@ Sharon B – What the exact cut off period is wouldn't worry me, even two years would be better than still not knowing after so long. A year could work well. It would mean that seasonal stories sent at the 'wrong' time could still be considered later and those ent at the 'right' time could be tried elsewhere the next year.
@ Liz– I guess different time periods would be adopted by different editors - if they did this at all of course.
@ Sharon H – I don't like to either. Sometimes stories are accepted long after the date by which an editor usually replies and sometimes we don't know a piece is accepted until it's been published, making it impossible to withdraw had we given up on it and tried elsewhere.
@ Geraldine – An answer after two years would be an improvement in some cases!
@ Sheelagh – Yes, knowing for sure that the story won't be used gives us the option to try it elsewhere.
@ Marguerite – It does sometimes seem never ending, doesn't it?
@ Brian – I can't see any downside myself. Editors would still be free to respond before that time if they wished.
@ Kate – Don't worry about not being on Twitter. I wouldn't want anyone to join just to vote in my poll.
@ SW – A whole bunch of rejects all at once is never fun. That can happen with some magazines when the editor has a clear out. A cut off period would save her the trouble, and spread the disappointment for us.
I would ideally like a response, positive or negative. Failing that, a definite cut off point is essential.
@ New Girl – That's how I feel. I'd prefer an actual answer, within a reasonable time period, but a cut off period would be a lot better than nothing.
Definitely agree that a cut off period being provided would give much needed clarity.
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