[mbabaian Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Hello all,

I just received (another) rejection letter from a magazine today, but there was something extra in the rejection. This time the letter said the editors enjoyed my writing and would like me to consider submitting to them again in the future.

Believe me, I'm thankful for this little nugget of encouragement. But it's the second rejection with this comment I received this week (the other was for a grown up magazine), so my question is: when a magazine says they enjoyed the writing and invite you to submit in the future, do they mean it?

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

[Christine B. Posts: 443 Status: Offline WWW]

Yes -- they definitely mean it! Congrats!

[RebeccaL-G Posts: 1,052 Status: Offline RA SCBWI Cen-Cal WWW]

Yes.  I'd say they likely mean it.  There are many reasons for rejection.  Perhaps they like your writing, but already have something similar to what you wrote.  In that case they probably would indeed like to have you submit something else, and that's a very nice thing!   

[Sheila Posts: 166 Status: Offline I write and illustrate for children of all ages. WWW]

YES! Get something to them soon. Good luck!

[mbabaian Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Wow. This is really, really good news! Thank you all for responding and for the encouragement.

Sheila, I happened to send them a non-fiction article for another one of their publications yesterday. Right now I'm working on a third submission. I'll keep trying until something sticks!

[JulieM Posts: 804 Status: Offline WWW]

They are so busy, they won't write extra encouragement unless they really mean it. So take heart, and best of luck.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 5,938 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

If you submit to the same editor, mention that they asked for something else from you and thank them for the encouragement. Use specifics in your mention.

Congratz on getting to the next level, one step up from form rejects.

[Vonna Posts: 2,563 Status: Offline Keeping to the sunny side of the street WWW]

  This is great news! Yes to what everyone else has said. Go get 'em!

[Betsy Posts: 2,506 Status: Offline PICKY EATERS WWW]

Yes, they mean it. They don't encourage authors to submit unless those authors can write.

[mbabaian Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

If you submit to the same editor, mention that they asked for something else from you and thank them for the encouragement. Use specifics in your mention.

Congratz on getting to the next level, one step up from form rejects.

I'll be sure to mention that in future submissions. Thanks for the tip.

@vonna I got your follow over on twitter under my full name. Followers you back!

[Lill Posts: 651 Status: Offline]

What everybody else said. They mean it. This is good news.

[Dionna]

Yes! They really do mean it! And when you submit something new (and hopefully right up their publication alley), in the first paragraph state something like: "Thank you for requesting to see more of my work."

Those are the very best of rejections!!!

[Vijaya Posts: 8,177 Status: Offline LISTEN. Let all mortal flesh keep silence ... WWW]

I wanted to add my encouragement to keep at it. Your work is very close to being accepted.
Congratulations!
Vijaya

[Trine Posts: 70 Status: Offline WWW]

Definitely! This gives all of us some hope. Congratulations!

[DianaM Posts: 1,197 Status: Offline Writer, rhymer, runner, punner. WWW]

Definitely a good sign! Happened to me right before my first acceptance from Highlights. Before that, it was all forms.

I also agree with Dionna that you can bring it up in your next query.

Congrats and good luck!