What to Do with Rejected Articles
Nobody likes negative feedback but rejection is not all bad
So, you’ve just received the dreaded rejection email for an article you’ve poured your heart and soul into.
It would be a gut-wrenching experience, especially if you thought it was a masterpiece.
But rejection is a natural part of writing.
It happens to even the most successful writers.
The question now is, what should you do with your rejected article?
Don’t take the rejection personally
It’s easy to feel like a failure, but remember that editors are humans, too, and have their own criteria for what they want to publish.
It may not necessarily reflect the quality of your writing.
Just because your article wasn’t accepted doesn’t mean it wasn’t well-written or that you’re a bad writer.
It could simply be a matter of timing, topic, or even personal preference.
Once you’ve gotten over the initial sting of rejection, take a step back and evaluate the situation.
Ask yourself why the article was rejected.
Was it too similar to something the publication had already covered? Was the topic not a good fit for their audience? Was the writing not up to par?
Identifying the reason for rejection can help you improve your writing and increase your chances of success in the future.
Try again, revise your article
Revisions always sound intimidating. “Why so much to fix?”
Most journal editors and reviewers will provide feedback on why your article was rejected.
Take the time to carefully review this feedback and use it to improve your article
It may require some tweaking, but you can transform it into something that’s more suited for their publication.
Be careful not to compromise your writing style too much, though. You still want to maintain your unique voice.
Submit to another publication
If you’re not keen on revising and still believe in the article and think it has value, consider submitting it to another publication.
Just because one editor didn’t like it doesn’t mean another won’t.
Do some research and find other publications that might be interested in your article.
You can also use your rejection as an opportunity to explore new publications you might not have considered before.
Save it for later or self-publish
Sometimes, an article just isn’t meant to be published right away.
Save it for later and come back to it when you have more experience or a new perspective.
Who knows, you might be able to turn your rejected article into a masterpiece later on.
Another option is to self-publish your article on your own blog or website.
If you’re really struggling to find a home for your rejected article, consider posting it on your own blog or social media accounts.
This can be a great way to get your writing out there and build your own audience.
Plus, you have complete control over the content and can make any changes you see fit.
What steps have you taken after an article rejection? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.
