Rewards of the Publishing Process

In spite of the rejection and the work involved, the publishing process can be rewarding in and of itself. In reading journals and receiving feedback from editors, you can begin to feel that you're part of a community. After all, the people who run literary magazines and small presses aren’t that different from you and me. They’re just people who love literature and writing enough to commit time and money to publishing new work.

This, of course, is part of the reason for the rejection slips. Journals and magazines reflect specific tastes and perspectives. Rejections are often more a reflection of an editor's taste than your talent. Keep this in mind when the rejection slips come. If you feel yourself becoming bitter or discouraged, take a break and go back to doing the work you love -- the reason all those publications exist in the first place.