By Jennifer Robinson
I had recently emerged from a terrible chronic pain situation that utterly changed my life. Writing became my way of making sense of this experience. I found solace in the works of other artists—particularly Beethoven—and in the words of good friends. Through my own writing, I hoped to pass that comfort along.
The writing process was very quick. My husband was away in Greece visiting family for three weeks and I wrote like mad while missing him, hammering out drafts of two different essays during that time.
After workshopping my story with one of my writing groups and incorporating their feedback, I sent the finished piece to the Chestnut Review. I chose them because I admire the work they publish and have had great experiences receiving their paid feedback in the past. Chestnut Review offers excellent editorial suggestions for a small fee—their feedback is always thoughtful, kind, and helpful, well worth the cost. However, given their extremely low acceptance rate (0% on Duotrope!) and the fact that they had never accepted any of my previous submissions, I didn’t dare hope they might accept this one.
I had a plan to send it to The New Quarterly once I’d finished their suggested edits. But, lo and behold, Chestnut Review accepted my writing!
Shocked, I immediately contacted my writing group (shout out to Kairos Standard Time)! I thanked them for their previous feedback and discussed my dilemma: I was stunned and had to reorient myself. Should I publish in Chestnut Review? Or should I stick to my original plan and submit to Canadian magazines?
After some hemming and hawing and talking with friends, I recognized the incredible opportunity to publish in this esteemed magazine and accepted their offer. Discussing it with my peers helped me embrace a “go with the flow” approach and commit to publishing in Chestnut Review. Learning that one of my friends had worked with an editor there and had such a positive experience only heightened my excitement for the process ahead.
In the acceptance email, the editor assigned to me said that they usually go back and forth with authors several times before publication. They provided thorough and thoughtful edits, emphasizing that these were suggestions and inviting questions about any feedback. The editor requested that I return the edits within two weeks—a reasonable timeframe I was happy to accommodate. One of the reasons I love submitting to Chestnut is that they get back to writers so quickly, and I was glad to return the favour! I am currently waiting for the next round of edits to arrive in my inbox.
Other Recent Submitting Experiences
I have a piece that has made one long list (CNFC-Humber Literary Review) and one shortlist (Malahat Review) but has not yet been published, so I’ve been sending that one around. Room’s Creative Nonfiction Contest recently passed on it, and it’s currently under consideration at Hippocampus, Prism, Ploughshares, and the CBC Contest.
Last year, I submitted a piece to The Rumpus’s Funny Women column, edited by Elissa Bassist, confident it would be a good fit. After a lengthy review period and two follow-ups, I received a kind rejection. Bassist explained she had been undecided and, though rejecting it, might regret her decision later. She invited me to submit again and highlighted parts of the piece she enjoyed. I found that encouraging. It would be a dream to publish in this column one day, so I’ll keep trying!
I’ve had a few negative experiences with contest submissions where organizers never replied nor refunded my entry fee. Some simply closed down or rebranded without a word—quite frustrating. In another instance, I assumed the same was happening because I hadn’t received any feedback on my contest entry for almost a year. I thought, “I’m never submitting here again!” To my surprise, I won the contest! I guess my lesson there is patience!
How I approach submitting to lit mags
I maintain a list of journals I aspire to publish in, places I admire both for their literary content and their approach to the writing community. CRAFT is a good example of this. They offer quick turnaround times, consider all contest submissions for regular issues, and pay their authors. Their overall process makes me feel respected and valued as a submitter. I’d also love to publish in The Fiddlehead, Room, The New Quarterly, Brick (ha! dream big, right?) and The Malahat Review.
How I handle rejection from lit mags
Rejection becomes SO much easier within a supportive community! Because I’m in contact with a lot of other writers, I know I’m not alone, and I know that if I’m getting rejected a lot, then I’m doing things right. I’m in the arena, so to speak, not just sitting on the sidelines. One cool thing about having a writing community is that I’m no longer afraid of rejection. This feels like a superpower. Of course, some rejections still sting more than others, so I make sure I have the time and support to process whatever emotions I need to, but the sting goes away pretty quickly. There’s no fear to stop me from submitting again and again! Ultimately, fearing rejection is fearing a feeling. If you have the ability and support to process and manage your feelings, you’re unstoppable! This is a skill to develop, a muscle to build.
Participating in a writing community has made ALL the difference. Not being alone really diminishes the pain of rejection. Talking with writing friends helps me hone my submission strategy, and I find it really helpful to talk through conundrums and questions with them, to hear their experiences and advice.
Rejection is not personal, and if you’re getting rejected frequently, you’re in excellent company! I had a piece that was rejected about a dozen times before it was published in Prairie Fire and eventually won a National Magazine Award. Those previous rejections didn’t mean the piece was bad—just that it might not have been the right fit for those magazines at that time. Another friend faced numerous rejections on a piece that eventually won her the RBC/PEN Award! So what can we make of all these previous rejections? When things like this happen, it’s clear that rejection doesn’t necessarily reflect the quality of the writing.
As a therapist, I also want to emphasize the importance of how we process our emotions in this context. I would say that it’s okay, normal even, to feel the upset at rejection (who wouldn’t?), and it’s an opportunity to work on how to manage difficult feelings. Allow yourself time and space to feel them, and give yourself whatever comfort you most need. Personally, I will often discuss my feelings with my husband and writing friends, and I frequently treat myself after a rejection. Afterwards, I make a point to find something new to get excited about.
When I have writing successes, my husband is super supportive. He often treats me to a fancy dinner to celebrate major accomplishments, and we’ll share a toast at home for smaller wins. I am grateful to be able to share my successes with good friends and family! After an acceptance, I make it a point to write to everyone who helped with the piece to thank them. I always want to remember that any success I achieve is not mine alone.
Suggestions for Writers Who are Submitting to Lit Mags
Perseverance is way more important than talent in getting your pieces published. If rejections feel disproportionately painful and are holding you back from submitting, it’s worth exploring this reaction. Talk to your writing friends, your supporters, your therapist. You deserve to find the emotional resiliency that will help you get your words into the world. Because the world needs your words.
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Jennifer Robinson is a psychotherapist and part-time writer living on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Ininew, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, Nehethowuk and the Métis Nation. Her work has been published in The Dalhousie Review, Prairie Fire, River Teeth, Grain Magazine, and elsewhere. She is currently fascinated by the world of poetry and is enjoying studying the form while writing many hilariously terrible poems. She has received funding from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Manitoba Arts Council, and her essay The Passing Game was awarded the Gold Medal in Personal Journalism at the 2024 National Magazine Awards.
