I’ve been in the Freelance business for over 10 years now, and I still get a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when the subject line of an email is:  “Your Article Has Been Rejected”.  Dealing with this needs to be a process, and it’s okay to allow yourself to feel anger and frustration.  People have likely told you to view a rejection as “constructive criticism” – right?

Bull.

There is nothing constructive to gain from having your hard work declined by a potential buyer.  However, there are constructive things to be gained from the way you deal with this rejection. Be open to the possibility that your work has room for improvement. 

  • Take a second look at the piece – read it out loud to yourself.  Does it have good flow and cadence?  This is one of the most common mistakes we make as writers.  What sounds fine mentally in our heads – may be choppy and awkward when
    spoken aloud.

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  • Attention to grammar is always a key element.  Check your use of pronouns.  Have you mixed “we” with “you” in the same sentence?  Pronouns need to be kept in the same person.  Unless you’re writing an opinion piece, make sure you haven’t used any first person (I, me, my) references.

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  • Have you wasted the readers time?  How quickly did you make the point of your piece?  Do you have wasted explanations, examples, or information that the reader could probably do just as well without?  Cut the fat from your piece, stay focused and on topic, and avoid the compulsion to get “wordy” in order to achieve a certain word count.

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  • Have you used the proper tone?  Are you too formal, or too informal?  Does the piece read like a technical manual or a Mad comic book?  Nothing turns off a potential buyer faster than an innaproperate writing tone.

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  • Does this piece contain all of the information it should, or does it leave the reader to guess or go in search of more sources?  Your piece needs to be as all inclusive as possible.  If your title is:  ?How to Change a Light Bulb? – could the most un-mechanically minded person you know, understand?

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    If none of these areas have any room for improvement, then assume your potential buyer is an idiot.  Be thankful that you learned this early on in your relationship with them – and move along little Freelancer, move along.