Theos-Talk Archives (November 1997 Message tt00088)

I noted with some wry appreciation the discussion that ranges around the
acceptance or rejection by an editor of a submission. As the General Editor
of the Theosophical Encyclopedia (in preparation) this is a hazard that I
face continually. Of course, I have a Board to fall back on, but in the
final analysis it is me who 'carries the can'.

Readers of this estimable feature might take heart from my experience as a
writer. About three years ago I completed a book on the practical
application of Raja Yoga to everyday living (with a generous admixture of
the Ancient Wisdom). I submitted it to the T.P.H. Wheaton and it was
rejected in a most courteous fashion. I then sunmitted it to a commercial
publiisher who accepted it! Not only for the normal distribution, but I
have just been advised that it has been selected for distribution In Russia!

But wait! There is more! About a year ago I submitted an article to the
journal of my own TS Section which is edited by my Daughter-in -law. It was
rejected (probably reverse nepotism); later the same article was accepted
and published in the international journal 'The Theosophist'. Recently the
same article was reproduced in an American Theosophical Journal.

The purpose of this little tale is to highlight that fact that no author
ought to take umbrage if his cherished brain-child is rejected because there
are often factors being taken into consideration that the writer wots not
of. Some of these are:
1. Target readership
2. Terms of reference Specialist publications are nearly always
produced under some such restriction which is generally understood by
contributors. For instance an author submitting an article to a Catholic
Magazine attacking the Pope is a little naive!
3. Level of treatment. This is fundamental. It is fatal to publish an
article that is levelled under or over the average comprehension of the
target readership.
4. Yearly program. Most publishers plan two or three years ahead and
spend much time establishing a balanced list. If your submission does not
fit in then it will be rejected, even though it is meritorious. This is the
sort of thing that happened to "The Lord of the Rings" which was rejected
many times. Incidentally, do readers know that "The Wizard of Oz", which
was written by the theosophist L. Frank Baum, was rejected by so many
publishers that he was forced to publish it himself!

Finally, publisher's readers make mistakes and management cannot be expected
to read every manuscript. Not everyone may be aware of how many manuscripts
a mainstream publisher gets per month; one in Australia gets about seven
hundred (IN AUSTRTALIA ALONE!!!).

Percy Cudlip, the Chief Editor of the British "Mirror" newspaper
(circulation over two million), wrote an autobiographical book with the
title, "Publish and be Damned"; not every editor has his courage to risk
eternal damnation!

The foregoing is offered just to inject a little levity in what seems to me
to be a somewhat overly serious debate.

One very last word. May I appeal to all to refrain from personalities,
particularly attacks on persons who might find it inexpedient to respond.

Philip