Not always true. I used to sell insurance, and it was the same kick in the gut for rejection then as it is from an editor. I tend to take it in stride better, knowing what I know about editors. But I have fits over it sometimes when I get glib or just plain WRONG feedback on a story or poem. Editors, like writers, are somewhat limited by their influences and experience. I've seen work rejected for the worst reasons - and as such, it's a good idea to be very careful how any editor addresses a rejection to me. I'm a pain in the ass both as a writer and as an editor because I like to discuss the issues; however, there are a lot of jackass editors and writers - you see them a lot in forums such as these - who don't know a rhetorical argument from a street fight. I get either type, and I'm likely to break off correspondence or relationship with them for at least a year to give them space to mature.

As an editor, I concentrate on the work at hand. If I have a relationship with the writer already, then I'm canonblast candid with him or her. And I expect them to seriously consider my point of view - and reply (RATIONALLY) with their own point of view. I'm all over the chart with my reading and writing. I'm well aware of that. There are times I miss sarcasm and find it simply confusing. When I do, I want the writer to point out to me what he or she thought was there. This way we can figure out if it works and I missed, or whether it needs slightly re-tooled. As for the "writer's voice", with all due respect . . . It's our jobs as editors to influence a writer's voice until they are solidly grounded and mature in their own voice. So if the work sounds immature but that's your voice - GROW UP! Get some maturity. Practice some more. Learn tighter or prettier prose! It's our jobs as editors to see that you're using your voice at its best, and if that means we have to work with you to reach higher scales and such, then be willing to do it or admit YOUR failure (generally to writers, not to any particular person real or imagined, and likely as much to myself as anyone )

My opinion has not changed on this matter;

HOWEVER, my attitude is quite different. I apologize to those of you who were offended by my jerkness yesterday. I meant offense only to one who offends me, and none to any others. Regardless, my tact was void and I behaved badly. So, I apologize. I'm sorry.

Oh, and for those of you who did witness that ugly scene the other day . . . That is pretty much how I react both to advice on my own fiction and un-considered refusals to heed my advice.

HOWEVER, I usually have the tact (no, really, I have no class, but it was a nice thought) not to vent it either in a private message or a public one. I'm very seldom that tactless with anyone even in person, and usually only because they've taken the discussion to that point and I've tolerated it for one too many drinks.

And I think it's perfectly fine and natural and human to have such reactions. BUT, it is not socially acceptable to cross a certain line with personal insults and name-calling - especially when you stop to think that the aggression behind it has nothing to do with any person as such.

So, I guess the point I'm dancing around is that the reaction doesn't matter; it's what you do AFTER you're done having the reaction (if you haven't stepped on your own . . . tongue . . . and slammed all the doors having your reactions, that is).

[If you hadn't noticed, I like to turn everything into an object lesson - especially my own greivous mistakes . . .]

This is where the whole feedback loop comes into play. Unfortunately, the editor is as likely as not to be too busy reading subs to bother with either replying with that information or to even consciously decide what it was that got the story rejected. However, since we're talking requested change, the editor had some thought about it. So perhaps a reasonable and respectable (ask anyone else for details on how to manage that ) question would give you a better idea of how to approach it.

For me, the editing process has always worked best as a discussion. Also, if I'm reading subs on a regular basis, I've likely read 30-300 other works since I asked for that particular change. My focus and perspective are going to be very different today, and I may see that really weird, senseless scene of two weeks ago as the brilliant slapstick it is and merely want you to transition it better so that it provides comic relief without losing me or seeming shoved in there like a Bazooka Joe comic in a fortune cookie.

Yes . . . BUT . . . here's the deal.

Any editor who sends a detailed critique does so for one of two reasons: s/he sees potential worth developing in the work and/or author; OR, s/he is trying to show off. Most don't have time to show off. If we take the time to comment, it's because we think there's something there worth commenting on. Sometimes we may rush through and not be very diplomatic, but our comments are usually meant to enrich the work.

I agree that the poetry markets are more specialized, but I don't think they're quite that intolerant. Especially if you deal first with the general 'literary' journals, as it is my experience that these journals are often edited and published by those who are a bit at odds with the Ivory tower and want a 'people's literature'. Something popular AND with literary quality. It's a bear working through them simply because there are so many markets. And Writers' Market online is not as functional as it used to be.

Let me make another observation from the writer's perspective, again based on my own personal experience.

Concerning two different speculative poems and markets: I actually followed the revision suggestions gven to me by Cathy Buburuz of Champagne Shivers.  I didn't follow the rewrite suggestion made by Crystalwizard.  However, that doesn't mean I have less respect for CW than I do for Cathy Buburuz.  My reasons for either following revision suggestions or sending the piece elsewhere without revision are based solely on what I want to do with each individual piece.

There can be circumstances where an author may decide not to follow through on suggested revisions or rewrites, for many different reasons.

How long is the work that spawned the comment? I have a small chunk of schedule open. Would need both work and comments.

I'll have to warn you though, I merely feel honest today. Not brutal. Just honest. So if it's brutal honesty . . .