A journal that shall remain unnamed thoughtfully sent me a form rejection email of a piece I had submitted on September 5, 2008. Honestly…at this point, did they think I was holding my breath waiting to hear?
I say, six months is more than ample time. Yes, I KNOW these journals have mountains of submissions, and I KNOW they “read every one carefully.” But no one over here is getting any younger, so in general, if I haven’t heard in six months, I move on. I don’t even bother asking if they still have my ms. because most times I don’t even get a response to that inquiry.
The process is enough to make you crazy, and here’s a good place to blow off some steam: Literary Rejections on Display. Names are named....