The Missouri Review

Prose rejections

Standard

2021/2023, 2024

October 2021

Dear [FIRSTNAME] [LASTNAME],

Thank you for letting us consider "[TITLE]" for publication in the Missouri Review. We enjoyed reading it, and though it doesn't quite fit our needs at this time, we wish you excellent luck with it and hope we will have the chance to read more of your writing in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Year Not Listed

Thank you for giving us the chance to consider “---” for publication in The Missouri Review. Though it does not fit our current needs, we appreciate your interest in our magazine and your commitment to quality writing.

We wish you the best of luck publishing your work and hope you’ll consider sending us more in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Higher-Tier

2022, 2023

Dear Name,

Sincere thanks for sending us "Title" for consideration. Our staff especially admired the piece for (compliment about story). Though we've decided not to publish this selection, we appreciate your commitment to good writing and hope you'll send other work in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Dear Name:

Sincere thanks for sending us "Title" for consideration. Your work impressed the editorial staff (insert compliment about story here). Though not selected for publication, the piece makes us hope we'll see more of your writing in the near future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

2019

Dear Name:

Sincere thanks for sending us "Story Title" for consideration. Our staff especially admired [insert compliment about story here]. Though we've decided not to publish this piece, we are quite interested in seeing more of your writing and hope you'll send other work in the near future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

?

Dear ___,

We were delighted to have the chance to consider ____ for publication.

Although we have to pass on this particular submission, we were very impressed by your writing. We hope you send to us again soon--we look forward to reading more of your work.

Sincerely,

The Editors

2016, 2020

Dear ___,

Thank you for letting us consider [Title] for publication in the Missouri Review. We enjoyed reading it, and though it doesn't quite fit our needs at this time, we hope we will have the chance to read more of your writing in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

Highest Tier

Unfortunately, your submission was not chosen for inclusion in our journal. However, your piece came very close, and many of our readers greatly enjoyed it. We strongly encourage that you submit with us again, because we definitely enjoyed the strong piece you submitted.

Personal

Message from EIC of TMR praising specific aspects of the story, offering criticism/suggestions re: other aspects, concluding:

though I’m passing on this one, I do hope to see more from you.

Also (handwritten):

Please try us again! -- The Editors

Also (handwritten):

Not what we need right now but keep writing and sending in your other stories!

Also (handwritten) from "The Editors", attached to the standard form rejection:

Thanks, [author name]. We enjoyed it! --The Editors

Message from EIC of TMR praising specific aspects of the story, offering criticism/suggestions re: other aspects, concluding:

Anyway, I hope you send us another soon. Please address the cover letter to me.

Poetry rejections

Standard

2023

Thank you so much for sending us these poems for consideration and thank you for your patience in waiting to hear back as we discussed your work. We were glad to have the chance to consider these poems, but in the end decided that they're not quite a fit for us at this time. We wish you the best in placing them and are grateful for your interest in TMR.

The Editors The Missouri Review

2021

Dear first-name,

Sincere thanks for sending us these poems for consideration. We’re grateful for the chance to read them but ultimately decided that they’re not quite right for what we have upcoming. Thank you for your interest in TMR and we wish you the best in placing these poems.

The Editors

The Missouri Review

Higher-Tier

Thanks for sending The Missouri Review these poems. Though we did not see a feature this round, we liked your sure craft. As always, we appreciate your continued support and commitment. We hope you keep us in mind in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

2019

Dear FIRSTNAME LASTNAME,

Thank you for letting us consider "TITLE" for publication in the Missouri Review. We enjoyed reading it, and though it doesn't quite fit our needs at this time, we hope we will have the chance to read more of your writing in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

2023

Dear First Last,

Thank you for letting us consider "[Title]" for publication in the Missouri Review. We enjoyed reading your work, and though it doesn't quite fit our needs at this time, we wish you excellent luck with it and hope we will have the chance to read more of your writing in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

2024

Dear First Last,

Sincere thanks for sending us "[Title]" for consideration. Our staff especially admired the skill with which these are written. Though we've decided not to publish this selection, we appreciate your commitment to good writing and hope you'll send other work in the future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

(Followed by pitch for their poetry prize)

Still Higher-Tier

2020

Dear [x], Sincere thanks for sending us [x] for consideration. Our staff especially admired the vivid energy of poems like [x]. We truly enjoyed them and appreciate your patience as we try to deal with fallout from the pandemic and consider your work in a timely manner. Though we've decided not to publish this piece, we are quite interested in seeing more of your writing and hope you'll send other work in the near future. Sincerely, T