CRAFT Literary

Prose Rejections

Standard

2025

Dear —,

Thank you for sending us "—" to consider. We're glad you thought of us as a potential home for your work. However, we are passing on this essay at this time. We wish you luck placing this piece elsewhere soon.

Sincerely,

The Editors

CRAFT

2024

Dear —,

Thank you for sending us "—" to consider. Unfortunately, we must pass on this story at this time, but please keep us in mind for future submissions.

Sincerely,

The Editors

CRAFT

Tiered

2025

Dear Full Name,

Thank you for giving us the opportunity to read "Story Title" for consideration in our CRAFT 2025 Short Fiction Prize, guest judged by "Guest Judge". As we can send so few pieces into the next round, we do have to release work that we like very much—we're sorry your entry has not advanced.

We're grateful you chose to share your short story with us, and for your support. We wish you good luck with your writing and hope you will send us work again.

Sincerely,

The Editors

2023

Dear Full Name,

Thank you for sending us "Title" to consider. We enjoyed your story, but because we can accept so few pieces, we do, sometimes, have to decline good work. Unfortunately, we must pass on this story at this time.

However, we greatly appreciate your interest in our literary magazine, and we hope you will send us more work again in the near future.

Sincerely,

The Editors

CRAFT

2021

Thank you for sending us [title] to consider for CRAFT. Your story stood out and we enjoyed reading it, but we can accept so few pieces, we do have to decline good work. We're sorry this isn't a fit for us right now. We appreciate your interest in contributing to CRAFT, and hope you will send us work again in the future.

Dear —,

Thank you for sending us "—" for consideration in CRAFT. While we enjoyed reading your work, I’m sorry to say it isn’t a good fit for us at this time.

As writers ourselves, we know that the process of sending out work can be a long one. We are grateful that you chose to share your writing with us. Your piece was read with great admiration and care. We wish you the best of luck with it, and we hope that you will keep us in mind for future submissions.

Warmly, Laura Spence-Ash CRAFT Literary

Higher tier

Dear—,

Thank you for sending us "—" for consideration in CRAFT. While we enjoyed reading your work, I’m sorry to say it isn’t a good fit for us at this time. It is clear you are a talented writer, and your story stood out from the group. However, we receive so many submissions that, in the end, we have to reject a lot of excellent pieces.

As writers ourselves, our editors know that the process of sending out work can be a long one. We are grateful that you chose to share your writing with us; your piece was read with great admiration and care. We wish you the best of luck with it, and we hope that you will keep us in mind for future submissions. Please do consider sending us more.

Warmly, Laura Spence-Ash CRAFT

2022

Dear [full name],

Thank you for sending us "[title]" to consider for CRAFT. Your story stood out to our readers and editors. However, because we can accept so few pieces, we do have to decline excellent work, and we're sorry this isn’t the right story for us right now. Here's a note from one of our editors that might help with revision:

"[compliment], [criticism]. [suggestion]."

We appreciate your interest in contributing to CRAFT, and hope you'll send us more work soon. You are welcome to bypass the waiting period and submit another piece within the next three months.

Sincerely,

Courtney Harler Editor in Chief