Free tool · Infographic
The math of the slush pile
A rejection isn't a verdict; it's one draw. Set the acceptance rate of the magazines you're aiming at (check each market's own figures) and watch what persistence does to your odds.
1 subs
2%
5 subs
10%
10 subs
18%
25 subs
40%
50 subs
64%
100 subs
87%
150 subs
95%
200 subs
98%
35
submissions for a 50% chance of at least one yes
80
submissions for a 80% chance of at least one yes
149
submissions for a 95% chance of at least one yes
Assumes each submission is independent. Better work and better-matched markets raise the rate; this shows what volume does on top.