New writers often confuse a rejection letter with a revision letter. At first glance, a revision letter can appear very much like a personal rejection letter. They may start by pointing out the positives of the writing, and then go into detail about what the editor feels was wrong with the manuscript.

Generally, in the revision letter, an editor will write: If you would like to address these changes and resubmit the work to me, I'd be happy to review it again. However, it's not unheard of for an editor to overlook adding that one line. Other times you might read a line such as: As is, this manuscript will not work for us. The “as is” basically means that if some things were changed, the book might work for them.

If you get an exceptionally detailed letter from an editor suggesting changes to your manuscript, and praising you for some aspects of your writing, you may want to write the editor a thank-you note and ask if she would consider reviewing the manuscript again after you've made the changes she recommended.

Revision letters are a good thing. When an editor makes suggestions for a book and requests the work be resubmitted, it means he or she thinks your manuscript just misses the submission requirements. While a request to review a book again is in no way a guarantee of a sale, it is a sign that you are close.