posted
Got my first rejection letter today and as such I am hoping to learn from it. As such there have been a few questions that have bothered me ever since I first sent it off and now seems like the perfect time to ask them.
First, in direct relation to my rejected story: Is a sci fi story with a heavy religious them a little taboo? Looking through the various magazines I have I very seldom find what I'd consider to be religious themes, and even more seldom are they a large part of the story. My story was quite religious (actually, I was very surprised when I was writing it and that popped out) and so I am wondering if that was an issue that I might want to hold off on till I have a little experience under my belt (hence, a publisher might be more willing to publish questionable work from a previously published author).
2) In direct relation to the submitting process: I know various people who also write. However whenever they submit a piece to a publisher they send the work to several publishers at the same time. I have seen a few mentions of this same practice on this board. However in the submission guidelines for every magazine I have found says that they don't accept stories that have been submitted to several places at once. Do I not understand the guidelines or is this something that since it isn't easy to enforce is often times ignored? (Specifically, it took 3 months to get a reply for my story. Trying to do this for each story and for each magazine could take 10 or so years just to get the same story to everyone)
3) More of a personal taste question. When I sent the story I paper clipped it. Would stapling it be more preferable to an editor? (Every little bit helps)
Thanks for any feedback you can give. Or any advice you are willing to impart.
posted
It's kind of difficult to learn anything from a form rejection save for perhaps that the story was not ready for publishing, and that you need to fix something. So, go through and check it. Even if there is a strong religious theme, if it is written well and speaks of truth, then an editor will see that and publish it. If the sci-fi, however, is inconsequential to the religious story, consider taking the scifi bits out, and selling the story to a more religious oriented market. But otherwise, don't take a rejection as a sign that THAT type of story wont be accepted. There may have just been a more fundamental error with the story. For this, you can post the first bit of it under the 'fragments' portion of the board, asking if anyone would like to be emailed the full version to read and critique.
Silmultaneous submission is usually frowned upon in the field. Most respectable publishers would not want you to do this. This is usually just because if they like your story, they don't want to have to wonder if after spending all the time on it - if they might even get it at all, or even, be beat out by someone else's contract. Of course the process of sending a story to many publishers will take a long time, but in that time write and submit more stories. The more stories you have circulating, the better your chances are.
Never staple a manuscript. Rubber-bands and paperclips are fine.
posted
Hi! I think you are handling this very well-- A lot of people would just curl up and cry, but you're wanting to learn from it. Kudos to you! I've had numerous rejections and I try to look at them as little badges of courage-- it takes a lot to finish a work, polish it, and stamp all of your hopes on it and put it out there to risk being rejected. We all hope for the best, but know that the worse (being rejected) is possible. It's hard facing that. Kudos to you for having a good attitude about it!
As to your first question, I don't think that it's because the story is scifi with religious themes. I think you're more likely dealing with one of two things: 1) the actual story itself or 2) the right market. On the latter issue, you can have the absolutely BEST story around-- I mean, award winning stuff-- but if you send it to the wrong magazine, the wrong market, it's not going to be accepted. Make sure that you've studied their submission guidelines, are conversant on what the editor is looking for and likes, and that you've read cover to cover some of their recent issues. Make sure your market is right.
On the first issue, the story itself, that's a little harder. As brutal as it sounds, maybe there were issues/concerns with the story. Pacing, structure, narrative, plot, etc. Is it engaging? Does it actually tell a story? Does it mean anything, move the reader, etc? What distinguishes this story from the hundreds of others that editor receives each month? One rejection letter I received said that while the piece was extremely well crafted (great pacing, narrative, etc) it wasn't actually a STORY-- minimal conflict, no real change in the main character. It was well written, but not a story. In another rejection letter, I heard the same "well written" line, but was told that the basic character elements were "stock fantasy." Unoriginal. Well done, but unoriginal. Did the editor provide any feedback as to why it was rejected?
A great resource for you to explore how to improve your narrative-- to really examine the craft of your story-- is the Del Rey writing board. I think they have a free trial month (and FREE in the real sense of not having to provide any billing info up front). I don't get much out of them at this point, but they were invaluable when I first began my novel and generally, whenever I tackled short stories. You can check them out at http://delrey.onlinewritingworkshop.com/
posted
It is not necessary to conclude that the story wasn't any good after you it has been rejected. The truth might simply be that the editor had something that worked better for that particular issue. Look the story over; check it for typos etc, and send it back into the frey.
I have a healthy pile of rejections. It grows all the time. It will be all the sweeter when I sell something.
posted
Don't staple the story or even paper clip it. Unless it is a screen play, editors do not want the material fastened in any way. Put page numbers on it, though. Rubber bands around it is it is a book manuscript is acceptable.
Understand that one rejection does not mean the story is trash, or that there is something wrong with it. Wouldn’t it be nice if everything we sent out got snatched up on the first try? It won’t.
As far as simultaneous submissions goes (this is sending it to more than one magazine at a time) you can avoid that by sending a query letter instead of sending the entire story. (unless of course the guide lines call for the entire story. By sending a query you will be able to send to several at a time and then have a better chance of finding a fit for the story. Most times when they say they do not accept work submitted elsewhere, they mean the whole work. Read carefully to make sure they did not mean previously published.
You also did not say what sort of a rejection you got. Most are form letters, many with a fill in the author’s name and story title spot. Do not take them personally. They are not personal. If the rejection addressed a specific concern, then take a good look at it. Specific concern is not, this story is not right for us. That means simply that at this time it is not right. It can also mean that you sent something they (just them) do not publish.
With magazines, it is important to read a few issues to determine if what you write fits with what they publish. Libraries often have issues you can read or check out. Also you should note that many magazines in their guidelines say, sample copies XX$. Send for the sample copy. It will save you a lot of headaches.
posted
What in particular is so offensive about paper clips? I know some say yes, some say no. I understand no stapes – they are difficult to remove if you don’t want them. But the paper clip? The little guy pops right off as if it was never there.
That opinion aside, if they say no binding, then no binding it is. I don’t consider I’m in any position to argue. I just personally don’t understand. Bunches of loose paper lying around, even if they are name and numbered, seems like a great way to loose stuff.
As for rejection letters, I’ve taken the notion that they are symbols of being out there, proof that I put together the best story I could at the time and sent it out into the world. Can’t do more than that. For that reason I’ve been ridiculously happy with all the ones I’ve gotten (Not that I wouldn’t have been happier if they had been acceptance letters). Either that, or I’m just weird.
Looking at rejection letters for story feedback is not that useful though. For example, “Well-written, but I’ll pass,” the just of the first I got back on a new story recently, really doesn’t say that much. I can take the well-written part, say “Yeah! They had something good to say,” and start looking for another home to send it to. So don’t think that this one rejection is a sign that science fiction cannot have religious themes.
My advice: Look it over, dust off if needed, and stuff in another envelope and send it away again. No stapes, no simultaneous submissions unless ok in their guidelines.
posted
Paper clips end up all over the place and on the floor. Housekeeping, in a big office, complains. Also, sometimes parts of manuscripts are handed about, takes extra time to unclip. I know, I know, easy as can be --- but---
Anyway, my personal plug here---Writers.net published a previously published article of mine on dealing with rejection.
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It will be all the sweeter when I sell something.
