Unfortunately, this note was cryptic: "well written though". I am considering posting the first thirteen lines in Fragments and Feedback with an offer to read more, but I hate the ending to the story I submitted and there are other problems within the story I want to resolve before I show it to anyone here. After all, I submitted this before I discovered the wonders of Hatrack (and my HUB). Some of the same problems that many of you pointed out in "Royal Blue" also exist in this other story (it's in first person so it's slightly more forgivable).

But if I revise it before I let anyone here review it, you won't be reading the same version as the editor, who took the time to write a note on the rejection letter.

Personally, I'm leaning toward revising first, then posting. But I'm feeling very nervous as this is my first handwritten note.

Go for it! Rewrite it, repost it, and resubmit it!

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The only time you change your story one you begin sending it out is when an editor says, "Change this, and I'll publish it."

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Why?

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If I wait to do any revising until the story has been sent to every market that will accept it, but the revising is slight enough that it's essentially the same story, then won't I be breaking the "don't resubmit" rule?

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I'm not sure I understand this question. What are you asking? Why you shouldn't revise your story once you start sending it off?

My own rule is that of Heinlein's: Once a story hits the market it stays on the market until it's sold. What's the market? With each story, I develop a market list. I list every market (A) that would accept the kind of story it is and (B) that I would want to be published in. (E.g., I don't send my stuff to for-the-luv markets, and I don't send my stuff to pornographic magazines that accepts fiction.) The story goes to each market, and if it doesn't find a home it goes in my desk drawer. I don't see it as a failed story or anything like that. It's just an unpublished story. I have lots of these stories. Every writer does.

The reason why I don't revise my story is that I'll end up tinkering with it each time it comes back. Even if there's a handwritten note on the rejection, I ignore it unless the editor has pointed out a major flaw in the story. I tend to see editors as readers, and I can't help it if they don't like my story, or a part of my story. So long as I like it, I keep it as is.

Now, I've heard stories that sometimes editors will say, "Change this part and I'll buy it." This has never happened to me, but I've heard that it does in fact happen. That's the only time you want to change your story (according to Heinlein), because the editor is telling you he'll buy it if this one part is changed. As far as I understand it, if you ever get a note like this, you're not breaking the resubmit rule, because the editor is telling you to resubmit it once you change this one part.

Kolona, I really don't know why she rejected it. There were only three of the most common reasons listed, and from the note, I suspect it's either that the idea is old, or that it didn't "stand out".

Thanks for the explanation, Balthasar. I understand what you're saying now. I'm still getting used to business terms as they relate to writing.

You're right Robyn_Hood. I'm not going to revise this because of anything the editor said. I sent this out before I really felt comfortable with it. Money was tight and that affected my decision.

If the note hadn't been there, I would have revised the story first, then put the first 13 lines on F&F and asked people to read the revision.

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Now, I've heard stories that sometimes editors will say, "Change this part and I'll buy it." This has never happened to me, but I've heard that it does in fact happen. That's the only time you want to change your story (according to Heinlein), because the editor is telling you he'll buy it if this one part is changed. As far as I understand it, if you ever get a note like this, you're not breaking the resubmit rule, because the editor is telling you to resubmit it once you change this one part.

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I have received a rewrite request, though not quite as definite as "Change this part and I'll buy it." The editor said he might be able to buy it if I made some changes, so I made the changes and re-submitted the story.

If the editor suggests changes and asks you to submit it again, that's a rewrite request, and you should make the changes and resubmit.

If the editor suggests changes but does not ask you to submit again, that's just advice. Don't submit the story to that editor again even if you do make changes. (And you probably shouldn't make changes unless they're the sort of suggestions that you instantly recognize as fixing a problem with the story. After all, if one editor thinks part of the story is "too wordy," the next editor might like it fine that way, but not like it if you cut down on the wordiness in reaction to the first editor's comments.)

Since I wasn't comfortable with this story before I sent it out, I think I'm going to revise first, post the first thirteen lines of the revision (and all that that implies), with an option of reading the original version if anyone is curious.