posted
This was "The Necrologists Daughter" 4200 word fantasy This is a new one for me. I feel proud that he liked my story and would like to see longer work but disappointed that it didn't sell. Still, a nice rejection.
Mark, Unfortunately, we have received a glut of submission within the 2500 to 4500 word range and cannot accept any more stories of this word length at this time. I did enjoy the story, and hope that you will submit longer material in the future.
Changing their mind, I'm sure you'll agree, will do you no good. They probably like to publish stories of variny length, just as places like Analog do. There are plenty of places to try. Check Doutrope or Storypilot.
posted
Unless you specifically get a request for a rewrite, you don't respond to a rejection at all. Send the story somewhere else. Although I agree that it is an unusual rejection. Hopefully, someone else will like the story and have a place for it.
Posts: 3567 | Registered: May 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I haven't actually submitted anything (I get rejected enough in real life to have editors do it too) I would just remember that this editor/magazine liked your story but to not send them anything in the 2500-4500 word range. This could actually be a benefit to you. They apparently like your style of writing and now you know the range they're looking for. Keep this in mind for your next project. Good luck, bud.
Posts: 135 | Registered: Feb 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
tchernabyelo said: "You do two things. You send that story out to another market. And when you have a longer story, you submit it to that market. That's it. "
I agree, but I'll add that you should also feel pretty good about it. I don't think they would say they enjoyed the story if they didn't, so that's something.
posted
What little knowledge I have on this...well, the length they're overstocked on seems puzzling. Usually it's the really long stuff they've got way too much of, and the shorter lengths are what they want to see more. Seems a reverse of the natural order.
Of course, since they actually said it, it's best to take them at their word. Submit the story somewhere else, and send them either a longer old story or a longer new story. And be happy with the comment, too.
posted
With those few editors that actually talk to me in rejections, especially when they tell me why they rejected it, I respond and thank them for the feedback.
Posts: 2626 | Registered: Apr 2008
| IP: Logged |
posted
I can't believe this hasn't been mentioned yet...
You respond to that type of rejection by keeping the pain and bitterness deep deep inside you, letting it harden into a tight ball, like Superman squeezing coal into a diamond, and then, when you become rich and famous you contact that editor again, asking him or her if they would like something from you to boost their sales, and he (or she) responds that it would be great, yeah, just a short story or so...And that little ball of diamond-hard pain is released in a vitriolic torrent at the editor telling him (or her)that you don't do short stories anymore and that he can take his (or her's) word count and, well, you know.
At least that's what I hope to do when I become rich and famous. But it better happen quick, 'cause my stomach is really really killing me.
posted
LOL great comments everyone....it just struck me as odd that the editor liked the piece then said he had too many of that size....I am thinking about what I could do longer for him, now though, he seemed to like my writing style
Posts: 690 | Registered: Oct 2008
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
