posted
If one develops a thick skin early on I think rejections on a regular basis can be as helpful as the odd story that gets accepted...how so, you ask? .....I submit to this editor on a regular basis because I've found that she does not pull any punches and (so far) has not wacked me over the head with a form letter. I believe some day she might actually accept something...in the mean time I utilize her services as a last workshop and submit the work elsewhere... note the progression in work submitted to her at the end of December and today. For me this is encouraging.....
these are two different works in the fantasy flash genre btw. same editor
12 /26/ 08
quote: There really isn't a lot of character development here. The characters are rather one dimensional. It plays to the fantasy stereotypes to the point of absurdity, and clobbers the reader over the head with its "grass is not greener" moral. It's as if you are trying to hard to drive home a point, and in the process lose the reader's interest entirely.
2/12/09
quote: Thank you for the submission to the journal. While this was a delightful little story, at the same time it seems more suited for a young adult market. I'm not sure it is the right fit for the journal. The general tone and style is more appropriate for a casual audience to fantasy fiction and not the more regular readership of genre work, who may consider it too simplistic in its theme.
[This message has been edited by honu (edited February 12, 2009).]
posted
Those both sound pretty constructive and I find that those type of rejections can either give you a thing or two to work out in your story or a idea of a better market in which to submit to, if not both. And yes you must develop a thick skin, but be open enough to see and take some good advice if it happens your way.
I love those that offer great feedback. It almost counters the ones who are snotty &$&$*&$*&^% like
'I NEVER read bio's or cover letters, but you misspelled a word in yours, and your character was smug and uninteresting'
Those types really burn my...well you know. I luckily haven't had too many of those.
You can feel good about your productivity and your acceptance rate. You are on a roll. Keep it up.
posted
I may have mentioned this (I'm getting old so I easily forget), but I received a personal rejection many years ago. The rejection detailed what was wrong with my story, how it wasn't a good fit, blahblahblah. That's fine, except there were typos and grammatical errors all over the thing. It was only about a paragraph, but just sloppy.
I was so p****d that I circled all the mistakes, and sent their rejection letter back to them saying I rejected their rejection letter.
For the life of me, I cannot remember which magazine (probably folded by now anyway), and I wish I had made a copy.
But you'll have to take my word for it. Just like you'll have to trust me on this one: I also don't know what happened to the receipt I got from the funeral home when my mother died. The receipt said: "Thank you for your business, please come again."
(The lady at the funeral home was very polite and apologetic, saying they had just installed the credit card machine. Apparently that's the default setting for a receipt.)
posted
LOL -- both of those stories have me rolling over with laughter. I'm serious, very good stuff, rich.
Posts: 2195 | Registered: Aug 2006
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quote: I had another staff member look over this...and it's pretty much unanimous....lots of potential...lots of good writing...but you sort of went the old route and opted for too much of a quick happy ending rather than testing out your wings.... I would recommend that you try to find a new way to end this story...add some more conflict in the middle (conflict can be internal, not just physical) and try to add some spice to the story....give it some thought. You may end up adding several hundred more words, but try to come up with a more original ending. I've got to say, your stories are improving! Don't be afraid to add words...if you're mainly looking to do flash fiction, then first just write the story...then go back and trim it down. This is a good story...it just needs some work! Take your time and really consider what you want this story to say....and then send it back to us. (put a little of your own life history into this...take bits and pieces of what hurt you and made you who you are into the characters....don't cheat the reader out of a good story...) You can still have a happy ending...just don't go for the sappy ending.
....the editor / publishers assistant editor had this to say about the same story:
quote: When I started reading this story , I thought that I was going to really enjoy something that had taken a new direction . I thought this is going to be good , I thought it's going to need some serious editing , but what a great idea he has. But then in my opinion, it fell flat. The plot changed from the new planet to having young . Sorry , but this just didn't work for me , stay with the original plot of what problems may come from leaving your home and finding a new one or else start over and give some reason his two main characters can or cannot be together . To just end it with they had kids and lived happily ever after is too first grade to me.
when I re wrote it I got this for an answer
quote:I'm sorry, I'm still gonna have to pass on this. It's just not something that works for me. I have another staff member looking at it, and he's way behind on all his story reviews, and if he opts for it we may try it in a future online issue...but right now it's just not something that spurs my interest. I don't know if we have any other stories to go over from you, so you may be hearing back from us later on...right now, this one we are passing on. I'm reading the other story you just sent....it looks promising. I'm passing it on to another staff member to look over, but I must say- it's different from what you've been sending. It has more depth, more humor and conflict that what you've been sending---so good job!
so...rejections can spur inspiration...I sent the story in with my rewrite that didn't quite pull it off, but the second story I sent in (they allow multiple subs) stirred enough interest that perhaps both might get accepted...we shall see I make it a habit to save all my rejections and go back to them and see what did and didn't work for particular editors and then write it the way they like to see things I hope others can glean something from this too
[This message has been edited by honu (edited February 21, 2009).]
quote:I NEVER read bio's or cover letters, but you misspelled a word in yours
That's hilarious! Perhaps the misspelled word separated from the page to float in front of the editor's face.
I've received one personalized rejection letter, which told me what worked, not what didn't work. When I wonder What's the point? I remember that it's easy to lose sight of a story's good points while rewriting. Positive feedback is useful, too.
Honu, you're doing well to receive so many editorial comments. It must feel good to know you're improving.
posted
I just got a personalized, and very positive rejection. Instead of listing faults in the story, the editor said it wasn't right for the magazine. And it made it past the slush reader, which is great news for me. This gives me hope for that story at other publications, and I intend to submit to this particular market more often.
Posts: 299 | Registered: Oct 2008
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posted
Yes I am finding that anytime I get a personalized rejection...positive or negative it helps me...if it's negative....I put on my armor and take a closer look at what really bothered the editor...if I can see a point has validity, then I adjust the story and or stories to suit.
Posts: 690 | Registered: Oct 2008
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