No, I'm not a masochist, reveling in rejection. I'm an optimist, rejoicing in the knowledge that I finally screwed up the courage to submit a work to a real live publisher. Might not seem like a big deal to y'all, but it is to me. I finally did it, after much writing, re-writing, re-re-writing, and mulling it over. (I'm a champion-caliber muller).
Rejected? So what! I took the first step. Quick, somebody grab a camera before I fall back to Earth on my diaper-clad butt.
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
Congratulations!
Now toss that baby back out there to another publisher. Today.
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
What Beth said!
Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
Sometimes I wonder if it'd be scarier if they accept it. Then all sorts of doubt would go through my mind: Can I do it again?
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
Congrats on taking the plunge. Now do what Beth said.
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
chris: sometimes! after the initial buzz wears off, I usually spend some time thinking "oh, crap, now everyone is going to be able to see what a fraud I am." and then I think I'll never write anything coherant again.
but then I realize that I'm being a neurotic moron and settle down.
Posted by cklabyrinth (Member # 2454) on :
Any notes from the editor on your rejection, or was it a form rejection?
Posted by Three Minute Egg (Member # 2523) on :
It was an email rejection for an e-zine:
"I think I'm going to take a pass on this story."
That's it. Not useful, really.
Posted by JBSkaggs (Member # 2265) on :
Many times I use that rejection line when I have something where the writing is fine- I just didn't like the story.
Best to send it immediately to another market.
Posted by RavenStarr (Member # 2327) on :
Who'd you send to? Did they give you a rejection letter with any pointers, or did they just give a firm "no"? What story was it? Um... and some other questions that aren't crossing my mind at the moment...
Posted by Robyn_Hood (Member # 2083) on :
Yay!!!!!
I got my first rejection from a pro-market on Friday. Just a form letter saying, "Thanks for letting us look at this, but we cannot accept it at this time."
Oh well, I just sent the story off to it's next market.
Good luck with your next submittal.
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
Congrats to you, too, Robyn!
Most rejections are going to be form rejections. It just makes the personalized ones stand out even more.
Posted by Three Minute Egg (Member # 2523) on :
"Thank you for submitting, but I'm going to have to pass on this particular story."
Now, that's the direct quote. I was starting to wonder if I had reproduced it accurately, and of course, I hadn't.
It was to Shred of Evidence, a quarterly e-zine of crime fiction.
I replied, thanked the editor for her time, and requested any pointers. What's the worst that could happen? She could reject me (again)?
HA!
Robyn, congratulations to you, and best of luck, too.
Posted by RavenStarr (Member # 2327) on :
Was it a story that got attacked on here yet?
Someone help me out, I'm trying to remember the Mystery/Crime magazines that Dell Publishing has, but I can't thik of it... all I remember is that there's two of them (because Dell seems to have two of pretty much everything). If you can think of it, try to find the web site for it.
Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
Congrats, y'all! Your rejections are the first, but won't be the last! May you beat the 98%+ rejection rate soon (and me too).
Posted by Three Minute Egg (Member # 2523) on :
I've been told by one E-zine editor that anything posted for public critique (read: sites like Hatrack) was considered "published" (in his eyes, anyway).
I'm no lawyer. What say, all?
Posted by Beth (Member # 2192) on :
That's why there's a 13-line limit. If you post the full piece publicly, yeah, that counts as published.
[This message has been edited by Beth (edited May 09, 2005).]
Posted by Isaiah13 (Member # 2283) on :
Congrats! I just got my first one a couple weeks ago. I'm thinking about buying a frame for it Posted by Keeley (Member # 2088) on :
Congratulations!
Posted by RavenStarr (Member # 2327) on :
Three Minute Egg: OSC wrote something about that on the site somewhere (I can never find anything when I'm trying to look for it around here). For an E-zine editor, that concept is extremely understood, since the only difference between publishing with them and here would be the copyright... otherwise, it's the same in detail...
If you want anyone here to constructively-bash the full thing, then make a request and who ever accepts, e-mail it to them...
Posted by EricJamesStone (Member # 1681) on :
> Someone help me out, I'm trying to > remember the Mystery/Crime magazines that > Dell Publishing has, but I can't thik of > it...
[This message has been edited by EricJamesStone (edited May 09, 2005).]
Posted by RavenStarr (Member # 2327) on :
There we go, thanks, Eric...
TME, you should try running your story through the Hatrack-wringer and then try sending to one of those (or if anybody has any other suggestions, I personally have an affinity for Dell)...
