I assume this is meant to be encouraging, and that I should submit elsewhere with optimism befitting a hungry puppy.
It's a nice change from the feedback I've gotten so far. It's also a nice change from the negative feedback I've gotten from sober academic types, which basically boils down to, "your paper is teh sux."
Posted by Neoindra (Member # 3422) on :
I recently got a rejection from a magazine, after they held the article for an extra month, where they said they loved reading it three times in the letter and that they felt it was a very important topic, but that it wasn’t anecdotal enough. I took it as I was a runner up and at the last minute the perfect story came in. Oh well, at least I’ve started getting actual feedback from actual editors instead of the form letters from the unsigned masses. That’s got to be worth something.
Posted by Christine (Member # 1646) on :
I once got a rejection that summed up by saying, "I'm sure you'll find a home for this." I was so encouraged by that -- but alas, I still have not found a home for the story in question. (A shame ... it's my favorite.)
Posted by thexmedic (Member # 2844) on :
A friend and I once submitted a comedy script to the BBC when we were about 16. We received the following complaints (and yes they were listed)
1. It's too long 2. There are too many characters 3. It's not funny
Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
Worst acceptance: I don't like this sort of thing at all, but the editor-in-chief does, so I guess I have to accept it anyway.
Best acceptance: "You're a pro, Will."
Worst rejection: "The next time you purposely mix the pages in your story to see if it gets read, it won't be." I got back a manuscript with the pages in totally random order.
Best rejection: "Send us more stuff."
Posted by Jammrock (Member # 3293) on :
I've only sumbitted on story for publishing so far, and actually got a note back from the editor. Didn't say it was bad or anything, it "just [was]n't the type of story we publish." Need to do more research on my publications next time I try.
Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :
wbriggs: Did you mix the pages?
Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on :
So, Will, why did you mix up the pages?
EDIT: Ha ha, Spaceman!
So here's what happened. I was pitching an idea for a column for an online webzine. The reason for rejection (stated in the email) was that they couldn't consider it for monetary reasons: columns are free content (a loss leader), and they're limiting them until they start making more money.
I'm sorely tempted to send a reply saying I'd be willing to do it only for the publishing cred. Is this wise? I assume there are more costs to them than just paying for the words.
[This message has been edited by trousercuit (edited June 22, 2006).]
Posted by Spaceman (Member # 9240) on :
See, now if you had told the editor that he could use the printing press in your basement, that might have landed you the gig.
Posted by Novice (Member # 3379) on :
Submitted some poems to a lit mag last year, got back a preprinted rejection which ended, "...and we look forward to seeing more of your work." (Among other, less flattering things. But I wanted to focus on the positive.)
Although I considered the possibility that this might, in fact, be their standard rejection, I waited until their next reading period and submitted some more stuff. Got back the exact same preprinted rejection, except they had deleted, "...and we look forward to seeing more of your work." The deletion caused it to end with a sentence fragment. *sigh* I love going backwards.
Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :
Yes it is encouraging.
Three of my four rejection letters have taken the time to tell me where the difference was between my story and what they wanted to publish.
One gave me a form letter which was basically
The reason we did not opt for your story was the [u]unrealistic dialogue[/u].
it then went on to a 1000 word advertisement for their publications including many "click here to subscribe" links.
The funny part is that the particular story I submitted to them had absolutely no dialogue.
Posted by Louiseoneal (Member # 3494) on :
I got one back a couple weeks ago that said: Nicely handled but I'm looking for something with more plot.
That's the best rejection I've seen yet. Sigh.
Posted by InsideOutside (Member # 3548) on :
My best rejection - "Wow. Just... wow." My worst rejection - "Wow. Just... wow."
It was a short-story I wrote about a time-travelling detective named Herlock Sholmes, whose partner was a narcoleptic chimpanzee named Waltzin. Come on, that's best seller material! lol.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
I'd start a "worst rejection" thread---I have one definitely in mind---but I'm reluctant to put up something that might be construed as libel and slander.
Posted by Survivor (Member # 213) on :
Yeah, getting into complaining about your rejections is always a bad idea. Even if it doesn't get you sued, it might persuade everyone that gets a story from you to play it safe and just send you a form rejection. Editors might not have read your story, but they are actually very likely to have read your anti-editor rant online.
Posted by Rilnian (Member # 3506) on :
Orwell was right more than he knew....
Creepy satellites...
Posted by Aust Alien (Member # 3493) on :
Hey, complaining about rejections?? Just celebrate that you got yourself off your seat, finished something and sent it on. I wish had.... :-)
Okay, now for somewhere else to procrastinate...
Posted by Sara Genge (Member # 3468) on :
I've fallen in love with "Shimmer". Not only have they taken less than 2 DAYS to go through my story, but the rejection slip was personal and encouraging... and also very true. I'll send them the best I can produce (however poor that may be, sigh) and I'm going to tell everyone else to do the same.
Posted by cvgurau (Member # 1345) on :
quote:Hey, complaining about rejections?? Just celebrate that you got yourself off your seat, finished something and sent it on. I wish had.... :-)
Okay, now for somewhere else to procrastinate...
O_O Get out of my head!
(Seriously, though, I should probably be writing more . . . 9_9 )
Posted by TMan1969 (Member # 3552) on :
I got one that said "I should apply to a magazine more suited for my unique writing"
