Hatrack River Writers Workshop: When does it become a different story?

This is topic When does it become a different story? in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.

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Posted by Ethereon (Member # 9133) on :

I understand that when a story is rejected from a market you CANNOT revise and resubmit.

What happens if you totally rewrite it or significantly expand it, but it still has the same title and/or the same general storyline?

Lets say your flash piece is rejected and you develop it into a 2, 3, or 4 thousand word story with addition backstory, plot elements, character development etc. Would it be acceptable to send it to the market it was rejected from in its first incarnation?

If not, how expanded/different would it have to be?

I'm looking at a flash bit of mine that has been to A LOT of markets. Now that it's rested a while I can see the potential to make it a richer, longer story, but I'm wondering if it's worth the effort if there's essentially nowhere I would be able to submit it.

Posted by MartinV (Member # 5512) on :

I would chose a different title in case the people who rejected the first version have photographic memory.

Posted by WouldBe (Member # 5682) on :

I've been in that situation, with my favorite short story. You could try a query to the editor (without attaching the new version), briefly explaining the major re-write and asking if a re-sub might be permitted. I've had two say no and another who said yes.

I've run out of markets for that story; there were few to begin with. I'm now trying alternate ways of getting something from the story. I subbed it to a local writers' guild; if I win, I'll get free entry to their annual book conference and a FTF with an agent. That would be equivalent in value to a pro- or semi-pro-paying market.

Posted by LDWriter2 (Member # 9148) on :

Actually I have had the same thought. But for different reasons. There have been a couple of stories I thought about redoing because I didn't get them quite right--according to how I envisioned the story-and even though basically the same story there would be significant changes.

As someone already suggested a change of title would probably be good as well as character names. I think I would go ahead and send it in. If an editor remembers it would depend on a number of issues I would think. How long ago you sent it in, what they thought of the writing, how busy they were at the moment they read it, etc..

If they do recall it, they will probably remember how short it used to be also. Even of they send a note saying you already sent this story it would not be the end of the world or of your writing career.

Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :

What you do, Ethereon, is submit it again, but say in the cover letter that it is an extensively rewritten and expanded version of a story you submitted to them months/years/whatever ago.

Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :

Once---the only time I did it, actually---I got a helpful rejection slip back with the story and made revisions on that basis, then sent it back to the same market with a cover letter saying I knew they didn't suggest I revise, but I thought I would and I'd give them a look at it.

I got it back with a scribbled note: "NO REVISIONS."