A couple of posts ago, I whined expressed concern about not having a November publication. Of course it’s a lot like playing lotto: you can’t win if you don’t play. I haven’t submitted much in November or October, or September, just resubmitting stories that have been rejected. One story has been rejected twelve times. If I didn’t love the story so much and believe in it and its potential to open doors and pave golden, diamond-dusted paths toward fame and fortune, then maybe I’d let it retire. But I’m deluded and stubborn: two very hazardous personality traits.
All this rejection is good for me. It’s thickening my skin for future agent rejections. You know, “Don’t take it personally, but we can’t stand you or your writing, and your story makes us want to hork all over my keyboard,” type of rejection.
So I compiled some rejections from various short stories, so you, the curious, can know the different levels of pain I must endure from time to time.
I present to you the polite but dull standard form rejection.
Dear Ms. Sutton,
Thank you for sending us ____. Our editors have looked it over carefully, but don’t feel it’s the best fit for our publication. Unfortunately, we are unable to place all of the fine pieces we receive. We wish you luck in placing it elsewhere.
The impersonal and brief rejection
Dear Artist,
Thanks for the submission. I appreciate it. But I’m going to pass on this one.
The let-me-down-gently rejection
Dear Tricia -
Thank you for submitting ____to ___ for publication. Though I like your writing ability, I’m afraid we will decline. We receive many more manuscripts than we can accept. We wish you luck in placing it with another publisher.
You are welcome to submit other stories to us at any time.
This-shows-they-read-it rejection
Tricia,
Thank you for letting us read ___. It’s an amusing piece, but we felt it’s not a good fit for ___. Thanks for thinking of our publication, and good luck placing your piece elsewhere.
The personal rejection
Dear Tricia,
Thanks for sending ___ to us. I’m going to respectfully pass on this piece.
I like the characters and the voice of the narrator, Tricia, but the perspective’s a bit insular for my tastes. I like stories that focus a bit more on external interactions between characters, allowing the conflict to arise from those interactions.
The-I-don’t-know-but-I-think-I-should-be-insulted-personal rejection
Hello Tricia,
Thank you for the submission. This is an intriguing story, but it’s not the kind of literature we’re looking for. All the pieces we accept must, in some way, suggest an evolution in writing technique.
The almost-there-personal rejection
Tricia,
Thank you for the submission. We’re going to pass on this particular piece, but it was very close. (No, we don’t say that to everybody.) You’re a strong writer, and we encourage you to submit again.
The acceptance
Hello Tricia,
Good to hear from you again.
Thanks for that reminder of how smells can transport us to days gone by.
And now I present to you my very first ever published (and written) poetry. It’s true, I wrote poetry. Don’t laugh. Okay laugh, you will anyway.
http://www.short-humour.org.uk/5writersshowcase/atoasttohorseshit.htm
Do you have any rejections you like to share?
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Tricia
Happy Thanksgiving! I shredded my rejections last winter as I decided they were taking up too much space. But I had a nice big pile.
Tricia, I really like your poem. It’s Very Good! And I’m a bit surprised to learn this about you…
Laura~Thankfully, my rejections are all electronic. Otherwise I’d feel guilty about all the trees I killed.
And thank you for the compliment.
I love this post. I’m gearing up for inevitable rejections too. I’m thinking I should put your address on the query letters, what do you say? (Then you can just tell me about the accepts.)
You are an awesome talent and this is my favorite part of your post: “If I didn’t love the story so much and believe in it and its potential to open doors and pave golden, diamond-dusted paths toward fame and fortune, then maybe I’d let it retire. But I’m deluded and stubborn: two very hazardous personality traits.”
I need more of that attitude!
Oh, I loved the “The-I-don’t-know-but-I-think-I-should-be-insulted-personal rejection” too. (Not the rejection, just your classification of it.)
Judy~Yes, use my address and my name too. I can re-build my reputation through you. People will say, Isn’t that the one who wrote Horseshit? And someone will respond, No, silly, this is the good one, this one writes gooder.
I burnt mine, and then spat on the ashes. Then I burnt the manuscripts. I can be quite emotional sometimes.
Tooty~I relate. I can put on a good emotional drama worthy of an old black and white movie complete with fainting. I love your comment, I totally picture you doing that.
Ah rejections… big fun. I’m to the point that anything that isn’t a form letter counts as a win.
Always remember, you aren’t alone… I’ve got passels of the things. But I really think that each one signifies a chance I gave myself to succeed.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Julie~Yes, I agree. The personal rejections at least show someone cared enough to comment.
Sometimes, when my inbox is stagnant, I actually rejoice when I get a rejection. It’s better than silence. Silence implies I haven’t been working.
Next year is my year……didn’t I say that last year?
Kasie~I feel it. Next year is your year, unless it’s this year, which ain’t over till the … I sing.
Tricia, 10 is nothing–baby steps. Don’t stop sending it out until you reach at least 100. Actually don’t stop sending it out until it’s published.
And I went to check out your poem. No offense : ) but I have to say your bio was my favorite part. I’m still laughing…
Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Cynthia~My bio should really be titled my disclaimer. I really do wonder what got into me to write poetry. Whatever it was, I’m over it now.