Still on the subject of forces that are out to get me, I failed, in my earlier post, to mention my good luck in my first publication in The Rambler, and my even better luck to be accepted again by The Rambler. But “they” , the forces of evil, woke up from their nap. A week after my acceptance, I got an email stating the magazine will go on hiatus … for one year!!! The last print was to be the one before my essay. They welcomed me to submit it elsewhere and if I don’t they will when they are up and running again. I am sad for more than the obvious. I’m dejected because I feel they are the only literary magazine out there that “gets” me. In defense of all the other magazines out there, I should mention I’ve only submitted to one other, and I haven’t received a rejection from them yet.
So this will force me to venture into the scary world of magazine dating again, finding the right chemistry, accepting when it just doesn’t click, and waiting by the phone/computer for that call or email that will either make my day or send me to the dark corner of dread.
I invite you all to share your stories of woe. Is there a “they” in your life? Did something happen that set you back? If so, do tell. Misery loves company.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for tomorrow’s post titled How I almost died today.
Hi Tricia! I tried responding to your post you left me, but for some reason I couldn’t. Anyways, it’s nice to meet you!!
Thanks for stopping by for a visit. Hope to hear from you soon!
The Nerd
Glad you came by. I’ll be awinging by your blog soon.
My only tale of woe is of an agent I met at a conference who invited me to send a 50-page partial of my ms, where it then fell into what I assume is the “no reply means no” chasm. I followed up but even that received no response. [sigh] If they aren’t enthusiastic about what they’ve read, why do they ask for more? And if they ask for more but then decide against it wouldn’t a form rejection be more courteous than no response? [It’s an old complaint. I’ve heard their answers but I still don’t like it.]
I can understand a form rejection for a query, but an invite should at least give an explanation as to why they rejected it.
That’s a bummer. Thanks for sharing.
A year long hiatus???
***sigh******
I was browsing through Poet’s Market today and saw a couple of listings that said journals/mags were on hiatus. Is this common practice?
If they’re college review mags, I think it’s common to go silent for summer.
I never knew this ever happened. It was a total shock to me.
It’s not usual practice to go on hiatus for a year. I think it’s the times we live in (i. e. the economy).
But it’s totally UNFAIR for you. BTW, I have a rejection from the Rambler. So big congratulations to you!
Cynthia,
Do you know of any other magazines that are newbie-friendly? I’m more concerned with publishing credits than whether or not they pay right now.
When I look up literary magazines online, the list is vast. I don’t know where to start. I submitted to Rambler after a recommendation.
How I almost died today? You’re a master of the literary arts & precognitive? How could a magazine not want to publish you? Oh crap, what did Strunk and White have to say about consecutive questions? I must move on to an exclamative!
Thank you, deathinfrance. I wish you were a magazine editor. 🙂
Thanks for visiting and don’t forget to tune in to How I Almost Died Today.
Oh, that is so not fair! (yes I can sound like a teenager in this case!) did you throw a temper tantrum?
I didn’t throw a tantrum because I was still wondering how in the world I could get lucky twice. Then when the bad news came I slapped my forehead and said “Of course.”
Yeah, well if the other mag is the one I think it is, and you get accepted there, you’ll never need mention Rambler again.
Linda, I doubt I’ll be accepted there since they had my submission for six months. They don’t accept email so there was a little expense and inconvenience involved in mailing the dang thang. I would a least like to know if they even recieved it, but when I called they said they had no way of tracking it. Whatever (throws hands in air).
sorry to keep sticking my nose in, but I have started some time ago sending stuff out with a tracking code (even with the extra cost). And I am glad I did as early this summer Canada Post actually lost a ms I sent to an agent.
In my experience, which granted is not much, 6 months is normal. Most lit journals ask for up to 12 months 😦
They did say six months, so I should be receiving my rejection any day now. I would have sent it with a return receipt but they said to send reg. mail. Some places hate when they have to sign something and I didn’t think I had room to break any rules.
Some times it’s helpful to send a self addressed stamped envelope to mags, that way they can acknowledge receipt of your manuscript and, rejection is something that all writers learn to live with, Manuscripts are rejected for any number of reasons and it doesn’t mean your story sucked. I’ve had work accepted several times by literary magazines that went out of business before my story saw print. It happens…These little magazines are important stepping stones for any writer but are sometimes under funded and staffed by volunteers. Most successful writers have seen many, many rejections slips. It’s a part of the business. Do not let yourself become discouraged by it.
Thank you for visiting, Laura.
My big moan isn’t the rejection. I expect those. It’s the giveth and taketh away part I have a problem with. I haven’t been in the business of magazine submissions long enough to know that hiatus and folding up were a common occurance. Glad to hear from some of you that this is normal, though I wish it weren’t.
I can stop blaming “them”. 🙂
You can send with a tracking – no signature required!!
I have found the online journals to be more receptive and quicker to respond than the print journals. Plus you can submit electronically and don’t have to fool with paper and postage. Plus you can link to them on your blog. Try the ones on the Links page on my blog. If they published me, then they’re newbie-friendly.
If you want to expand from there, order a copy of CLMP Literary Press and Magazine Directory. I usually order a copy every year. There’s a section in the back where they list the online magazines.
Finally, notice where other people you know are getting publications and send there.
It’s a terribly slow and depressing process, but I try to always have stuff out.
Thank you. I’ll check out the links on your blog