Ah well, everyone has to have a few rejections in their writing career. My first one came late last night. I submitted a short dark-fantasy piece called “The Snow Maiden” to Three Crows Press for their erotica issue, and they replied that it was “not what they were looking for.” I can only surmise that since the point of view character doesn’t obviously die (I preferred to leave the interpretation up to my Reader) that it wasn’t dark enough for their standards.
Despite the fact that I was understandably disappointed they did not appreciate a work created specifically for their zine, I wasn’t completely devastated. First, because I was half expecting it. After all, isn’t the first one always rejected anyway? Secondly, the story can certainly be submitted to other places as well, and I fully intend to do so once I find one that is suitable. Finally, while I think it was a good story, I was a bit rushed to finish it in time, and did not have a chance to get someone to look over and edit it. So, it is quite likely not the best story I could write at this stage. But I think it will be quite good.
Next, I must finish polishing my fairy short story which still remains nameless. I intended to submit it to at least one market before the end of the month. At this point, I’m not totally sure I will manage, since I also have a couple of papers to write and a presentation to work on by the same time. Still, I can always try.
So, I keep writing, and keep submitting. Easy, right? Sure.
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First off, if you skipped it, read ” http://misanthropology101.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/interpreting-rejection-about-the-form-letter/ ” (dunno if there’s a way to turn that into a neat link in a comment like this, sorry — just copy-and-paste).
Second…actually, that post really says most everything I was going to say. “The first one” isn’t always rejected, “the vast majority” are always rejected. Congrats on the first in a long series of form letters, send everyone you can talk into it a copy of your story to look over (see ” http://misanthropology101.wordpress.com/2010/01/08/the-editing-group/ ” for more on that subject), and be sure to keep track of what’s been rejected by who as you get more and more stories out there — it’s easy to lose track once you have four or five going back and forth, and you don’t want to waste a three-month response period waiting to hear that you already sent an editor that story once before. Editors also don’t like that, so beware.
Let me know if you need my e-mail to send me anything for edits, or just get it off your coz; also let me know if you’ve got an e-mail address you want on my Editing Group list (see the aforementioned post, again).
But again, congrats on a writing milestone!
I did read the first post (I believe you can turn it into a neat link, but I’m not sure. I’ll look into it). The line about the “first one always rejected” was mostly tongue-in-cheek.
I would be delighted to have you look over any of my stories, though I dunno if they’re all the sort you’d enjoy reading. I’ll get back to you about the editing group thing after I have a chance to look it over.
Rejection seems to be going around these days. It’s certainly been knocking at my door. Maybe I should turn out all the lights and pretend I’m not home next time I hear it knocking? Hang in there. The more rejection you suffer, the more resilient you become.
Thanks! Hopefully we’ll both find success sooner rather than later!
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