I'd like to trade @DR if you're playing? Hey I got called 'Joycean' yesterday, twice. That means they don't know what the F**K I am talking about... .. My pal the 'great editor' who never edits - you just see your typos in the book - he's nice, he's moving to the publishing wing. If you have a 15k btw he's looking. That's not so good for me - means I have to befriend the new editor who is twelve. Anyway, he sends out a circular saying 'my last issue contains...' I e-mail him 'Hey, what about my one you're keeping?' 'Oh, I forgot.' 'Fakk aff...' 'I will try to squeeze it in, or on-line at the very worst.' I find out today which/when worst [or maybe next year.]
I actually looked that up, normally I don't because, well you know...you were referring to William Joyce, the nazi collaborator? So, the term 'Joycean', is really not a nice thing to call someone... Unless, of course, I've got that all wrong...
Both individuals were suggesting at my intense and fabulous genius, better than Hitler, and I believe most sincerely they referred to James Joyce the celebrated iconoclast of all literatures.
Well, I knew that, of course, didn't want to overshadow the forum with your towering intellect and witty repartee. Ah, James Joyce...who's he? And before you all cave my head in with one of his books, I was, of course, joking. Although, saying that, I have never read him.
Sure, I'm always up to it. And what is your editor friend looking for? 15k words like a novella? I might have something...
Getting rejected is always difficult. Most of my submissions end in rejection, but when I get rejected my approach is to read more in my genre and revise the pieces I've already written instead of jumping into anything new. I've only been published in very small publications, but that's how it is when you're starting out. The downside to the rejections we get is that we rarely get to know why our work wasn't good enough, but there are so many reasons. When I interned as an assistant editor with a literary journal we sometimes read no further than the first two lines. If the opening wasn't attention grabbing, we moved on. Other times we had two strong pieces that were so similar to each other that we couldn't publish both. There's also the aesthetic of the magazine to consider. If we received Hemingway-style realism we rejected it simply because the journal was more focused on quirky, outside-the-box writing. It might be in your best interest to read a good amount from the journals/magazines you're trying to get published in. I realize it's a chore to do that, and I don't often get around to that myself, but it could really help.
Hi @Jillian Oliver and welcome to our little rejection community. I agree with most of what you said. Reading is key. I read and studied literary short fiction for years. I'm in love with short stories. I don't at all see reading them as any kind of chore. It's not a chore for me at least and I wish I had the money to subscribe to more publications, but I get a few and read online. I always tell people to check out the Pushcart Prize anthology to get a sampling of who's publishing what. I guess maybe that's sort of like cliff notes for the literary scene. I two have been a reader for a literary journal. We were told to give each piece at least two paragraphs. It sure is rough out there as we both seem to have experience as reader/editors and writers. However, I don't think you have to break in at low places and work your way up. My first publication was a big one. It came after hundreds of rejections and after writing so many stories. I've sent my work to both big and small publications and continue to do so. But I haven't been able to get into these places that are supposed to be easier. I really haven't sold a lot of fiction. I post the majority of my rejections here. Just showing it's tough out there, how long it takes to respond, and it's sort of my recommendations as to the places I think are worth submitting to. I hope you stick around, especially if you're a submitter and/or short story writer too. We've got a good crew here that's super supportive. We celebrate the attempts and victories. Most of the time it's going to be a rejection. Funny thing is I never believe that when I'm submitting. Oh, the fool I must be. More rejections coming soon...
We're all fools I think, writing a word down on paper or screen makes fools of us all. We all fools is crazy. So, here's the good news, all the best people are. Regarding the pushcart thing, went to their site and you can order a copy through Amazon (US not UK), so looking for kindle, but no digital copies.
$ and This is not a publication, but it is money for being a writer. And, man, did I need some money. It's not a crazy amount or anything, but it sure is going to help me out. I just got an offer letter (I'm not quite sure what to call it) and was told there is more paperwork to come so I don't really want to say more than that right now. Only that there is money out there for artists and writers.
Fingers crossed for you DR, hope that works out, you brave souls riding the rough waves of life with only your words to sail by...hats off to you.
Open Pen are publishing my 'serious' or sad story that got short-listed for Wasafiri. That'll be February edition, issue 23.
Just got another rejection. I thought this one had a real shot given some of the circumstances around how this submission was made and to whom. I rarely leave out details when posting my rejections, but in this case all I'm going to say is that I got another one. This one stings a little.
Yeah well, I got form rejection from the one I'm reading for [sci-fi]. I stuck it on the blog [why?] ... I just got the confirmation - memoir piece appears on paper Monday 1st February, Open Pen, issue 23. www.openpen.co.uk £10 for four issues. Probably my last appearance with them...:/
I'm learning the hard way that withdrawing submissions from other markets because a response seems past due at a place I really want to publish is not a good idea. It just sets me back because it's almost always going to be a rejection from almost everywhere. I would like to think I'm pretty smart when it comes to where I want to publish and doing research or reading past issues, but things just aren't working out so well. No more withdrawing!!! If any place I submit takes a story from me, I think it's a good thing. Unfortunately, it's also a rare thing.
