Rejection, rejection, rejection...

Discussion in 'Traditional Publishing' started by deadrats, Aug 19, 2016.

  1. Funerary

    Funerary Member

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    Deadrats, don't undersell it -- a personal rejection from The New Yorker probably makes you the most successful writer I have ever known personally -- if you're getting to that level it means they know and will remember your name, keep sending them stuff religiously until it breaks through. I cannot stress this enough.
     
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  2. Krispee

    Krispee Contributor Contributor

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    As a matter of interest what kind of story does the New Yorker publish?
     
  3. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    I think there's a sort of soothing monotone. Mundane excitement. Working in a literary reference doesn't seem to hurt. I do love reading the fiction in The New Yorker.
     
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  4. matwoolf

    matwoolf Banned Contributor

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    Greasy and self-conscious.
     
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  5. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    A 20-day personal rejection from The Missouri Review.
     
  6. Krispee

    Krispee Contributor Contributor

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    That sounds like you're eating a portion of fish and chips. :D
     
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  7. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    182 no-response rejection from Contrary. This is one of those places that say they only respond when interested. I guess there was no interest in my piece.
     
  8. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    A 31-day form rejection from Booth.
     
  9. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    A 280-day personal rejection from The Offing. Seems like this one was close. Damn.
     
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  10. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    A 441-day form rejection with a little note from Harper's.
     
  11. John-Wayne

    John-Wayne Madman Extradinor Contributor

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    Can you guys stop getting rejectified, start getting publicized.

    Thankfully I'm going self-publish, hehe. So basically no one will be reading my stuff
     
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  12. Woodstock Writer

    Woodstock Writer Senior Member

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    Not really the right place for this, I feel. But last weekend I got an acceptance for publication in a mental health anthology. It’s non-fiction, so I’ve still had no luck whatsoever with my fiction. But I’ve never been in an anthology before and have spent most of my time here being glum about my rejections so hopefully you’ll let me off this one time and let me post this here!
     
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  13. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    Yay! Good for you @Woodstock Writer!!! Some good news is always welcome amongst this long-running stream of rejection we've got going here. I too sold creative nonfiction before selling fiction. It's not easy to get things published, but you did it. And I'm sure you're on your way to doing it many more times. :)
     
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  14. Woodstock Writer

    Woodstock Writer Senior Member

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    Thank you @deadrats :) I’ve had non-fiction published before, but not for a while. I’m concentrating on fiction these days but I saw this anthology on Duotrope and wanted to give it a try. No payment but the proceeds go to the National Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder, and I have BPD myself (the article is about it too) so I thought I’d try. Even though I’ve been published in non-fiction before, this is my first anthology.
     
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  15. MarcT

    MarcT Active Member

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    With all these rejections, why don't you self-publish instead?
     
  16. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    I have no interest in self publishing. This is all about writing stories and getting into the good publications. It happens. It's happened to me, but there is always going to be a lot of rejection and a lot of competition. This is ridiculously hard. I started this thread when I felt like I would never sell my short fiction. Then I started posting rejections as a way to vent. I'm grateful for those who joined in. I think this thread has become an example of how hard it is to publish in the magazines and journals. It's all about trying and trying new stuff and being relentless. If you look through this thread, you'll see some acceptances. I just put a smiley face and leave it at that. But I get rejected a billion times a year it seems. I also think this thread shows viewers the places I think are worth submitting to and how long it takes to get a response. Self publishing just isn't the same and it really won't bring you any closer to publishing in these places. It doesn't line up with my goals.
     
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  17. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    A 48-day form rejection from The Malahat Review.
     
  18. Funerary

    Funerary Member

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    Have a few submissions that I should be hearing back from shortly, some are well overdue a response so fingers crossed!
     
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  19. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    A 34-day personal rejection from Craft.
     
  20. Krispee

    Krispee Contributor Contributor

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    Well done, published is published.
     
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  21. Tenderiser

    Tenderiser Not a man or BayView

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    Well done! If you're comfortable sharing, do drop a link when it's published.
     
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  22. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    I hear you. Acceptances almost always take longer than rejections. But then again someplace just take forever. Fingers crossed for you, for me, for all of us.
     
  23. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    A 43-day personal rejection from One Story.
     
  24. John-Wayne

    John-Wayne Madman Extradinor Contributor

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    OT: hey guys, I've been watching this thread for a while. Hope you don't mind me asking. What sort of Articles you guys write? And how do you submit them?
     
  25. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

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    I think we're all writing short fiction for the most part. There is some creative nonfiction and poetry in the mix. It's basically the stuff you find the literary journals and magazines. Most of them use a submission manager where you upload your story. Other places still want you to print it out and mail it in. All these places have submission guidelines on their websites. Are you thinking of submitting some stuff?
     
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