A 114-day personal rejection on the #PitMad request for my novella. This might just be the most encouraging rejection I’ve ever had. It’s not everyday a four time Hugo-nominated editor tells you your writing impressed her, your submission was “strongly told”, and asks if you’d like to schedule a Zoom meeting to discuss you writing a new piece tailored to her market.
My third shortlisting for a Writing Magazine competition this week. I’m obviously along the right lines but wondering how to improve so I can win one!
One day rejection from Clarkesworld. Not at all surprising, but there are so few markets open to stories at this length that I figured I had to try just in case.
Second ever acceptance received for my flash fiction piece The Bookworm for The Dark Sire. Edit: Thanks for the likes, everyone. I've recently been trying to push myself with writing, even more than I usually do. This acceptance has given me some extra fuel. I'm working on two flash pieces and a short story. I've also outlined two other shorts. Working on stuff simultaneously is pretty new to me, but even if there's the issue of one particular story being diluted due to exhausted creative powers, if I'm stuck I can just go on to something else. I'm slowly realising that more individual stories is what counts. Edit: Just realised I left a sentence mangled in this post for ages. It should read correctly now.
5-day form rejection from Fantasy & Science Fiction. Not surprising, but it’s still disappointing since this knocks out the last of the open pro-rate markets.
Just started querying again. A publisher and an agent both has given me permission to resubmit my full, so I've sent it off. And there's a second agent who was waiting for the full when I was in the middle of revisions, so I've sent it to her too. I asked one more agent if I could resubmit but that one hasn't replied. I assume the answer is no
Yep. The big markets like F&SF are like buying a lottery ticket: you know the odds are against you, but you just have to try. At least they're generally good about rejecting you quickly.
In terms of some bad news, a couple days ago I was rejected from Field Notes from a Nightmare, an eco-horror anthology that had hundreds of submissions. I'd followed the small press for a while and was really putting more hope into it than I perhaps should have.
Yeah. Normally, I wouldn’t bother—the bulk of my work is pretty different from what they’re usually looking for—but there are so few paying markets for novellas at this length I couldn’t afford to rule any out.
A 59 day rejection from Uncharted. Form, but the higher tier one for stories they enjoyed but which aren't a good fit for them. I'll take that. The story's still out at two other places, so hopefully one of them will bite.
2 rejections in one day! One a small press I’m probably not suited to. My book has serial potential and they wanted pure standalone. the other a form rejection, no biggie. These just help shape where my next book gets sent. Subbed to about 150 overall, next time a different strategy with fewer targets
Been eagerly checking emails for days as I’m hoping for good news. Get a rejection, from an agent who had already rejected me in April! Ok, I get the hint…
67-day rejection from Malahat Review. Feels like it’s been a slow couple of months in terms of rejection. Currently waiting to hear back about a shortlist.
