Fireside open submissions this week

[Susan Boulton]

I assume you mean "but expect mine..."

Indeed lol. And it has been rejected

 

[Parson]

Indeed lol. And it has been rejected

Another tragic example of not being able to see true brillance when it bites them in the back side.

 

[Biskit]

I got an email last week saying mine had gone on to the next round, and then a very nice rejection today, with a positive encouragement to submit further, so I think that's a reasonable result as rejections go.

 

[unbusy thing]

Ditto here, Biskit. My story 'reached the highest level of consideration' etc. Sometimes I wish they'd just say 'You're an awful writer. Cease and desist at once'. Gah.

 

[Montero]

@unbusy thing - If you were an awful writer, you wouldn't be getting that sort of letter.

Sometimes it really is that the story you wrote is a good story and well written and of a standard that could be published - but it doesn't quite fit with what they are doing, or one editor loved it the other didn't, or given the collection of other stories they've accepted they need a story of a different length to complete the volume, or it is a very good story but similar to another one that they like even better and don't want two like that in one volume.
Editors are very cautious in comments they make, because there are a minority of writers out there who try to argue about rejections - and can be very unpleasant. (Have seen online comments about this down the years, couldn't point you to anything specific - but included agents and editors making the comments, not just shaggy book stories.) Equally it is time - writing a personal letter is far slower than sending rejection letter A or B. When you start getting personal rejections - that actually comment on your manuscript itself - then that is a gold star (of sorts)

 

[unbusy thing]

You're right of course, Montero. I've had enough personalised, very positive rejections that it makes 'Close but no cigar' a bit grrrr-inducing is all. Still, onwards and upwards

 

[Montero]

Oh lordie yes.
Michael J Sullivan - very successful indie - has a lovely cartoon on what it can feel like to sub to trad publishing.
Author Michael J. Sullivan's Official Website: Plotholes
Scroll down to the second one. (I do also like the ones on fantasy stereotypes. )

 

[unbusy thing]

Ahahaha! Pretty much spot on. Hats off to those with the energy and know-how to SP. He's taken an interesting hybrid route through publishing, hasn't he?

 

[Montero]

Yes. It's worth reading how it all happened which is somewhere on his website. Up and down and random sideways....