Want to see how a real publisher rejects stories? · 6:15pm Oct 2nd, 2013
This is by no means the only rejection I've gotten, but it is the one that said the most about the story I submitted. Most just said they weren't interested and left it at that. A few details non-critical for context (my actual name, the name of the short story, and the magazine's name) have been redacted.
Honestly, it's far from the best original fiction piece I have written at the moment, so I'm not overly surprised they rejected it. At least they gave me their reactions to the story, unlike most of the places I've been submitting to lately.
(Just for clarity, I wasn't sending in one of my fanfics to these people, but rather original fiction, before someone decides to leave a "HURR HURR, THEY DIDN'T WANT YER HORSE WERDS" comments.)
For bonus points, I just received this response today, and I sent the story to the magazine in early June.
HURR HURR, THEY DIDN'T WANT YER HORSE WERDS!
1390315 ._. I rather enjoy Vimbert's horse words...
1390322
I don't know. They seem rather... unimpressive.
We still love you, vim.
Honestly, I wouldn't bother with magazines unless they're digital. Tor.com is the only good place that I know of that still buys short fiction.
ouch, that's rather harsh. Did you enclose the ten dollah bill like I said?
1390340
This one is digital.
Also, after a quick look at Tor, they pay well, but I don't like that they don't allow simultaneous submissions (seriously, there's no reason for that). Also, I'm not really good at writing speculative fiction. In original fiction, I'm more of a literary than genre writer.
unsurprising
fkn EQD elitists not evn bothering to give real reasons
this is just like the time they rejected my HiE because it had "too many curse words"
its not evn worth bothering with eqd anymore, they're the "bland safe POS fanfiction suppository" of the fandom and hippocrits because they even have Cupcakes
ill be sending them a "fuck you" for this latest outrage. i got ur back Vimbert
I kept notes on stories I read and dismissed for the Vault, and I always felt like a monster when writing ones like these, even though no one would ever see them but me. Clearly I'm not cut out to be a publisher.
1390390
Almost successful troll was almost successful.
The last two bullet points sound exactly the same.
1390397
What gave me away?
Anyway, thanks for sharing this. It's bone-chilling, but it's something aspiring writers have to learn eventually.... better sooner than later.
Sounds about right. Without having seen the story in question, I can't say if I'd agree with the notes, but in workshop I've had to read a few stories where I've wished I could say that, but have to couch it in better terms for the good of the class. They seem like the right reasons to reject a story though.
Good luck on your next one.
I've gotten one of these before. Two, actually... one for a historical fiction piece, and another for my plays. Never any fun, huh?
1390414
Just a little too overboard on the grammar errors, I suppose.
1390670
Yes... they're starting to get a bit disheartening. This is around #30 so far.
I need to start trying to get these.
Also, totally not what I expected it to be. <.< That's really personal-ish.
1390790
The lion's share of them really aren't. This is the first one that's given me any feedback whatsoever.
1390315
BUT I MUST SHARE COLTCUDDLING WITH THE WORLD
From the incomplete blacking out of the story title, I see you tried to send them "Celestia Ftagn." When will you learn, Vim? Crossing over brightly colored pastel ponies with sanity-destroying elder gods can't help but be a pointless snoozefest.
1390790
Seconded. Putting himself out there and getting 30 rejections means he's 30 steps closer to success than any of us amateurs.
1390800
BUT THINK OF TEH CHILDREN!
Thanks for sharing.
The juxtaposition of this being posted by an EqD prereader is oddly amusing.
Keep at it, Vimbert. After all, it's a long way to the top if you wanna
rock 'n' rollwrite for money. For those about torocksubmit art, we salute you.Sorry, I'm not that good at reassuring platitudes.
You and I both. Shimmer gave me this:
which was already something, so I was happy. 30+, though... I look forward to reaching that, since I'm only at #3. =\
More common is, "Thank you for submitting your story to X. Unfortunately, it does not meet our needs at this time."
1391549
The other 29 have been like that.
Harshality is real.
Next time, attach a photo of your liver. Perhaps someone'll value the sacrifice that's been made.