Archive for January, 2014

Rejected

Posted on January 14, 2014. Filed under: writing | Tags: editor, rejection letter, storytelling, submissions, writing |

I got rejected. It’s okay. I’ll live. I was once single so remember the feeling well.

This was the first submission I had done in a long time. I have been so wrapped up in my novel and in my storytelling shows, that I hadn’t spent much time on anything else.  A friend told me about this magazine that needed non fiction stories and, since I could use a slightly revised version of a short piece I had already written, I went for it.

Even though I didn’t get to see my name in print, it was honestly one of the nicest rejection letters I have ever received. Oddly, I am kind of encouraged by it.

Here’s what the nice editor at the magazine wrote:

“Dear Jessica,

Thank you so much for submitting “Daddy‘s Car” to The____ Review. The review board and I really appreciated the opportunity to read your story, and personally I found the ending very moving. After much deliberation, however, the board decided not to include it in the upcoming volume. But you are a talented writer, and I sincerely hope that you will consider submitting more of your work to future volumes of the review.

Warmest Regards,
Ruth”

I have submitted many stories to many magazines and have often received not a peep in response. It’s nice when an editor not only takes the time to write something (anything) personal, but says that she, at least, liked the piece.

Maybe I will try to submit some more shorts over the course of this year. You never know. There might be an editor out there even nicer than this one who will send me a very nice acceptance letter!