Almost Success - The "Mixed Feelings" Thread

[WriteToLive]

I did get a personal rejections that was pretty extensive on a story. It had comments from all the editors and had made it to the top round of considerations, but they didn't like the ending I think is what it comes down to. This was the second market I sent it too and this is the second personal rejection. It seems it is a very interesting concept, but I need to rethink the direction I choose to lead to the ending.

I'd keep submitting it without changes. If you got two good personals, the story is good, just not the right taste for them. Just like my piece at Universe right now. Too dark for their taste.

[gower21]

I did get a personal rejections that was pretty extensive on a story. It had comments from all the editors and had made it to the top round of considerations, but they didn't like the ending I think is what it comes down to. This was the second market I sent it too and this is the second personal rejection. It seems it is a very interesting concept, but I need to rethink the direction I choose to lead to the ending.

I'd keep submitting it without changes. If you got two good personals, the story is good, just not the right taste for them. Just like my piece at Universe right now. Too dark for their taste.

In this particular instance I agree with the analysis and I'm thinking of ways to make the ending more active. Making the ending more active will make the story better and character more interesting.

[george nik.]

Just made it to the second round of Penumbra again, so that's 2 out of 3 there. Hope I'm more successful this time. It seems like a lot of us are becoming Penumbra second-round regulars, it will be nice to have an issue with a few forumites in it!

On another story, which I'm not posting on Success thread as it's not fiction related, a German literary review is dedicating an issue to modern Greek poetry, and they want to include me as one of the five featured Greek poets AND write an article on contemporary Greek poetry for them -- so, I'm an internationally recognized poet now...

[morshana]

Just made it to the second round of Penumbra again, so that's 2 out of 3 there. Hope I'm more successful this time. It seems like a lot of us are becoming Penumbra second-round regulars, it will be nice to have an issue with a few forumites in it!

On another story, which I'm not posting on Success thread as it's not fiction related, a German literary review is dedicating an issue to modern Greek poetry, and they want to include me as one of the five featured Greek poets AND write an article on contemporary Greek poetry for them -- so, I'm an internationally recognized poet now...

Congratulations!

[E.CaimanSands]

"P.S. Well-written but too dark for what we're putting together."

This from Unidentified Funny Objects on my Gator flash story. It's given me encouragement, as with humour the real worry is that the story just isn't funny! Argh!

[WriteToLive]

A personal rejection today from AE. Duff said my story was good, but once you strip away all the style, there's not much there for him to buy it. The good part: he's "sure another editor will see it differently."

[austinDm]

A personal rejection today from AE. Duff said my story was good, but once you strip away all the style, there's not much there for him to buy it. The good part: he's "sure another editor will see it differently."

Since AE doesn't take many writers outside of Canada, I'd say a personal rejection from them is pretty good.

[WriteToLive]

That's why I waited a while before submitting there again. Still, it was like a rejection pep talk.

[austinDm]

I got to the second round at ASIM. This was my first time submitting there, mainly because I don't write much that can be considered humorous. Off to duotrope. Who wants my tongue-in-cheek fractured fairy tale?

[AMcCarter]

I got to the second round at ASIM. This was my first time submitting there, mainly because I don't write much that can be considered humorous. Off to duotrope. Who wants my tongue-in-cheek fractured fairy tale?

Fantasy and Science Fiction if you haven't already. GVG likes that stuff.

[austinDm]

I got to the second round at ASIM. This was my first time submitting there, mainly because I don't write much that can be considered humorous. Off to duotrope. Who wants my tongue-in-cheek fractured fairy tale?

Fantasy and Science Fiction if you haven't already. GVG likes that stuff.

Did I mention it's flash? As far as I know, the big three don't really take flash (though feel free to prove me wrong).

[AMcCarter]

Analog has a section for flash pieces. Ask Alastair Mayer if he ever deigns to drop by again. His first couple of sales were short pieces to Analog. F&SF does take flash. Don't forget to research your markets:

https://duotrope.com/market_28.aspx

[austinDm]

Okay, I stand corrected. My comment was mainly based off my experience that while Asimov's doesn't list a floor for word counts, no issue that I've read has included a story as short as 1,000 words. (The difference between official guidelines and unofficial preferences.) Now that you mention it, though, I remember reading a flash-length story in F&SF, so this might be worth a shot. Thanks, Amanda!

[LDWriter2]

Okay, I stand corrected. My comment was mainly based off my experience that while Asimov's doesn't list a floor for word counts, no issue that I've read has included a story as short as 1,000 words. (The difference between official guidelines and unofficial preferences.) Now that you mention it, though, I remember reading a flash-length story in F&SF, so this might be worth a shot. Thanks, Amanda!

I didn't notice but have you tried Flash Fiction Online? I believe they pay pro rates for flash. Hard to get in though--obviously some make it or they wouldn't have a magazine--with different guidelines.


Louis

[austinDm]

Okay, I stand corrected. My comment was mainly based off my experience that while Asimov's doesn't list a floor for word counts, no issue that I've read has included a story as short as 1,000 words. (The difference between official guidelines and unofficial preferences.) Now that you mention it, though, I remember reading a flash-length story in F&SF, so this might be worth a shot. Thanks, Amanda!

I didn't notice but have you tried Flash Fiction Online? I believe they pay pro rates for flash. Hard to get in though--obviously some make it or they wouldn't have a magazine--with different guidelines.


Louis

Yeah, this one's been there and back as well. I got an "almost but not quite" from FFO once (different story), and think it would be a great market to get into, so I send pretty much every flash I write there. Now that they're only publishing two stories a month instead of three, breaking in is even harder.

[AMcCarter]

Daily Science Fiction loves flash pieces. And yes, they do take fantasy as well. You can also try Fantasy magazine and Clarkesworld.

[LDWriter2]

And I have recently found a couple more that takes flash.

Crowded Magazine

Rats, there was another one but I can't find it right now.

Came back to add.

Crossed Genres takes stories down to 1,000 words I believe.

But there might be one more hiding somewhere in my mind.

[austinDm]

Thanks for all the advice! I thought for sure that DSF had already seen it (I send almost all of my speculative flash there first), but I just checked my records and they haven't Since I just got a rejection that "almost made [their] second round" I'd like to keep my exposure up there, and this would be a great way to do it. I think we have a winner!

[ThomasKCarpenter]

Got a nice personal from LORE. This story has made it to the final selection at a number of magazines. Oh well, I'll keep plugging. In addition, I *almost* had twenty stories out at once, but I have a couple of stories that had no place to go. So close!

[LDWriter2]

Got a nice personal from LORE. This story has made it to the final selection at a number of magazines. Oh well, I'll keep plugging. In addition, I *almost* had twenty stories out at once, but I have a couple of stories that had no place to go. So close!

Been a long time since I had a 20 out at once. But a nice "way to go" on both almosts

I did manage to get seven or eight out this weekend but even that was in two days.

[Kary English]

Ok, now that I've slept on it, I guess i do feel the tiniest smidgen of disappointment. There is, however, a method to my madness.

We all know the anthologies are sci-fi heavy, right? And we know that 'balance' is one of the things considered when selecting the pubbed finalist, ergo a fantasy story would be the logical choice to round out the anthology. Especially a fantasy story that's on the shorter side of things.

The waiting will suck, but I can always withdraw the story if I change my mind. For now, though, I'm setting my cap for pubbed finalist. It would be kinda cool to be pubbed finalist in Vol. 29, only to turn around and win in Vol 30. and thus get in twice. Not like I'm being greedy or anything...

[katsincommand]

LOL Dream big, Kary. Always dream big. :D

[Dustin Adams]

Non-winning finalist is the epitome of mixed feelings.

I second (or third) the others when they say we'll be seeing your name up top again.

D

[morshana]

I agree, Dustin. And the same goes for you!

[dantzel]

Received my 25th rejection yesterday. In 8 months and 8 stories, I've received 2 personal rejections and a second-round email. I think I'm okay with this - in a sense - but you know, it wouldn't hurt to hear better news.

... onward.

[katsincommand]

Received my 25th rejection yesterday. In 8 months and 8 stories, I've received 2 personal rejections and a second-round email. I think I'm okay with this - in a sense - but you know, it wouldn't hurt to hear better news.

... onward.

It'll come, just keep working on it. Just keep swimming swimming swimming what do you do you swim swim swim.

[E.CaimanSands]

Received my 25th rejection yesterday. In 8 months and 8 stories, I've received 2 personal rejections and a second-round email. I think I'm okay with this - in a sense - but you know, it wouldn't hurt to hear better news.

... onward.

It'll come, just keep working on it. Just keep swimming swimming swimming what do you do you swim swim swim.

Yes, you'll make it; assuming the Gator doesn't get you first.

[dantzel]

Eep! Nice gator... pretty gator... here, take this salmon, I didn't want it anyway.

[LDWriter2]

Received my 25th rejection yesterday. In 8 months and 8 stories, I've received 2 personal rejections and a second-round email. I think I'm okay with this - in a sense - but you know, it wouldn't hurt to hear better news.

... onward.

So far you're not doing too badly. So keep it up, looks like yours will come sooner than a lot of writers.


And I agree. Better News would be...better.

[E.CaimanSands]

Eep! Nice gator... pretty gator... here, take this salmon, I didn't want it anyway.

Yum!
*Gulp*

Buuuuuurp.