Almost Success - The "Mixed Feelings" Thread

[TimE]

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

Seems odd to congratulate someone on a rejection - but as rejections go, that's pretty good. Well done, you must be getting close.

[Wulf Moon]

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

That's a great personal, Chuck. It's a good day anytime an editor says "like your style of writing." They only say it when they mean it, and they say it to very few.

Well done!

[chuckt]

Thanks Wulf and Tim.

[disgruntledpeony]

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

Awesomeness. Those are good, solid magazines to aim for--and it sounds like you're close to hitting that target! Keep at it, good sir.

[Reuben]

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

I second everyone else! I've heard these are rare.

You could look at it a different way, and be disappointed about the sale; but I don't think so. It's only logical that after forms come personals; and after personals sales.

The guys who skip the intermediate steps are cheating. Probably. Besides, they always have to wonder their sale was just a fluke.

So congrats!

[chuckt]

Thanks guys.

[Reuben]

Anyone submitted to Asimov's recently? I submitted a week ago and haven't yet been rejected. Is this normal?

[RSchibler]

They're showing as a little behind on the Grinder, yeah. A lot of places take a break in July and August, I've noticed. Usually that is for peak conference season, but I'd guess this year people are just flat burnt out. A lot of markets have been slower than usual. Good luck!

[disgruntledpeony]

Anyone submitted to Asimov's recently? I submitted a week ago and haven't yet been rejected. Is this normal?

I've had a story with them two or three weeks, but it hasn't been read yet. (Still shows as 'Received' in their queue.) I think they're just moving slowly.

[Reuben]

They're showing as a little behind on the Grinder, yeah. A lot of places take a break in July and August, I've noticed. Usually that is for peak conference season, but I'd guess this year people are just flat burnt out. A lot of markets have been slower than usual. Good luck!

I've had a story with them two or three weeks, but it hasn't been read yet. (Still shows as 'Received' in their queue.) I think they're just moving slowly.

Thanks! Guess I won't get my hopes up. : )

[WillShadbolt]

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

[Henckel]

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

That's really good to make it that far.

Deep Magic is at the top of my list of preferred publications wit Mag of F&SF.

[Wulf Moon]

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

Glad you heard back and got some constructive points. Congrats!

[chuckt]

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

Cool. Me too. Got a PR on my 200-day story a couple of days ago. It had been there long enough that I dared to hope for better but Deep Magic, per Wulf,is a really hard sale. My story is a squeaky clean YA story. I've sent it to all the pro markets that like that kind of thing. Not sure what to do with it next. Maybe WotF, although I'm going with a fresh story this quarter.

[chuckt]

Anyone submitted to Asimov's recently? I submitted a week ago and haven't yet been rejected. Is this normal?

I've had a story with them two or three weeks, but it hasn't been read yet. (Still shows as 'Received' in their queue.) I think they're just moving slowly.

Oof. They are tough. I've only gotten form rejections from them.