Rejected

[pameladlloyd]

We don't always remember to check the mail every day, so Karl brought in a thick stack this afternoon and pointed out that my SASE from Zoetrope: All-Story had returned to me. I was thrilled, despite my certainty that my story, "Trouble's Reasons," had been rejected, because now I could stop obsessing about whether and when I should contact them to ask if they'd received the story, which had been mailed months ago (six months? seven? more?).

Yes, it was, as I'd anticipated, a rejection. But, it included a hand-written note: "Well done! Thanks."



It's not like I've never received a note from a reader or editor before, or even an acceptance, but for some strange reason known only to my psyche, I'm inordinately pleased about that little note.

Now, the story just needs to go on to the next victim reader. But, somehow, between finding the missing application for the job for which I'm interviewing tomorrow (I put it in a "safe place"), going to the interview, and maybe driving a friend to a doctor's appointment (which she hasn't made, yet), I'm not sure it will happen tomorrow. But, I give you all permission to hound me if I don't get it in the mail on Tuesday.

ETA: I found the application. In a place I could have sworn I'd checked five times.

Comments

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Good luck with the interview!

And yes, near misses can be strangely confidence boosting, can't they? It means the story must be a good one, it's just a case of finding the right home for it.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Yes. :)

[crinklequirk.livejournal.com]

Had a near-miss at the end of December. They even added a couple sentences of rejection, so I'm even surer that I just need to find the right venue for it, not change the story.

Joy, and frustration, all mixed round t'other. *shrug*

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Yes, joy and frustration mixed. Like that. :-)

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

Do you have something else you can send to this market? If they take the time to write a personal note, go and follow up on it and send them something else.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've got anything else that's complete that's right for them, but I will be working on that. :)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I was heartened by a poetry rejection I got that had "(but it came close)" on it. I think your story will find a home soon. Fingers crossed; it'll be fun to see your post when that happens.

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm looking forward to it. Thank you!

[core-opsis.livejournal.com]

Those little notes make all the difference in the world.

Best of luck with your interview (and I hope the application turns up quickly).

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I've got a second application, which I'm filling out now, but it will be missing a couple of reference forms that I'd been asked to have friends complete. The last I saw of any of it was Friday night, when one of my friends dropped by with his form during our family birthday party. I attached his form to the packet and my last remembered thought about the whole thing was to put the papers somewhere safe from the cats.

[core-opsis.livejournal.com]

I really hate that...losing something when you have a distinct memory of putting it somewhere "safe." I hate to admit how many times I've done that.

Usually my visual memory is correct. One time when I absolutely could not find my car keys anywhere, I had a visual memory of putting them on the corner of something--but they were not on any of the tables, desks, night stands, counters, or anywhere else with corners. They finally turned up on the piano bench (with someone's sweatshirt dumped on top--but sure enough, right there on the corner).

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know exactly what you mean. I found the application, so I'm all set to go.

[faerie-writer.livejournal.com]

Good for you! And good luck on your interview! :D

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! :)

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Congrats on the near miss [g], and good luck on the interview!

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's nice to know it was a near miss, even as I'm saying "dang." :)

The interview has been postponed, but I'll save all the good wishes and good luck for when it (or the next one) actually occurs.

[chupacabrito.livejournal.com]

I never, ever had the guts to submit anything, ever. You have to have a brave disposition, which I don't!

Kudos on the note! You've every right to be pleased!

[pdlloyd.livejournal.com]

Hi Elly! *waves* Thank you!!! :-D

We all have our dragons. In addition, each of us must find our comfort zone and, if we're going to grow, we must push those boundaries. I didn't have the courage to leave my hometown to go to college, but you did.

I was also very fortunate that while I was still in high school, my favorite English teacher made it a requirement for our writing class that each of us submit at least one thing. Plus, anyone who got something published got an automatic A for the entire semester.

Now, I loved the class and getting good grades was never an issue, but it really helped me to send something out. I sent a couple of poems to The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction. They sent me back a rejection slip on which someone had penned a note telling me that they rarely accepted poetry. It was many years before I sent anything in again, but at least, after that, it wasn't the first time.

Still, every time I send something out, I'm nervous. I bite my nails (figuratively!) for weeks and months, until I get a response. But, I love writing and I love sharing my stories. The only way more than a half dozen people will ever read one, is if an editor out there, somewhere, chooses to publish me, and that will only happen if I send my stuff out. As you no doubt heard me say, more than once, while my boys were growing up, "If you don't ask, the answer is always, 'No.'"

Since the worst answer I can get is no, I might as well somehow screw up my courage and send things out.

Forgive me for chattering on. This is as much a pep talk for myself, as for you. Because, even with all I've just said? It's still hard, every single time. Scary hard.

But, you know what? LiveJournal, in giving me the chance to interact will many other writers at many different levels, has really helped me to have more courage and to send things out. I had my first draft for "Trouble's Reasons" complete about seven years ago. It took me until last year to have a draft I had enough confidence in to send out. That a lot of years for a single short story. I might still be sitting on it, if I weren't in this supportive environment.