tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post7475286144543975408..comments2024-03-28T13:37:53.397-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Smile! Your Story Has Been Rejected!Leigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-83006057138842593872021-12-18T22:59:36.207-05:002021-12-18T22:59:36.207-05:00Classic. My favorite rejection was from an agent ...Classic. My favorite rejection was from an agent who said she didn't want to represent my diet book. I had sent her a mystery novel. I took that as a personal comment...Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15022084654666570822021-12-18T00:12:34.066-05:002021-12-18T00:12:34.066-05:00I can't believe I didn't comment on this! ...I can't believe I didn't comment on this! I've told the story a zillion times: Back when I had to send an SASE with a note saying "Please send me a copy of your submission guidelines" to a prospective market and they mailed back my SASE with a form rejection! LOL! (I think I still have the rejection somewhere and I think I did later sell to that magazine!) Thanks for this, Rob!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-74681517911009935902019-02-07T18:21:41.616-05:002019-02-07T18:21:41.616-05:00I think it only fair to point out that the day aft...I think it only fair to point out that the day after this piece went up I got a rejection. I'm feeling pretty chipper about it.Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88287709366156226992019-02-07T08:48:45.534-05:002019-02-07T08:48:45.534-05:00Thank you for this post. After I had a story rejec...Thank you for this post. After I had a story rejected multiple times, I reworked it, going back to it every few months between other things. The published version (ten years after first submission) was much better than the one that got rejected, so rejection turned out to be a good thing. It didn't feel that way at the time though.Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13803251635902910126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-67117878840352653372019-02-06T21:37:43.649-05:002019-02-06T21:37:43.649-05:00THanks for the thoughtful responses.
R.T., that&#...THanks for the thoughtful responses.<br /><br />R.T., that's a great point about having to write a story to get it out of your head. I feel that way about a lot of the songs I write.<br /><br />Josh, so true about not throwing anything away (until it becomes TOO embarassing, I guess.) I sold a story to AHMM recently that was cannibalized from a story I didn't have enough faith in to submit anywhere. I changed the hero into my series character Shanks and voila...<br /><br />Melodie: "Will try something risky with words this month." Do it at a distance. It's safer.<br /><br />Bruce, two rejections in a day is my record. I do not want to compete with yours.<br /><br />Louise: "When you finally do get accepted the victory will be all the more sweeter for having suffered and persevered through countless rejections." So true! Robert Loprestihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08844889305615182897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-89859580635771390182019-02-06T19:50:24.251-05:002019-02-06T19:50:24.251-05:00Great list, thank you for this post.
Re: #9 (a ne...Great list, thank you for this post.<br /><br />Re: #9 (a new opportunity to look at the story) ā I think some of my rewritten rejects are much better than the original versions. Maybe a sign I submitted the originals before they were ready. (Or maybe Iām just scamming myself to soften the rejections.)<br />Peter DiChellishttps://shortwalkdarkstreet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-62377279634732286992019-02-06T19:24:39.318-05:002019-02-06T19:24:39.318-05:00This a great list and an encouraging look at what ...This a great list and an encouraging look at what can feel like a soul-destroying process. I think it is easier to be philosophical about rejections once you've had a few acceptances to put it all in perspective. I'm happy to say that I only submitted five stories to Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine before they accepted one. And four of those five stories have found another home (although I love that fifth one and I wish someone would publish it.) I'm not sure I could have handled 76 rejections but I'm really impressed that you kept at it.<br /><br />I've tried to stop saying "I got rejected again today" and to just take another look at the story and send it out again.I think 1, 2, and 3 are the most important points. It's nice to affirm that just finishing something and submitting it is an important step. And I love writing short stories.<br /><br />Merrilee Robsonhttp://www.merrileerobson.canoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-50815685642549386132019-02-06T15:16:42.423-05:002019-02-06T15:16:42.423-05:00Great post...and particularly timely for me today!...Great post...and particularly timely for me today! Nina Mansfieldhttp://www.ninamansfield.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-54284860362398634742019-02-06T13:35:18.887-05:002019-02-06T13:35:18.887-05:00OMG - I am such a spineless wimp! Thank you for r...OMG - I am such a spineless wimp! Thank you for reminding us that perseverance really does pay off. Okay, here's my reason: when you finally do get accepted the victory will be all the more sweeter for having suffered and persevered through countless rejections. Louise Taylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-85483270030404784172019-02-06T12:58:56.013-05:002019-02-06T12:58:56.013-05:00Great advice Rob! I feel rejection would be easier...Great advice Rob! I feel rejection would be easier if you didn't have to wait so long for it (sometimes).Lawrence Maddoxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03057386966178865691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-31105540737721832702019-02-06T12:37:58.992-05:002019-02-06T12:37:58.992-05:00Rejections create opportunities to set personal re...Rejections create opportunities to set personal records. Three rejections in one day is mine. But I know records were made to be broken.Bruce Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07158328065614385304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-68346791902467612412019-02-06T12:31:16.144-05:002019-02-06T12:31:16.144-05:00Such a fun post! And it reminded me to try someth...Such a fun post! And it reminded me to try something different. I've been getting complacent. Will try something risky with words this month.Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-79101506515733328732019-02-06T12:28:50.467-05:002019-02-06T12:28:50.467-05:00
A great list, Rob. Every writer should read it a...<br />A great list, Rob. Every writer should read it after each rejection they get receive. Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-14324481626944679912019-02-06T12:05:56.642-05:002019-02-06T12:05:56.642-05:00Great advice. Really enjoyed it.Great advice. Really enjoyed it.Larry Keetonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80869086715367507832019-02-06T11:33:15.377-05:002019-02-06T11:33:15.377-05:00Great article filled with SO many truths!Great article filled with SO many truths!Deborah Elliott-Uptonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04961315248936384893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-79599500310300626252019-02-06T11:29:17.693-05:002019-02-06T11:29:17.693-05:00I don't have any to add, but my favorite is #4...I don't have any to add, but my favorite is #4. It's what helps me keep going! Great list!!Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-36937967754380486432019-02-06T11:14:27.850-05:002019-02-06T11:14:27.850-05:00Today's. Duh.Today's. Duh.joshpachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12123432071405643210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-2655320128920313402019-02-06T11:13:16.470-05:002019-02-06T11:13:16.470-05:00I'm having these tattooed on my back, Roger ā ...I'm having these tattooed on my back, Roger ā um, I mean Rob. <br /><br />My one additional thought is don't ever throw anything away. I've lost count of how many stories I've sold which were cannibalized from the decaying flesh of stories that had previously been rejected. Today reject may be the bones of tomorrow's sale.joshpachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12123432071405643210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-46446728844851566602019-02-06T11:00:11.283-05:002019-02-06T11:00:11.283-05:00Love this post and this blog. It has been a great ...Love this post and this blog. It has been a great resource for me. Thank you to all the contributors.Stacy Woodsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01617844178677181388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-10303084247162217832019-02-06T10:38:15.913-05:002019-02-06T10:38:15.913-05:00I'm with Michael - it's an opportunity for...I'm with Michael - it's an opportunity for me to use all the swear words I have acquired in the course of a varied and wildly improbable life.<br />Also, all those rejection letters make excellent fire-starters, wallpaper, and gift wrap for enemies.Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16813434867762314502019-02-06T10:24:58.081-05:002019-02-06T10:24:58.081-05:00Hey Rob -- Great reasons!! Sometimes I feel I don...Hey Rob -- Great reasons!! Sometimes I feel I don't know a lot about writing, but I sure know a lot about rejections. Like you, I submitted dozens and dozens of stories to EQMM before they finally bought one, so I'm probably a slow learner, but what that did teach me is that you have to keep trying in spite of repeated failures. Now and then I'll sell a story right out of the chute, but many times my sales are a result of resubmitting stories that have already been rejected at least once.<br /><br />It took me a long time to realize that even good stories get rejected--for all kinds of reasons. All we can do is write the best stories we can and keep trying. As you said, nothing ventured, nothing gained.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18552534219527755372019-02-06T09:52:13.148-05:002019-02-06T09:52:13.148-05:00Love this post--good points all!
Love this post--good points all!<br />Art Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409008167752619352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-28726581404467112552019-02-06T09:09:29.368-05:002019-02-06T09:09:29.368-05:00Rob, sometimes I have to write a story just to get...Rob, sometimes I have to write a story just to get it out of my head, so I can write the next one. You've probably critiqued some of those.<br /><br />Save your rejection letters and notices. Besides some of them making for good stories to tell in the bar, they also remind you to keep learning as an author.R.T. Lawtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15523486296396710227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-11654516226792235272019-02-06T09:02:04.796-05:002019-02-06T09:02:04.796-05:00When I was younger, rejection meant - check the st...When I was younger, rejection meant - check the story again then send it out right away. WIth the limited amount of paying markets it means check the story again and hope you can find another decent paying market. Some stories sit until ...O'Neil De Nouxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03142721824657611738noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-58169157336322276772019-02-06T08:47:59.262-05:002019-02-06T08:47:59.262-05:00I love this list, Rob.
Another positive (maybe): ...I love this list, Rob.<br /><br />Another positive (maybe): it gives you the chance to come up with scorching comebacks, which help you write better dialogue.<br /><br />Only two of my stories were accepted the first place I sent them, and they were both written specifically for that market. One won the Black Orchid and the other was nominated for an Edgar. On the other end of the spectrum, two of my stories won Honorable Mention for the Al Blanchard award. One of them was rejected 21 times and the other 22. <br /><br />My average is about 8 rejections. And I'm now reworking a story I first sent out in 2004 because I've discovered a new market. I'm also discovering how much I've learned about writing since then. That story is old enough so I did a global edit to remove the double-space after end punctuation...274 times!Steve Liskowhttp://www.steveliskow.comnoreply@blogger.com