Dear Jesse,
Thank you for considering Flash Fiction Online for your story, "A Lesson in Extinction ."
As much as we wish we could, we can't publish every good story that comes our way. Truthfully, we're forced to return a great many stories with merits that make them well worthy of publication, including yours.
Your story reached the final stage of our selection process--one among an elite group.
During this final stage, our editorial team discusses the stories that make it this far. If you'll indulge me, I'd like to share some representative samples of what our editors had to say about yours:
*"Couldn't accept the premise of the story, that a grown man would believe and fret over the angel wing idea. If that's supposed to be a metaphor for larger ideas, then it fails for me."
*"I think this story was pretty charming. We all have beliefs and superstitions that we cling to, irrational or not."
*"I liked it, though the metaphor is a bit overdone. I suppose I didn't really see it as speculative so much as... not a hallucination, but... well, maybe it is supposed to be speculative."
*"I have to ask, what's with the stories of dismal, depressing parenthood? I just want to tell people to enjoy their kids more!"
*"I really wanted to not like this, but I did. Not enough to accept, though. It's a little overwrought."
*"The writing is quite nice and I like the pro-father sentiment. But, again, the plot is a little thin and it just feels a bit repetitive."
We wish you the best of luck finding a home for your story elsewhere, feel confident of your success in doing so, and hope to receive submissions from you in the future.
May the muse be ever by your side.
Sincerely,
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Editor-in-Chief
Flash Fiction Online