Cryptic Rejection Letters

It sounds a little like you are talking about form letters. If that's the case, the are purposely generic so they can send them out to anyone. You can't expect any agent or publisher to go into detail. Sometimes they do and it's not always what you want to hear. Better luck next time.

MumblingSage said:

You know, the ones you can't quite figure out--or you're not sure you want to figure out. Like the one I got the other day from Abyss & Apex that said 'It was well received here, but after some thought we have decided not to accept it for publication.'

How was it well received? Was it acutally good? Amusing? Was the comma use competent? Even worse is when I hear 'I enjoyed reading this', because I tend to add 'and laughing at the worst parts' in my head.

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MumblingSage, I am sorry to disappoint, this is a standard form rejection from Abyss and Apex. I have seen pretty painful personal Rs from them preceded with "it was well received here."

It's actually a nice form, if you know what I mean. If you want a kick in the behind, submit to Clarkesworld

Yeah, I got one of those too from Abyss and Apex. Standard form letter designed to make you feel better about yourself, rather than the "you suck, don't ever darken our doorstep again" form letter.

My general rule is that a rejection is a form unless it says something very specific about the work I sent them. If they could send the same note to someone else, then I figure they probably do.

Of course, lots of good work gets form rejections. Doesn't mean anything more than it wasn't right for that reader at that market at that time.

Sorry to hear about the rejection. Gray Rose is right. Getting a rejection from Clarkesworld is eh, devastating.

In a way, I think form rejections are better than "your idea would never work because of a, b, and c which we don't think can be fixed." Right? Hang in there MS, you'll nail it soon!

Hey MumblingSage, you're not getting any pity from me. Empathy definitely, but not pity. We're all in the same boat and we all get the same rejections.

And your OP was dead on. The form rejects that try to be polite kind of suck.

rosemerry said:

Sorry to hear about the rejection. Gray Rose is right. Getting a rejection from Clarkesworld is eh, devastating.

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Great. I sent a short to Clarkesworld about a month ago, so I can't wait for the response!!!

Heh. Heh.

I have a short with Clarkesworld, too.

/green.

Suddenly I'm filled with regret. Maybe Clarkesworld wasn't such a great idea

MumblingSage said:

Tburger--I'm in the same boat. Funnily enough, it's the same story that got rejected from A&A. I'll build up a fine line of rejections before I get this thing placed.

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You sent to A&A before Clarkesworld? Cause you... don't like money?

Clarkesworld rejects aren't that bad. You just have to remember that they're one (outspoken) person's opinion, and if he's wrong he's wrong. If he's right though... Mr. Mamatas made one of my stories with a helpful rejection note.

At least it didn't start out...Dear Occupant...

MumblingSage said:

XD Nope, Clarkesworld wasn't accepting submissions at the time so I decided to try for A&A. I'm still new, so I'm probably reaching over my head in this for one.

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You never know what will catch someone's fancy. And editors are someones.
Once the story's as good as it can get, sending it out is like rolling dice. It becomes a matter of luck as much as skill.
The only way to get the dice to roll in your favor is to keep rolling. Send that story out. From the top markets on down. Till hell won't have it

soleary said:

In a way, I think form rejections are better than "your idea would never work because of a, b, and c which we don't think can be fixed." Right? Hang in there MS, you'll nail it soon!

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Form rejections better?
Lordie, yes!

I just received a rejection from my 'dream' agent after he'd requested (and I assume, read) my complete manuscript. Basically, he said it "had its moments," but too much "telling" rather than "showing" for him.

Of course, it's that way because of the nature of the POV and the basic structure of the book (linked to its premise)!

No bloody way one can "fix" that -- not that he asked me to, or anything remotely hopeful.

I KNOW he is only ONE AGENT ... with HIS OWN LIKES/DISLIKES ... and that this REJECTION is NOT the nail in the coffin, or anything ...

[Note -- I'm using caps because I'm yelling at myself, not you!]

Boogety, smallthunder. My full got rejected today, too, though not by my dream agent. In fact, my dream agent rejected at the query stage. Sigh. I'll have a new dream agent: the one who offers representation.

Heh, I must submit to Clarkesworld now. I'm in the mood for a good smack, so I'll have an excuse to sulk. All these polite form rejections are just too bland to put me in a really bad mood.