Rejectomancy

gettingby · Aug 31, 2012

Eight-day rejection from West Branch. They just keep coming.

Sai · Aug 31, 2012

10-day personal rejection from Shimmer.

alexshvartsman · Sep 1, 2012

25 days to a personal rejection from Gordon Van Gelder at F&SF. This is the first time one of my submissions got past the associate editors to his desk, and he had nice things to say. Overall, I consider this a win.

zanzjan · Sep 1, 2012

alexshvartsman said:
25 days to a personal rejection from Gordon Van Gelder at F&SF. This is the first time one of my submissions got past the associate editors to his desk, and he had nice things to say. Overall, I consider this a win.

Totally. I've never gotten anywhere near past the first-line editors, and have pretty much given up hope I ever will. Just not compatible, I don't think.

mhaynes · Sep 1, 2012

2 days from Clarkesworld.

Congrats on the GVG response, Alex. I managed to get a couple of personals from Kristine Kathryn Rusch back in the early-90s at F&SF. That's the last time I've gotten anything but a form from there.

V1c · Sep 1, 2012

fourty day R from Abyss. I saw it was forwarded a couple times, so like to think it had SOME traction.

I've gotten through to GVG once, but not since then. Sigh.

Sai · Sep 2, 2012

alexshvartsman said:
25 days to a personal rejection from Gordon Van Gelder at F&SF. This is the first time one of my submissions got past the associate editors to his desk, and he had nice things to say. Overall, I consider this a win.

Wow, congrats on the rejection (as weird as that sounds). You are now one of 75 people in the world who knows what GVG's signature looks like.

defcon6000 · Sep 2, 2012

R's from Ticon4 and ASIM--both abnormally long. Think September is going to be a avalanche of R's month.

Aggy B. · Sep 4, 2012

21 day R from DSF for "Call-Center". PS said it was either too long or didn't have quite enough impact at the end.

Not sure who to try next. A few options springing to mind, have to research again.

Sai · Sep 4, 2012

Aggy B. said:
21 day R from DSF for "Call-Center". PS said it was either too long or didn't have quite enough impact at the end.

Not sure who to try next. A few options springing to mind, have to research again.

Sorry you're having a tough time with it, but that's cool you got a personal from DSF. Good luck with where ever you decide to send it next.

mhaynes · Sep 4, 2012

3 day form from Lightspeed

Sai · Sep 5, 2012

6 day form from Apex.

defcon6000 · Sep 5, 2012

3-day R from Shimmer, and probably the most helpful feedback I've gotten; not on the story per se, but what they're really looking for. Actually, I'll post it, since it's pretty useful.

Thank you for allowing us to consider 'X', we appreciated the chance to read your work. Unfortunately, however, it isn't right for us. It was certainly well-written, with some interesting ideas, but overall, it just isn't 'Shimmery.' We mainly publish stories with strong plots and with unique characters that the readers can really get behind, and emotionally connect with, and here the characters are more 'types'; used mainly to propel the plot towards its bizarre climax, rather than being an integral part of the story. The 'speculative' elements here also kicked in a little too late for us, as we like our weirdness introduced within the first paragraph or so.

fihr · Sep 5, 2012

Sorry for the R's everyone.

Defcon, thanks for posting that Shimmer R. That's a lovely, clear statement from them. They really do try to help writers.

defcon6000 · Sep 5, 2012

fihr said:
Defcon, thanks for posting that Shimmer R. That's a lovely, clear statement from them. They really do try to help writers.

It's the first R I've gotten from them that I found truly helpful. Other R's usually consisted of: "well-written, but doesn't cover enough new ground."

defcon6000 · Sep 5, 2012

So, after 162 days and making it to the "maybe pile," I get a form R from Into the D@rkness antho. Lame. : /

V1c · Sep 5, 2012

Sorry about the R's everyone. And nice one from shimmer, Defcon. I got one that was similiar to your normal ones from them, it seems. "Well-written, but didn't connect to it"

Eliza C · Sep 6, 2012

defcon6000 said:
So, after 162 days and making it to the "maybe pile," I get a form R from Into the D@rkness antho. Lame. : /

Ouch. Sorry about that.

Eliza C · Sep 6, 2012

11-day R from Nature. First time I've submitted to them, so not sure if it's form or not, though he did say he enjoyed the story.

Marzioli · Sep 6, 2012

Eliza C said:
11-day R from Nature. First time I've submitted to them, so not sure if it's form or not, though he did say he enjoyed the story.

Doesn't sound like form. Also, did they attach the guidelines for your reference?

alexshvartsman · Sep 6, 2012

50 days from Buzzy, but still form.

talkwrite · Sep 6, 2012

This is the R week for me. So far I've gotten a 13 day rejection from Storm Cellar and a 14 day rejection from Yemassee both form. But Yemasse's form includes requesting that you hurry up and post their response/rejection on duotrope so they can have a good reputation for a quick response time..... Two down 15 to hear from.

J.W. Alden · Sep 6, 2012

Got my 9-day UFO R. *glares at Alex*

Kidding!

Close but no cigar, it seems. On to the next!

V1c · Sep 6, 2012

Eliza C said:
11-day R from Nature. First time I've submitted to them, so not sure if it's form or not, though he did say he enjoyed the story.

And here I was with a ray of hope because mine said he enjoyed it as well.

Oh well, onward!

defcon6000 · Sep 6, 2012

Eliza C said:
11-day R from Nature. First time I've submitted to them, so not sure if it's form or not, though he did say he enjoyed the story.

Got a 10-day R from them as well. Didn't get the "enjoyed it" part, like I did last time.

Rejectomancy

Book lover/Spy

killin' all teh werds

practical experience, FTW

Hmmmmm

Book lover/Spy

Not as sweet as you think

Book lover/Spy

practical experience, FTW

Book lover/Spy

Hmmmmm

We’ll see what happens from here…

We’ll see what happens from here…

Could be worse!

Passion in full bloom

The King Who Bore the Sword

Hmmmmm