Rejectomancy

fihr · Sep 12, 2012

Project Deadlight said:
Major bummer... Big agency that was looking at the full manuscript of my novel ultimately passed on it. Lots of nice comments... But that horse suddenly looks a lot higher than it did in the past.

Sorry to hear that. Nonetheless, to even have a big agency ask to see your manuscript is an achievement. Great that they had some nice comments. I hope the comments were helpful as well. Good luck with the next agency.

V1c · Sep 12, 2012

So sorry to hear about the Rs

Eliza C · Sep 12, 2012

Project Deadlight said:
Major bummer... Big agency that was looking at the full manuscript of my novel ultimately passed on it. Lots of nice comments... But that horse suddenly looks a lot higher than it did in the past.

Sorry for the disappointing response. Fihr is right though, just getting the request for a full is huge. If one agent requested it, more likely that others will too.

girldetective · Sep 12, 2012

OSC's Intergalactic Medicine Show: do they acknowledge submissions?

Hi,

I'm not quite sure if this is the right thread for this question, but I'm wanting to find out of Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show normally acknowledges receipt of short story submissions. I haven't received one. I don't want to hassle them by querying far too early, but I also don't want to wait 3 months if it's been lost in the aether.

Has anyone submitted there and can tell me?

Izz · Sep 12, 2012

girldetective said:
Hi,

I'm not quite sure if this is the right thread for this question, but I'm wanting to find out of Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show normally acknowledges receipt of short story submissions. I haven't received one. I don't want to hassle them by querying far too early, but I also don't want to wait 3 months if it's been lost in the aether.

Has anyone submitted there and can tell me?

Hi girldetective

Welcome to AW, and to W1S1!

I've never received an acknowledgement from them, though i don't submit regularly. A couple of AW W1S1ers have sold there, so they might be able to confirm or deny

Marzioli · Sep 12, 2012

OSCIMS doesn't confirm. After you send your response/sub email, you have to wait your 30-35 days. So unless it bounces back there's no reason to think it's lost. I've subbed at least six times and everything went through fine.

akaSylvia · Sep 13, 2012

I submitted to IGMS and didn 't get a response. I ended up querying, convinced it had been lost. They were very kind and confirmed that it had arrived safely.

11 day reject from Scherezade saying that the story didn't match the theme, which, well, I thought it did but I guess I was off-target. Ah well, onwards!

Project Deadlight · Sep 13, 2012

Aww thanks guys. Out to the next batch of agents today.

J.W. Alden · Sep 13, 2012

Commiserations everyone. Good luck on the next batch, Deadlight.

I got a rejection on my second rounder at Drabblecast this morning. They were pretty complimentary of the story, but that 141-day wait puts a little extra sting on it.

Oh, well. Onward, onward, onward. Mush!

Decker · Sep 13, 2012

So, a question. And there may be another thread that addressed/is addressing this, but...

When do you decide to shelve a project? I've been able to generate substancial agent interest in my completed MTS novel, but no takers. The feedback has all been positive and most seem to like my writing style, but no offers of rep. I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking A) submitting to a smaller press with no agent required B) Self-publish (very skeptical). C) Shelve it.

I have a couple WIP's in the early stages, but when is it time to give up on the current one?

Izz · Sep 13, 2012

Decker said:
So, a question. And there may be another thread that addressed/is addressing this, but...

When do you decide to shelve a project? I've been able to generate substancial agent interest in my completed MTS novel, but no takers. The feedback has all been positive and most seem to like my writing style, but no offers of rep. I'm getting to the point where I'm thinking A) submitting to a smaller press with no agent required B) Self-publish (very skeptical). C) Shelve it.

I have a couple WIP's in the early stages, but when is it time to give up on the current one?

Personally, i shelve a novel project after i've queried all the reputable agents in the genre (i know of writers who've queried upwards of 200 agents before finding the right one). That doesn't mean i'll shelve the novel indefinitely, though.

If you've queried all the good agents in your genre, it could be that you're querying a good second novel rather than a first novel. What i mean by that is, sometimes you might have a really good book on your hands, but it's not the one that will get you an agent or first publishing deal. But it's one that will sell perfectly fine after you sell the first book.

Decker · Sep 13, 2012

Too true Izz. I'm hoping to send the Query to Hell this weekend. Maybe they can resurrect it for me and I'll try another batch. But if that doesn't work, I think it's time to move on.

Eliza C · Sep 15, 2012

43-day R from FFO. Off to the next market.

mrajotte · Sep 15, 2012

15-day R from the Eulogies II antho. Boo! I really like this story. I may send it out once more before giving it another look to see what it could be missing. I've edited it to death so maybe it's not the mechanics but the plot. 6th rejection total for this particular story. Is that a good or bad thing?

Eliza C · Sep 15, 2012

mrajotte said:
6th rejection total for this particular story. Is that a good or bad thing?

I had a semi-pro sale on a story's 12th outing so I tend not to give up until I've exhausted all the markets I want to try for a given story.

Marzioli · Sep 15, 2012

mrajotte said:
6th rejection total for this particular story. Is that a good or bad thing?

I sold a story on it's 18th outing to a very reputable semi-pro.

fihr · Sep 15, 2012

Thanks Eliza and Marzioli for mentioning those results - good to know! (And well done for the eventual sales.)

renard79 · Sep 16, 2012

Those numbers help, thanks!

4th pass on this story, 9 day form R from Shimmer. :/

Out it goes, but to where? Have to figure that out...

mrajotte · Sep 16, 2012

Thanks for the input, Eliza C and Marzioli! Usually I'm pretty good about sending my R's back out immediately but sometimes, I wonder whether it's just a crap story too

You know how it is. I'll keep trying - I haven't exhausted potential markets just yet.

williemeikle · Sep 16, 2012

53 day form R from ASIMOV'S

Aggy B. · Sep 16, 2012

williemeikle said:
53 day form R from ASIMOV'S

And here I was thinking I didn't have to get nervous for another forty days or so (given the Duotrope figures of late).

Aggy, sitting at 48 days

renard79 · Sep 16, 2012

Eep, I'm at 47.

<breathing>

Perhaps the wait will be over before I thought...

gettingby · Sep 16, 2012

55-day rejection from Glimmer Train.

defcon6000 · Sep 16, 2012

williemeikle said:
53 day form R from ASIMOV'S

Curious, but do you use duotrope? 'Cause all I see are the 80-90 day R's and a couple acceptances. Though it's good to know that the times may be coming down.

williemeikle · Sep 16, 2012

defcon6000 said:
Curious, but do you use duotrope? 'Cause all I see are the 80-90 day R's and a couple acceptances. Though it's good to know that the times may be coming down.

Nope, don't post my Rs on Duotrope. I have too many submissions coming and going and the Duotrope system is too slow and unwieldy.

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