Adventures of a Bookonaut: Rejected – My first fiction submission

Dec 8, 2012

Rejected – My first fiction submission

but I really had no expectations that I would get published with my first piece.

What I didn't expect was a personal response, a short note on what they though the strengths of the piece were.

So you know what? I actually feel pretty damn good about myself.

Rejection printed and framed for posterity.

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Mark · 640 weeks ago

Congratulations Sean - my first rejection had some useful comments so I know exactly what you mean.

You'll get 'em next time I'm sure!

-m
My recent post Australian Women Writers’ challenge 2013

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3 replies · active 640 weeks ago

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SB Wright 110p · 640 weeks ago

Thanks Mark. Nose to the grind, shoulder to the wheel, back on the horse :) etc

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Mark · 640 weeks ago

Of course in my case the helpful/encouraging comments sent me into a spiral of re-working that I haven't yet managed to pull myself out of.

On reflection, I may not have anything useful to add :-)

-m

My recent post Aurealis #56 (November 2012) – review

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SB Wright 110p · 640 weeks ago

I won't rework it yet. It wasn't quite what they were looking for so it's a matter of finding it the right home I think :)

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Holly · 640 weeks ago

Congratulations Sean, and I mean that. People only bother to write personal responses when they think it is worth their time. This is definitely a good sign!!
My recent post Summer, or the sound of misanthropy

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1 reply · active 640 weeks ago

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SB Wright 110p · 640 weeks ago

Thanks very much. And I agree very chuffed with what they said. I shall resubmit to another market and knuckle down to another short.

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glenda larke · 640 weeks ago

You are right; encouraging words from editors are rare indeed and they do mean they think you have what it takes. I just hope it doesn't take 8 years... :)

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1 reply · active 640 weeks ago

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SB Wright 110p · 640 weeks ago

8 Years? Was this short fiction or a manuscript ? :o

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raventracks 46p · 640 weeks ago

A personal comment is definitely good. Put it away for a while and write something else. Then look at it again. FWIW, my story in Mythic Resonance had been lying around for years after rejections. Then the right market turned up.
My recent post Things To Come Soon On The Great Raven

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1 reply · active 639 weeks ago

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SB Wright 110p · 639 weeks ago

Yes its on to The Widow (suburban horror) or Maurice The Space Cowboy ( not even sure what this is yet)

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The Goldfish · 640 weeks ago

It is a really positive first rejection - I've only had one personally written rejection out of eight (or as I refer to the number, "the J K Rowling") for my novel, although the impersonal ones have varied widely in tone - I'm very glad I didn't get the second one I received first, because it was so fantastically icy.

Rejection is an inevitable part of writing, and you were ready for that, but they really wouldn't have bothered providing feedback if they didn't feel the piece was worth their time to bother (if it wasn't good, they probably wouldn't have read it all the way through). So well done!

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1 reply · active 639 weeks ago

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SB Wright 110p · 639 weeks ago

Thanks Goldfish. Yeah I was prepared for just a flat refusal/rejection. I can understand the reason why. So yes, very chuffed that I got more than a No thanks.

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Dec 8, 2012

Rejected – My first fiction submission

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