Almost Success - The "Mixed Feelings" Thread

Thanks for the link, but I had actually already checked on there to see if there was anything. Unfortunately, I don't see Third Flatiron on there anywhere.

Not sure if they've just changed up the text for their rejections or if I made a higher tier this time around, but either way, but it's always nice to get a positive and personalized rejection note.

I would argue that if it's personalized in any way it's not really a form (any effort made beyond basic copy/paste is a good sign).

Very true, disgruntledpony, thanks for the advice

Very true, disgruntledpony, thanks for the advice

No problem. It's the little things that keep us writers sane.

Just got a personalized rejection from F&SF - liked my world building but the story didn't quite win them over. So that feels good-ish. That story has gotten a bit of feedback on the quality of the world building but hasn't quite convinced anyone to take it. A couple more places I want to send it and then it can rest for a little while (maybe make another entry in an upcoming quarter in this contest).

Well, I think that people just have a different perspective on every genre's.

Got a personal rejection from an anthology I submitted to. They liked the punchline but weren't fans of the trope I was playing up.

I got the "didn't win me over" #3 template. Charlie said it was an interesting idea. Next, I submitted it to a contest. The judge got the flu so I am waiting to hear.

My best rejections have been a "didn't win me over" from SF&F (no further comments, though, darn it, but he even signed it as Charlie, not CC!), a very nice letter from Beneath Ceaseless Skies that explained that I had written a fine S&S adventure in the classical mode, but they were looking for works with a more modern, literary style, and one that sounded very positive from Cirsova stating that they LOVED my story, but due to space restrictions (mine was 10K words) and the enormous amount of top-notch subs they received for that issue, they were unable to purchase it. I'm really hoping that one wasn't just a form letter.

Got a real snotty one early in my submissions from an e-zine I won't name. I didn't know much about cover letters at the time so I was trying to sell my story by bragging about how it wasn't your typical Elf-Orc-Tolkien fantasy. I should have researched things a little more because it turns out that's a favorite theme of theirs.

After 8 submissions I got my first "personalized" rejection from Ellery Queen.

This is the letter I've been receiving:

Dear Writer:

Cordially,
The Editors
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

-------------------------------------------

This is the rejection I got today:

Dear Milo MInderbinder,

Janet Hutchings, Editor
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

After 8 submissions I got my first "personalized" rejection from Ellery Queen.

Exciting! A letter from the editor, signed by name, definitely indicates more than a generic signature of "the editors". Would seem to indicate you're getting close.

It ain't easy, all! Use this trying time to grind and hone!

Has anyone every submitted to to One Story? They've sent me the "we enjoyed this piece but not for us" response a whopping three times now and I'm beginning to think it's just their standard response? Odds of being published with them are tiny, anyway.

Haven't got any almosts from the sci fi bigwigs, although Sheila Williams of Assimov has taken the time to warn me about various formatting mistakes. She's probably dreading my next submission.

I submitted two stories to The Dark magazine--both of which came back in the next few hours.

"We have read your submission and unfortunately your story isn't quite
what we're looking for right now. While we regretfully cannot provide
detailed feedback due to the volume of submissions, we thank you for
your interest in our magazine and hope you continue to consider us in
the future.

Thank you,

Sean & Silvia"

I had high hopes for the second one, then I found out that it was the higher tier! It might be that 80% get that, but still, nice consolation prize, I think: )

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

Seems odd to congratulate someone on a rejection - but as rejections go, that's pretty good. Well done, you must be getting close.

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

That's a great personal, Chuck. It's a good day anytime an editor says "like your style of writing." They only say it when they mean it, and they say it to very few.

Well done!

Thanks Wulf and Tim.

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

Awesomeness. Those are good, solid magazines to aim for--and it sounds like you're close to hitting that target! Keep at it, good sir.

A personal rejection from Analog! "suggest you try us again" and "like your style of writing." (swoon) Analog and Asimov's are at the tippy-top of my most-wanted list. A sale would have been great but I'm on cloud nine this morning.

I second everyone else! I've heard these are rare.

You could look at it a different way, and be disappointed about the sale; but I don't think so. It's only logical that after forms come personals; and after personals sales.

The guys who skip the intermediate steps are cheating. Probably. Besides, they always have to wonder their sale was just a fluke.

So congrats!

Thanks guys.

Anyone submitted to Asimov's recently? I submitted a week ago and haven't yet been rejected. Is this normal?

They're showing as a little behind on the Grinder, yeah. A lot of places take a break in July and August, I've noticed. Usually that is for peak conference season, but I'd guess this year people are just flat burnt out. A lot of markets have been slower than usual. Good luck!

Anyone submitted to Asimov's recently? I submitted a week ago and haven't yet been rejected. Is this normal?

I've had a story with them two or three weeks, but it hasn't been read yet. (Still shows as 'Received' in their queue.) I think they're just moving slowly.

They're showing as a little behind on the Grinder, yeah. A lot of places take a break in July and August, I've noticed. Usually that is for peak conference season, but I'd guess this year people are just flat burnt out. A lot of markets have been slower than usual. Good luck!

I've had a story with them two or three weeks, but it hasn't been read yet. (Still shows as 'Received' in their queue.) I think they're just moving slowly.

Thanks! Guess I won't get my hopes up. : )

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

That's really good to make it that far.

Deep Magic is at the top of my list of preferred publications wit Mag of F&SF.

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

Glad you heard back and got some constructive points. Congrats!

Just heard back from Deep Magic—I made their second round. They also provided feedback, and I feel like the issues they mentioned can easily be fixed with a few additional lines.

And honestly—I’m incredibly happy! This was a story I had seriously considered retiring. I thought there were serious issues with the ending, to the point where I figured the only way I could fix it would be with a major rewrite, so hearing that it made the second round at a pro publication has me really excited. Definitely won’t be retiring this version of the story just yet.

Cool. Me too. Got a PR on my 200-day story a couple of days ago. It had been there long enough that I dared to hope for better but Deep Magic, per Wulf,is a really hard sale. My story is a squeaky clean YA story. I've sent it to all the pro markets that like that kind of thing. Not sure what to do with it next. Maybe WotF, although I'm going with a fresh story this quarter.

Anyone submitted to Asimov's recently? I submitted a week ago and haven't yet been rejected. Is this normal?

I've had a story with them two or three weeks, but it hasn't been read yet. (Still shows as 'Received' in their queue.) I think they're just moving slowly.

Oof. They are tough. I've only gotten form rejections from them.