Not Even On Our Website

A Sci-Fi no, now and in the unimaginable future.

Oh, MIssouri, Race Always Matters, Don't You Know

Wrote the editor/intern answering the mail and reading the slush:

Hello: Your story was interesting, but I felt that you focused too much on Gretchen being white--she's awful certainly, but I don't see why race matters there.  That being said, I loved her focus on voids and how you ended it.  Please try us again soon with another piece.

 Is it left unstated that the writer shouldn't get all mad at white people?  Or if the person is awful it should not be an indication of her white-ness?  Not sure.  But interesting.  I'm betting this was a young intern who wrote this note.  Anyway, check out the author's in-depth reply to this rejection over at his blog. It's worth the read. Very interesting.

From an LROD Reader

On Jan. 4, 2012, I submitted a short story to Boulevard. More than seven months later on Aug. 18, 2012, I received the following e-mail. I clicked the provided link and received the message "Status: Declined." The word Declined was emphatically (and one must assume lovingly) printed in red typeface.

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NOTE: Do not reply to this email. This address is used for notifications only. If you need help, contact Submittable Support:xxxxxxxx
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The status of this submission has changed.

You can go here to view the submission:

 

http://www.xxxxxxxxxx/

It's a Little Too Hot and Sunny Today

I think this is a pretty decent rejection.  Nice sentiment in the third paragraph: "We're aware writing is hard work, and that writers deserve some acknowledgment. A form letter doesn't speak to that need. Please Know, however, that we've read your work and appreciate your interest in the magazine."  Is this form letter better than most, or have I lost my edge? 

Reinterpretation of Permafrost Rejection

What the dog hears:  Blah, blah, blah, Permafrost rejection; blah, blah, blah.

Television Rejection, Just for Fun

Is no one exempt from the opinion of fools?

Watch the WHR Birdie

Well, at least it's a distraction from your rejection from all of Western Humanity.  Here's a closer look at the bird:

Conjunctions, Close Up The Gap!

Why such a large space in the middle of your form rejection?  Maybe you want to write something nice to the writer who received this in the mail?  Maybe you don't.  You know about conjunctions and run-ons, right? At least put a smilie or frownie in there, man.

A Rarity for Writer, Rejected

Here's something unusual. I have just finished the new proposal for my nonfiction book (with three sample chapters). Also I have recently finished a revised version (with a new point of view) of my novel.  That's two projects nearly ready to go out in the world.  Twins!  I have given birth to twins, and it was a long, long labor. Right now, I have some people reading both manuscripts, and then I'm going to send them (bombard?) Secret Agent Man with them.  It's August, a good time for him to read pages upon pages. Maybe this fall things will be different for old Writer, Rejected. Wouldn't that be nice? Well, anyway, a third-gendered person can dream, can't sh/h/ze?