tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post6795732224772158301..comments2024-03-25T20:40:44.806-04:00Comments on Literary Rejections on Display Now Has Long COVID: Arkansas Rejects "A Change of Season"Writer, Rejectedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17241982229214057815noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-11920858710573398082008-02-18T12:51:00.000-05:002008-02-18T12:51:00.000-05:00When do we get to learn the identity of the author...When do we get to learn the identity of the author?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-61604837954300540842008-02-12T11:54:00.000-05:002008-02-12T11:54:00.000-05:00Too good.No suggestions.Too good.<BR/>No suggestions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-78202768512264789872008-02-12T09:38:00.000-05:002008-02-12T09:38:00.000-05:00Hi, I'm the anon who seconded Glimmer Train for th...Hi, I'm the anon who seconded Glimmer Train for this. Yeah, I read the story. Do you think the story was too *bad* for GT, or too *good*? I dunno, I've read several issues of GT and considering language, style, theme, and so on I thought it would fit in.<BR/><BR/>Also: do you have any other suggestions, then, for where you'd send this story?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-57296333710058969072008-02-12T09:08:00.000-05:002008-02-12T09:08:00.000-05:00I hear you, football-savvy Anon. To me Glimmer Tra...I hear you, football-savvy Anon. To me Glimmer Train is like trying to get into Harvard when you have a 2.7 GPA. Not going to happen. I don't even try with Glimmer Train any more. Plus I think they are a little snotty in their communications, which I frankly just don't need these days.Writer, Rejectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17241982229214057815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-4295193656883940102008-02-12T08:53:00.000-05:002008-02-12T08:53:00.000-05:00Glimmer Train?? Glimmer Train???(I think of Coach ...Glimmer Train?? Glimmer Train???<BR/>(I think of Coach Jim Mora responding to a question from a sportswriter about the Saints making the playoffs. "Playofffs??" he said, incredulously. "Playoffs??? Playoffs??? -- over and over).<BR/>The team was bad, and so is GT.<BR/>Did you read the story? <BR/>Have you been published in Glimmer Train (along with your baby picture)?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-30818595015442412002008-02-11T10:38:00.000-05:002008-02-11T10:38:00.000-05:00I second Glimmer Train.I second Glimmer Train.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-53750961047931491392008-02-08T09:43:00.000-05:002008-02-08T09:43:00.000-05:00Glimmer Train?Glimmer Train?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-39041134763542285912008-02-07T09:29:00.000-05:002008-02-07T09:29:00.000-05:00I have had acceptances as well as tons of rejectio...I have had acceptances as well as tons of rejection, but NEVER got such a personalized rejection as this. In fact besides acceptance the only time I get more than a form letter is when someone scribbles a word or two on the form. This is pretty good.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-90645181280393376662008-02-06T17:44:00.000-05:002008-02-06T17:44:00.000-05:00I think this is a terrific rejection letter. I say...I think this is a terrific rejection letter. I say this because I have often received lousy form letters, which lack any sense of individual attention. This specific rejection has both heart & respect for the writer.jimmy scovillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05604625850685718503noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-53271106894209576052008-02-06T15:50:00.000-05:002008-02-06T15:50:00.000-05:00I'm quite enjoying this. This new department adds ...I'm quite enjoying this. This new department adds a whole lot to the blog.<BR/><BR/>About the story: it has merit and seems definitely publishable. Sure there are things that could be changed here or there, especially to tailor to a particular editor or magazine. But the story is there, and it should be published.<BR/><BR/>HOWEVER, I'm at a loss to suggest where a story like this would fit nowadays. I like it and think it would be good in a commercial magazine as opposed to a university literary journal. <BR/><BR/>The question is, what's out there?<BR/>I'm thinking of "waiting room magazines" and it seems like few to none do fiction now. Yankee? Readers Digest? Actually, The Saturday Evening Post just started reprinting those old "Botts" stories and if this didn't have the alcohol it seems like it would fit that mold. But I think it should keep the alcohol, and I don't know where the story belongs.<BR/><BR/>I'm wracking my brain but not coming up with any market suggestions for this piece. Anyone?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-54504514291050968232008-02-06T11:26:00.000-05:002008-02-06T11:26:00.000-05:001.) Did any of the "great" writers publish everyth...1.) Did any of the "great" writers publish everything they wrote?<BR/><BR/>2.) Is publication the mark of a story's worth?<BR/><BR/>3.) Should the author quit sending this out?<BR/><BR/>I'm answering "no" to all three questions. With some qualifications.<BR/><BR/>1.) Some stories, for whatever reason, just don't flower and fruit. Beats me why--they just don't.<BR/><BR/>2.) Publication feels nice and can help a career along, but fuck that shit. For reals. The desire for validation will only hold back your fiction.<BR/><BR/>3.) That said, I've heard one writer say that if you aren't willing to send a story out 50 times, you don't really believe in it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-32180304437673217722008-02-06T10:10:00.000-05:002008-02-06T10:10:00.000-05:00Well, I do disagree with the bit "in art it is not...Well, I do disagree with the bit "in art it is not possible." Um, *everything* is possible in art. It's not always good... but it is possible. <BR/><BR/>The AR editor gives the distinct impression s/he disagrees with the current editorial policy. It's definitely unusual to get a letter from an editor complaining about other editors! That qualifies as weird, to me.<BR/><BR/>"Obviously represents the enigma of inevitability" -- there's your problem right there.rmellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133206908895131438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-2661625503897399142008-02-06T09:40:00.000-05:002008-02-06T09:40:00.000-05:00The Arkansas Review doesn't deserve to be in the h...The Arkansas Review doesn't deserve to be in the headline as one of the rejectors. Their editor "got" the story, saw virtues in it; it was only the magazine's new policy that caused him to turn it down.<BR/>"Weird," "in-fighting"? -- his letter seems straightforward to me. <BR/>But the other comments are perceptive and should be taken to heart? Really?<BR/>The window dresser obviously represents the enigma of Inevitability, and Howie is merely the lens through which we view the town's change in fortunes.<BR/>How about: "In life this is more than possible. In art this is not possible." Think about that one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2703861414547309188.post-33726299606949763102008-02-06T09:07:00.000-05:002008-02-06T09:07:00.000-05:00The writer could probably find a mag to print it e...The writer could probably find a mag to print it eventually. The comments are legitimate, though, and maybe the writer should take them to heart and try a new story.<BR/><BR/>That comment from the Arkansas Review is weird and smacks of editorial in-fighting.rmellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03133206908895131438noreply@blogger.com