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Gustavo
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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 12:57 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Yesterday was one of those four rejection days (one story was rejected TWICE - I got it back in the morning, sent it out again and it got consigned to the lake of fire before midnight - those people at Postcards from Hell are quick, and they gave positive comments, too).
 
This is to be expected sometimes (this is my third four-rejection day) considering the number of subs I have out there and the silence on the rejection front that preceeded it (with a couple of sales mixed in).  I was definitely due - but I blogged about it and got some horror stories back (8 rejections in a week, etc.).
 
So, what are your all-time worst periods?  Can you top 4 rejections in a day or eight in a week?  Give us your best shot!

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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Firlefanz
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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 1:08 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Wow, four rejections a day is rough.

Since I only have four subs out right now, there no chance in hell that they all come back on the same day. :-)

- Call me Firle.

Hannah Steenbock

Mystical Adventures
Sphaira

"Die arische Frau" in Pandaimonion - Die Formel des Lebens
"Der Weg nach Eridani" in Earth Rocks 3/2007 (pdf)
"Minkus, the Masterful Magic-Mender" in - AlienSkin Magazine, Featured Fiction

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HTKuehl
Kaylee is watching you



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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 1:36 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Gustavo said...
Yesterday was one of those four rejection days (one story was rejected TWICE - I got it back in the morning, sent it out again and it got consigned to the lake of fire before midnight - those people at Postcards from Hell are quick, and they gave positive comments, too).
 
This is to be expected sometimes (this is my third four-rejection day) considering the number of subs I have out there and the silence on the rejection front that preceeded it (with a couple of sales mixed in).  I was definitely due - but I blogged about it and got some horror stories back (8 rejections in a week, etc.).
 
So, what are your all-time worst periods?  Can you top 4 rejections in a day or eight in a week?  Give us your best shot!

 
I got 5 in a day once. And the funny thing is, it was like yours. Got a rejection earlier in the day, sent it to Postcards, and had it consigned to the lake of fire by dinner time. Never 8 in a week though, but I am sure that it is bound to happen sooner or later. Hopefully later. smilewinkgrin

 
**~**~Heather~**~**
 
"Learn to paint pictures with words." ~ Brian Jacques
 
"I never considered that I wouldn't make it. Ignorance is bliss sometimes. If I had known how hard it would be, I might have given up." ~ Kim Harrison
 
------------------------
Forthcoming: 
"Wayward Magic" and "Tone Deaf." Strange Worlds of Lunacy: The Galaxy's Silliest Anthology, April 2008.
"Full Moon Pulls at Him." Aphelion Webzine, April 2008.
"The Magic Word." Flashshot, April 17, 2008.
"Blythe's Vengeance." Fantasy Gazetteer, May 2008.
"Raising the Dead." Bewildering Stories: Issue 288, May 5, 2008.
"To Have and to Hold." Flashshot, May 10, 2008.
"The Final Goodbye." Ruins Metropolis. Hadley Rille Books, 2008.
"Dalamar's Quest." Flashing Swords, February 2009.
 

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TL Morganfield
Neophyte



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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 2:57 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I think the worst I've ever gotten was 3 in one day. The most memorable though was the weekend where I found out that I didn't place when I was a finalist for WotF but a few hours later I got an acceptance email from Paradox (which was my Holy Grail of magazines). What a roller coaster of emotions that weekend was:).

www.tlmorganfield.com
The Feathered Serpent's Nest (Blog)

One World stories:

"Night Bird Soaring" in GUD, issue #3 (forthcoming)
"What Makes Us Strong" in Atomjack, November 2007
"The Last Arabian Prince" in Atomjack, November 2006
"Dedication" in Dragons, Knights & Angels, also available in Distant Passages 2.

Sixth Sun Rising stories:

"Ancient Artifacts" in Tales of Moreauvia (forthcoming)
"Love, Blood and Octi" in Paradox, October 2007
"The Divine Conquest of Mexico" in Sorcerous Signals, August 2007

Non-series fiction:

"My Sweet Andromache" in Nanobison, (forthcoming)
"So Weeps the Thunderbird" in Lilith Unbound, (forthcoming

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Jordan Lapp
ppaL nadroJ



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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 2:59 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
TL Morganfield said...
I found out that I didn't place when I was a finalist for WotF
Oy. That would kill.

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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Gustavo
Sage



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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 3:19 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Ouch on the WotF. Commiseration.... 

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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darkbow
Rabbit lord



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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 3:29 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Hmm, I don't really remember a worst day for rejection. But there must have been a day where I've gotten at least 2 or 3 rejections. I just don't remember those.

I do, however, remember days where I've received multiple acceptances. Three in one day is my record so far.

"Steven Spielberg and The Magic Box" upcoming at The Ranfurly Review.
"Peter Piker the Pankin Man" upcoming at Big Pulp
"Walking Between the Rain" at Every Day Fiction
"Beneath a Persian Sun" upcoming in Carnivah House's "Infinity Swords" anthology
"Deep in the Land of the Ice and Snow" in "The Return of the Sword" anthology
"Hot Off the Press" Ray Gun Revival #25, 2007
 
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Saanen
Neophyte



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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 6:57 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.

The week my grandmother died (this February), I think my total reject count came to eleven.  No acceptances.  Two rejects came the day of her death, one of them by mail.  That was a rough week all around.

My first two fiction acceptances ever came three days apart, though.  That was a very good week. :)

Kate Shaw

"Newton the Baker's Boy" Strange Worlds of Lunacy, Residential Aliens/CrystalWizard Productions
"Silent Skies" Byzarium (March 2008)
"The King's Messenger" Renard's Menagerie #5
"Honeymoon" Desolate Places, Hadley Rille Books
"Sawmill Road," "Bad Luck," "How My Sister Lost the Game," "Sick Day" (forthcoming) Every Day Fiction
"Trompe L'Oeil" Staffs & Starships #1
"Sea and Sky" Black Dragon, White Dragon, Ricasso Press
"Final Episode" and "Night Court" available on AnthologyBuilder.com

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Gustavo
Sage



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  		   Posted 4/11/2008 7:02 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I think Kate wins hands down. Kate, I remember your post from that week. Wasn't aware of the 11 rejections, though. Wow.

And a thought about those acceptances - anyone else notice that both rejections and sales seem to come in bunches?

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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RHFay
Sage



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  		   Posted 4/12/2008 2:43 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
What are rejections? (said very tongue-in-cheek)

Seriously, I think it does go in bunches. I'll get a batch of rejections, and then a batch of acceptances. I've gotten fifteen haiku turned down in one e-mail, but that was a submission consisting of fifteen haiku total. I've actually had several weeks where I get five or more rejections in one week. And yet I'm still running about 1:3 acceptances-to-rejections.

I guess the moral of this story is the usual writers' mantra - send the stuff back out as soon as it gets rejected. See every rejection as an indication that the piece wasn't right for that market, and send it to another one.

My most frustrating rejections so far are probably my fourteen-consecutive rejections from Dreams & Nightmares. I can't seem to crack that market. I've tried several different topics and styles, and nothing seems to work for the editor.

"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!" 
 
Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions 
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Lyn
Adopt



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  		   Posted 4/13/2008 11:27 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
At least you have dozens of stories out there to get 4 rejections... ;-)

Lyn from ResAliens
Own a copy of Strange Worlds of Lunacy - Galaxy's Silliest Antho today!

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Gustavo
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  		   Posted 4/13/2008 11:55 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
unlike Richard, who's success is quickly leaving him bereft of any material with which to get rejected!

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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RHFay
Sage



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  		   Posted 4/14/2008 10:30 AM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Gustavo said...
unlike Richard, who's success is quickly leaving him bereft of any material with which to get rejected!

That's only a sign that I have not had the chance to write much more for my submission pool.  When I've had a chance to work on anything recently, it's been mostly illustrations.
 

"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!" 
 
Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions 
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erazmus
Master



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  		   Posted 4/14/2008 1:25 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Well, I had a five rejection day a few days back. It doesn't seem to matter that the submission dates were spread out almost a year, everybody sends them out in batches. Do you think editors have a board somewhere, where they get together and plan these things? Everybody get ready, we'll be clearing our slush-piles of rejections on April 11!
You'd think I'd have gotten a whiff of such a thing before now.

Mike

Michael D. Turner
"Psyched Up" in _Turn the other Chick_-ed. E. Friesner-Baen books
www.baen.com
"Dutchman Rescue"in Continuum SF #6
www.continuumsciencefiction.com/orders.htm

"An Incident at Black Tongue Tavern" in _Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy_ from Fantasist Enterprises:

www.fantasistent.com/books/anthologies/BASH.php
"Stains" in Tales of the Talisman 3-1 www.zianet.com/hadrosaur/index.html
"Morning Coffee" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/morning-coffee-by-michael-d-turner/
"The Jewel Below" in Flashing Swords
flashingswords.sfreader.com/issues/issue8/vol2-iss8-05.htm
"Happy Landings" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/happy-landings-by-michael-d-turner/
"Teller of Tales" in Every day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/teller-of-tales-by-michael-d-turner/
Read "Silver Shells" In Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/silver-shells-by-michael-d-turner/

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Jordan Lapp
ppaL nadroJ



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  		   Posted 4/14/2008 1:27 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
No, Mike, we don't have a discussion board where we plan all our rejections. Just yours ;)

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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Gustavo
Sage



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  		   Posted 4/14/2008 1:28 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I wouldn't know - you work with FS, have you evere been approached by the editors bounce union? I can imagine the union newsletter: "Meet Mr. Bondoni, sucker for June 2008. He doesn't know it yet, but he's scheduled to receive ten rejections on June 14th. He thinks we're sincere about these hold requests... Hahahahahaha!"

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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erazmus
Master



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  		   Posted 4/14/2008 1:30 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Jordan Lapp said...
No, Mike, we don't have a discussion board where we plan all our rejections. Just yours ;)

Ah! That explains it. By the way, none of my five were the three you sent, Jordan. I'm having a bad month.
Mike

Michael D. Turner
"Psyched Up" in _Turn the other Chick_-ed. E. Friesner-Baen books
www.baen.com
"Dutchman Rescue"in Continuum SF #6
www.continuumsciencefiction.com/orders.htm

"An Incident at Black Tongue Tavern" in _Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy_ from Fantasist Enterprises:

www.fantasistent.com/books/anthologies/BASH.php
"Stains" in Tales of the Talisman 3-1 www.zianet.com/hadrosaur/index.html
"Morning Coffee" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/morning-coffee-by-michael-d-turner/
"The Jewel Below" in Flashing Swords
flashingswords.sfreader.com/issues/issue8/vol2-iss8-05.htm
"Happy Landings" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/happy-landings-by-michael-d-turner/
"Teller of Tales" in Every day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/teller-of-tales-by-michael-d-turner/
Read "Silver Shells" In Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/silver-shells-by-michael-d-turner/

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erazmus
Master



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  		   Posted 4/14/2008 1:35 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Gustavo said...
I wouldn't know - you work with FS, have you evere been approached by the editors bounce union? I can imagine the union newsletter: "Meet Mr. Bondoni, sucker for June 2008. He doesn't know it yet, but he's scheduled to receive ten rejections on June 14th. He thinks we're sincere about these hold requests... Hahahahahaha!"


They must know that CW runs the actual rejection process, she sends the actual e-mails.
Mike

Michael D. Turner
"Psyched Up" in _Turn the other Chick_-ed. E. Friesner-Baen books
www.baen.com
"Dutchman Rescue"in Continuum SF #6
www.continuumsciencefiction.com/orders.htm

"An Incident at Black Tongue Tavern" in _Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy_ from Fantasist Enterprises:

www.fantasistent.com/books/anthologies/BASH.php
"Stains" in Tales of the Talisman 3-1 www.zianet.com/hadrosaur/index.html
"Morning Coffee" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/morning-coffee-by-michael-d-turner/
"The Jewel Below" in Flashing Swords
flashingswords.sfreader.com/issues/issue8/vol2-iss8-05.htm
"Happy Landings" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/happy-landings-by-michael-d-turner/
"Teller of Tales" in Every day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/teller-of-tales-by-michael-d-turner/
Read "Silver Shells" In Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/silver-shells-by-michael-d-turner/

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Charles Gramlich
Acolyte



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  		   Posted 4/18/2008 1:15 AM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
I've gotten a couple in a single day before. I once got a form rejection for a story that I'd revised based upon the editor's comments and request. I once got a suggestion that I take a course in writing. I once got told that: "At this length a story has to be either outstanding or unique. Your's was neither."

I'm still healing from that last one.

Charles Gramlich
 

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Jordan Lapp
ppaL nadroJ



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  		   Posted 4/18/2008 11:16 AM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Charles Gramlich said...
 I once got a suggestion that I take a course in writing. I once got told that: "At this length a story has to be either outstanding or unique. Your's was neither."
Wow, those are cold, man. shocked

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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Gustavo
Sage



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  		   Posted 4/18/2008 11:51 AM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Yeah, haven't been hit with anyhting like that. I once got a criticism of my story that weighed in at about 10K (subjective wordcount) words (for a 4K story), essentially saying that the critic enjoyed the story despite the ham-handed mediocrity of the writer - it's here: http://www.scribaltales.com/pretentious_twit_growing_pains.html

But at least I could shrug that one off becuase the story had been published already, and the editor said nice things about it!

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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Jordan Lapp
ppaL nadroJ



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  		   Posted 4/18/2008 1:02 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Wow. I'm baffled. What possible use is that long critique to ANYONE? Who would read the whole thing? Was it for a class project or something?

Jordan Lapp
Managing Editor
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Gustavo
Sage



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  		   Posted 4/18/2008 1:12 PM (GMT -4)    Quote This PostAlert An Admin About This Post.
Heh, it was truly useful to me. Doubt anyone else on the planet read it (actually, that's not true - I blogged it and a couple of my regular readers actually did read it - authors are a funny bunch - this is the kind of thing that actually teaches craft if you have patience with it).

Anyhow, editors, I have found, disagree with critics, and this story is currently being reprinted by Golden Visions!

Visit my livejournal!  http://bondo-ba.livejournal.com/ 

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