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| SFReader Forums > Writing > Gripe! > Some Father’s Day Present, Huh? REJECTION! | Forum Quick Jump
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RHFay
Sage
      
Date Joined Nov 2007
Total Posts : 1722
| Posted 6/15/2008 2:54 PM (GMT -4) |   |
Okay, I know rejections are a part of a writer's experience, and maybe I've been spoiled by my recent string of acceptances, but the timing on this one stinks. I just got a rejection in my e-mail for a speculative poem that I truly believe is one of my stronger pieces. This makes the eighth rejection for this particular poem. I revised it once after receiving some helpful editorial comments with the first rejection, and I was sure I fixed any glaring flaws in the work.
The problems finding this poem a home have me scratching my head. It makes me question my own judgment when it comes to viewing the apparent quality of my work. It also makes me wonder if the "ethereal/astral" subject matter is really working, although I have had similar pieces published already.
Some Father's Day present, huh? I guess it's time to find another market to send this one to and hope the ninth time's the charm!
At least I have some nice plans for the rest of the day. My wife, daughter, and I plan to play some games today, and then I'm going to make a nice dinner. We're going to have steamed fresh asparagus, melon, and a nice specialty bread. I even got myself some lobster tails, which is a special treat for me. No one else in the house likes lobster, except perhaps the cats and the dog.
I guess I really shouldn't let a little thing like a rejection on Father's Day get me down. It's just one of those things, you know?
"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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Ramon Rozas
Stablehand
Date Joined Apr 2008
Total Posts : 28
| Posted 6/15/2008 4:15 PM (GMT -4) | | Mr. Fay - Happy Father's Day! I feel your pain; I have a short story that I personally consider my best one; it even won an "Honorable Mention" in a fairly big contest. It has been rejected FOURTEEN TIMES. This business baffles me sometimes.
Oh - and enjoy your lobster tails! | | Back to Top | | |
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RHFay
Sage
Date Joined Nov 2007
Total Posts : 1722
| Posted 6/15/2008 7:31 PM (GMT -4) | | |
Eek! Mr. Fay? Gosh, that makes me sound old. Please, Richard or RH is fine.
I have a similar story with a piece of fiction I entered in the Writers of the Future contest. Actually, it started life as a Doctor Who story for a contest put on by Big Finish. It failed to get anywhere in the DW contest, so I reworked it sans the Doctor and sent it to WOTF. I received a letter stating that the story finished in the top 15% of the stories that quarter, the lowest degree of "honorable mention" given in that contest.
Filled with hope that the story might actually be publishable, I sent it out again. And again. And again. And again. After a handful of rejections, I decided to read it at the local fiction writer's group meeting, to get feedback.
Frankly, I was a bit surprised by the feedback I received. Apparently, even though the story is fairly well written, I may have some plot issues I have to iron out. And I also seem to have too long a lead up to the main action, and possibly too many POVs.
Yes, it truly is a baffling business.
"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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RHFay
Sage
Date Joined Nov 2007
Total Posts : 1722
| Posted 6/17/2008 12:34 PM (GMT -4) | |
Jordan Lapp said......Yup, Richard sure is getting his name out there!
I'm tryin'!  (Let the roll go on.)
Just recently I gained a whole bunch of new friends on Live Journal, and a fan or two, too. Fans are nice. Fans are real nice. And I wouldn't have fans if my poetry wasn't published in the first place.
My goodness, I have FANS!!! 
For being a hopeless introvert in "real life", I've made quite an incredible number of connections on-line. I've grabbed the self-promotion bull by the horns and won't let go!
Mooooooo! 
"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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Thirdy Lopez
Adept
Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 855
| Posted 6/18/2008 10:21 PM (GMT -4) | | Hi, Richard. I can relate. Once, one of my stories was rejected by an editor. I opened my inbox and got three rejection letters from the same editor. I guess it was his way of saying "No, no, NO!" Ha ha.
I think as a writer, we are our own worst critiques. Sometimes, what we think is good, isn't. Most of the time, though, it's just a matter of finding the right market.
Good luck with placing the poem. To quote The Waterboy... "You can do it!"
- Thirdy
Aurelio Rico Lopez III aka "Thirdy" has had fiction featured in COLD FLESH (Hellbound Books), THE BLACKEST DEATH I, II, and III (Black Death Books), SPORTY SPEC: GAMES OF THE FANTASTIC (Raven Electrick Ink), STAR-SPANGLED ZOMBIE (Maniac Press), RAW MEAT (Sideshow Press), SHADOW BOX (Brimstone Press), TRIP THE LIGHT HORRIFIC (RAGE machine Books), DEAD MEN (AND WOMEN) WALKING (Bards and Sages), and THE BOOK OF SHADOWS VOL. I (Brimstone Press). His poems have appeared in Mythic Delirium, Star*Line, Dark Animus, Goblin Fruit, Scifaikuest, Electric Velocipede, Sybil's Garage, The Horror Express, Down In the Cellar, and elsewhere. | | Back to Top | | |
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Thirdy Lopez
Adept
Date Joined Jul 2007
Total Posts : 855
| Posted 6/18/2008 10:28 PM (GMT -4) | | ...and didn't Harry Potter get its share of rejections before finding a home? ;)
Aurelio Rico Lopez III aka "Thirdy" has had fiction featured in COLD FLESH (Hellbound Books), THE BLACKEST DEATH I, II, and III (Black Death Books), SPORTY SPEC: GAMES OF THE FANTASTIC (Raven Electrick Ink), STAR-SPANGLED ZOMBIE (Maniac Press), RAW MEAT (Sideshow Press), SHADOW BOX (Brimstone Press), TRIP THE LIGHT HORRIFIC (RAGE machine Books), DEAD MEN (AND WOMEN) WALKING (Bards and Sages), and THE BOOK OF SHADOWS VOL. I (Brimstone Press). His poems have appeared in Mythic Delirium, Star*Line, Dark Animus, Goblin Fruit, Scifaikuest, Electric Velocipede, Sybil's Garage, The Horror Express, Down In the Cellar, and elsewhere. | | Back to Top | | |
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