My Year in Rejections

This year’s no-nos were so dull I almost abandoned the post. But there’s a few of interest in there.

January:

Hi M.J. -
Thanks very much for this, I really liked it - but I don't think it's quite right for us for a couple of reasons. The key one is the dialogue at the end - it's a crucial bit of the story and two distinct voices, which is tough to pull off as a single reader. I also thought the start took a while to get going. The first graph is really intriguing but then there's a bunch of backstory when I kind of wanted you to get into it.
These points are rather specific to our site and my odd personal taste so I really hope you have success place this one elsewhere, and in the meantime if you have anything else you think might be suitable please keep us in mind.
Many thanks,
Mike / 4'33''——


February:

Hello M.J.,

Thank you for your submission to Smash Cake. I apologize for our delay in
response, and appreciate your patience.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid we're going to pass on these pieces.

I hate that, too, because I love your breezy sense of humor. I can tell
you're a kindred spirit. (You're probably a riot at a party, too.)

Thanks for thinking of us, and best of luck in your future pursuits.

~~Tracy Lucas, Editor
Smash Cake Magazine


March:

Dear M.J.:

Apologies for the late response. We loved your story and laughed out loud and
wish we could publish it, but it doesn't quite meet our guidelines. We're
looking for pieces that relate to the setting of a book or an author's hometown.
While we're sure Murmansk must be both of those, you'd need to make the
connection for us within the story and include a couple quotes from that author.

If you can do that, we would be happy to reconsider and/or see something else
you think might work.

All best,
Tina Rubin
Founding Editor


April:

Dear M. J. Nicholls,

Your story, Becoming a Bandit, will be published in the May issue of Frontier
Tales. Thanks for your submission.

Thanks for your support, and keep those stories coming!

Duke Pennell

[Site didn’t seek my permission—the story had been published elsewhere].

May:

Dear Mark Nicholls,
Thank you very much for sending “Fingers in Our Ears” to Boulevard. Although it doesn't fill our editorial needs at the moment, we're glad you thought of us. We receive too many manuscripts to make individual comment possible, but we do wish you luck in placing this with another magazine.
Sincerely,
The Editors

June:

Thank you for your interest in Whitefish Review.
We received over 400 submissions for issue #9 and were able to select work from 37 different artists, photographers and writers.
I'm sorry that we were not able to use your work. Please continue to submit in the future.
I know these rejections are hard – I get many of them!
We will host the unveiling of issue #9 at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake on June 10 beginning at 7 p.m. This year, we will have readings by esteemed authors Doug Peacock, Mary Clearman Blew, and Lois Red Elk, as well work from a young writer selected for this issue, Callie Ann Atkinson.
Good luck with your art. Our next submission period begins August 15.
--Brian
Brian Schott
Editor

July:

Dear MJ,

Can't say I didn't enjoy this display of frustration and misanthropy, but I think it takes a strong constitution to get through it. There's no single place where the Reader can focus his attention (or even his sympathy); the result is a mix of laughing at ()and not knowing whether this is meant to be funny) and of deploring (without for a moment believing this is meant to be tragedy. Maybe you enjoyed writing it more than the reader might enjoy reading it,

Still, I did enjoy it, so you're welcome to send us something else. (NB: Some of this story is deliberately offensive, and we don't do drab sex, or much of the other kind, in TRoL. It's bad enough we all have done it: who wants to read about it?

KB (Editor)

August:

Dear M.J.,

Thank you for sending us your nonfiction piece.

Our editorial board read your work with interest. Unfortunately we did
not feel that it would be the best fit for our journal at this time.
This is not reflective of the quality of your writing; subjective
tastes play an important part in the assessment process.

We're sorry that we won't be able to offer you a spot in this issue,
but hope that you will consider submitting again in future reading
periods.

We appreciate your efforts, and wish you all the best in placing this
piece elsewhere.

Thanks again. Best of luck with this.

Sincerely,
The Editors at Sliver of Stone

September:

Dear M.J. Nicholls,

Apologies for our delay in responding.

Thank you for sending your work to and/or and for allowing our
editors to evaluate it. Unfortunately, we find that it does not fit
our present needs.

Best,
Damian Ward Hey,
Editor-in-Chief
and/or


October:

Thank you for sending us your work. We appreciate the chance to read it. We also sincerely appreciate your interest in The Cupboard. Unfortunately, this piece is not for us. We encourage you to submit again in the future.

Thanks again and best of luck with your work.

Sincerely,

Adam, Dave, and emily


November:

Dear Mark Nicholls,

Thank you for submitting A Florescence of Gerhards to Clockhouse Review for consideration. We appreciate you sending your work to us. At this time, however, we feel it does not fit our needs. We hope you will consider submitting again in the future.

Good luck with your writing.

Kind Regards,

The Editors
Clockhouse Review


December:

Dear Mark Nicholls,

Thank you for sending us "On/Off" and giving us at Catch Up the opportunity to consider your work. We've read your submission and really regret that it doesn't quite sync up with what we were envisioning for our upcoming issue.

We really appreciate your interest in Catch Up, and we apologize if you're receiving this despite having withdrawn your submission.

We hope you'll continue to follow the journal, and we wish you the best of luck.

Thanks again.

Sincerely,
The Editors of Catch Up.