Two rejections drifted in today, both of them really neat with long, graceful tentacles and phosphorescent parts. I got a lovely signed rejection from F&SF's assistant editor (who I will not name in case this might generate unwelcome mail disguised as rewrite requests) and a highly praising, makes-me-blush kind of rejection from one of Brain Harvest's editors. I know, it would be far more interesting if I threw a tantrum instead of looking at these as something positive and noteworthy. I guess I'll just have to be boring, because I feel like I'm doing well, and I'm not inspired to say anything bad about these rejections. If anything, I want to thank the editors for taking the time to respond promptly and with encouragement.
I found a brief blog entry here with some fascinating comments. Keep reading! There are guest appearances in the comments that you won't want to miss.
2 comments:
I read your link. I don't know why people who are more concerned with protecting their feelings than improving their skills offend me, but they do. That's one of the reasons INK was a good fit for me- I want to be a better writer far more than I want to feel good about my writing. I've spent too much time around the wannabe crowd and I don't have time to cater to their egos and insecurities.
When someone can see an extraordinary offer of guidance and choose to be offended... that's a baby crying because they aren't ready for solid food yet.
I loved that rejection letter blog entry (it's almost 2 years old now).
What I don't understand is why so many people felt it was rude and discouraging. While I will admit I haven't been writing much (very, very little actually) lately, it's not because of rejections, of which I have many (I'm swamped with reading, dammit!).
Maybe I'm looking at that blog entry all wrong. Maybe I'm looking at this whole writing business all wrong. But honestly, if I were to ever receive a rejection letter like the one Mr. Van Pelt wrote that guy, I would treasure it, not because I recently had a private chat and dinner with the guy (really!) but because I'd learn from it from someone in the know.
Does any of this make sense? Please, someone tell me I'm whack if indeed, I am. Life's too short to go through life being wrong.
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