Hope Squashed
I got a response on my story submission today: the editor liked it, but wasn’t seriously wowed, so he’s passing on it. At least I gave it a shot — and since sending it out, I’ve been looking at more potential markets for it (it’s a flash horror piece) and I’ve learned quite a bit about how it probably falls short, so I have some good ideas for rewriting it before I send it out again. Plus, hey, I’ve gotta get some rejections under my belt if I want to be considered a real writer!
I was fully prepared for a rejection, so I’m not upset about it. I learned from this, and I think it’ll make me a better writer in the end. Now, on to the next story!
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Um, and don’t forget to send the story out somewhere else!
http://ralan.com shows us there are a lot more places than you might think!
Don’t be afraid to try some smaller publications, too. Chris Howard (at http://theophrast.us/) has had some stories published at The Harrow and elsewhere, which makes a nice addition to your cover letter.
I’m planning on sending it out again, after I rewrite it to fix a few problems I’ve noticed now that I’ve been reading more flash horror and feel like I have a better grasp on the nuances of the format. Ralan’s site is such a great resource, although every time I visit I have to fight the urge to start designing a database interface for it.