Almost Success - The "Mixed Feelings" Thread

I would avoid F-bombs in WotF, and swearing in general in Deep Magic. Since they can, as you said, be easily edited out,

Another choice is...create new cuss words that won't offend.
F_Bombs, for instance:
Farscape was famous for, Frell, As in: "What the Frell were you thinking, or "Shut the frell up!"
BattleStar Galactica had their onw version of the "F" bomb...FRACK!

We are writers. We create new worlds with new names for our worlds and new words in languages never before heard. Just because George R. R. Martin uses English color, doesn't mean we need to do the same. If the Spanish can create "Chinga-te" for our FU, surely we can create our own version of it, yes?

"Fujyoo and Fujheet! I refuse to acknowledge this clean language barrier."

Just a thought. Take it or leave it.

Words to the wise. Thanks. I do always read the submission guidelines but I've only seen a couple that say don't do it. Eventually, I plan to read enough from every mag to get a feel for this kind of thing. I've started on it but the project is going to take a while!

There was another I forgot to mention: Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series. Robert inserted a combination of just a few words uttered by several of the characters, a simple enough phrase but one that caused other characters' blood to freeze: "Ashes. Blood and ashes!" Not cuss words to us as readers, but to other characters within earshot, it was abominable. Creation of your own disgusting words can be fun.
For those of you old enough to remember Mork and Mindy...Shazbot! was said by Mork quite often. Any takers on the translation?

Words to the wise. Thanks. I do always read the submission guidelines but I've only seen a couple that say don't do it. Eventually, I plan to read enough from every mag to get a feel for this kind of thing. I've started on it but the project is going to take a while!

You don't have to write to please every magazine all the time. Most of the time, you just have to remember Shunn manuscript format. However, some places require anonymous submissions (like this contest) or some other requirement that is significant enough I feel I need to save an alternate draft specifically for that market.

I feel I need to save an alternate draft specifically for that market.

I thought I was the only anal one out there that did this. Peony, you are my sister!

I feel I need to save an alternate draft specifically for that market.

I thought I was the only anal one out there that did this. Peony, you are my sister!

It's just a safe bet.

Thanks everyone

Today: "We look forward to reading more of your work in the future and hope that this piece finds a home as well."

Well that is a very nice way to say "not this time!"

Today: "We look forward to reading more of your work in the future and hope that this piece finds a home as well."

Well that is a very nice way to say "not this time!"

It means they want you to send them more. That's a good sign!

Those are always hard to get but encouraging! Better than the “doesn’t suit our needs” but not as good as the mythical acceptances. Sympathies and encouragement!

Had one make it out of the Galaxy's Edge slush pile. Mike Resnick just sent me a brief rejection email. No feedback. But I feel good it made it to his desk. I admire Mike a lot.

"this is just one editor's decision . . . I wish you every success placing it elsewhere." Oh well.

Had one make it out of the Galaxy's Edge slush pile. Mike Resnick just sent me a brief rejection email. No feedback. But I feel good it made it to his desk. I admire Mike a lot.

"this is just one editor's decision . . . I wish you every success placing it elsewhere." Oh well.

I can't even get a confirmation of receipt from Galaxy's Edge, so your reply is a golden token as far as I am concerned, lol.
64 days out and I don't even know if they have it. And as they do not accept simultaneous submissions, it's pretty unfortunate for me.

Had one make it out of the Galaxy's Edge slush pile. Mike Resnick just sent me a brief rejection email. No feedback. But I feel good it made it to his desk. I admire Mike a lot.

"this is just one editor's decision . . . I wish you every success placing it elsewhere." Oh well.

I can't even get a confirmation of receipt from Galaxy's Edge, so your reply is a golden token as far as I am concerned, lol.
64 days out and I don't even know if they have it. And as they do not accept simultaneous submissions, it's pretty unfortunate for me.

I submitted 1/15 and just heard from Mike last night. However, I emailed them in March and got an update and was told it made it out of slush. I assume you emailed them. [email protected] Mike had a serious medical event so I'm sure that has impacted things. I got a really lovely rejection on my first story to them last year. Their reader, Jean Rabe, is crazy-nice (as in "very nice," not "crazy and nice")

I submitted 1/15 and just heard from Mike last night. However, I emailed them in March and got an update and was told it made it out of slush. I assume you emailed them. [email protected] Mike had a serious medical event so I'm sure that has impacted things. I got a really lovely rejection on my first story to them last year. Their reader, Jean Rabe, is crazy-nice (as in "very nice," not "crazy and nice")

I did email them there back in late February 27 (one month after submission). No reply.
Sorry to hear about Mike's situation. Did not know that!

Did you get an automated receipt when you initially submitted it on 1/15? I did not get one.

 

Did you get an automated receipt when you initially submitted it on 1/15? I did not get one.

I didn't. Looking at my old emails, looks like they don't use one of those submission systems. You just email your story.

I didn't. Looking at my old emails, looks like they don't use one of those submission systems. You just email your story.

Appreciate knowing that. Feel less like my work is floating in limbo, now.

Man! Got a "Didn't quite grab me" from F&FS along with a couple of tips on the story. Close but no cigar?

Man! Got a "Didn't quite grab me" from F&FS along with a couple of tips on the story. Close but no cigar?

I count those as wins.

Man! Got a "Didn't quite grab me" from F&FS along with a couple of tips on the story. Close but no cigar?

Free Feedback from a Professional Editor = Good stuff!

After 80 days, I heard back from GE:

"...We’re overflowing with submissions right now, and so I must be extra-picky. Your* writing is strong, but not quite up to the other pieces I’m passing... Wish I had better news. Good fortune on submitting to another market..."

Never made it to Mike's desk. On the bright side, nice to hear the rejection was due to a seasonal need to be "extra-picky." And I guess that keeps the submission alive as a "blind" submission to WotF!

After 80 days, I heard back from GE:

"...We’re overflowing with submissions right now, and so I must be extra-picky. Your* writing is strong, but not quite up to the other pieces I’m passing... Wish I had better news. Good fortune on submitting to another market..."

Never made it to Mike's desk. On the bright side, nice to hear the rejection was due to a seasonal need to be "extra-picky." And I guess that keeps the submission alive as a "blind" submission to WotF!

Hey! Personal notes are great. On the right track. Good job.

I got a Charlie from F&SF today.

I just got the following rejection letter from F&SF on a previous HM of mine:

From: CC Finlay <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 1:37 PM
Subject: "[my Story Title]" / F&SF
To: Thomas C Woodward <[my email address]>

Dear Tom,

Thank you for giving me a chance to read "[my Story Title]." Unfortunately, this story didn't win me over for Fantasy & Science Fiction and I'm going to pass. But I wish you best of luck finding the right market for it and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future.

Best regards,

Charlie
--
C.C. Finlay, Editor
Fantasy & Science Fiction

fandsf.com | @fandsf

Can anyone confirm if this is a form or personal? (I checked the rejection wiki and it didn't quite fit any of the templates listed)

I got a similar rejection for my HM today. I'd say these are personal "
Dear Helge,

Thank you for giving me a chance to read "<story title>." I liked the quality of the prose and I liked the beginning of the story, but the narrative lost momentum for me and overall the story didn't quite grab me. I'm going to pass on this one for Fantasy & Science Fiction, but I wish you best of luck finding the right market for it and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future.

Best regards,

Charlie
"

I read some more on this. Looks like Finlay uses 3 tiers of templates, according to this blog post: http://www.ccfinlay.com/blog/nectar-for-rejectomancers.html
Mine would be the lowest tier rejection and yours the highest.

I just got the following rejection letter from F&SF on a previous HM of mine:

From: CC Finlay <[email protected]>
Date: Mon, Apr 29, 2019 at 1:37 PM
Subject: "[my Story Title]" / F&SF
To: Thomas C Woodward <[my email address]>

Dear Tom,

Thank you for giving me a chance to read "[my Story Title]." Unfortunately, this story didn't win me over for Fantasy & Science Fiction and I'm going to pass. But I wish you best of luck finding the right market for it and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future.

Best regards,

Charlie
--
C.C. Finlay, Editor
Fantasy & Science Fiction

fandsf.com | @fandsf

Can anyone confirm if this is a form or personal? (I checked the rejection wiki and it didn't quite fit any of the templates listed)

High tier Form, according to his blog.
I got one myself from him recently.

It seems the absence of criticism or comment in this form reply is meant as a compliment. As in, we didn't win HIM over, but he read it through, recognized it was high level writing, that there were no glaring problems, and that we should move onto the next editor who might really enjoy our work, unchanged.

Good luck with yours! Unfortunately, mine is super niche. I don't think anyone wants it. DM me for conversation about our stories and markets we can try for.

Dane

I did some digging and found an interesting post on the subject on the absolutewrite forums:

https://absolutewrite.com/forums/archiv ... -p-33.html

******************************
JJ Litke
07-23-2015, 07:23 PM
Here they are: https://twitter.com/ccfinlay/status/622077408154222593
https://twitter.com/ccfinlay/status/622077808525729792

He says: "Didn't grab me" - opening hook didn't grab me "Lost momentum" - middle didn't hold me
and
"Didn't win me over" - ending didn't work for me "Pieces didn't come together" - story didn't feel cohesive to me

I've gotten the "didn't win me over" one, and I started working on a new ending for that story.

Oh oh, and to get a direct link to a tweet, click on the time stamp for that tweet. I had to look it up some time ago when I was trying to do that, it's really not intuitive at all.

**************************************

I sent my HM out to Clarkesworld (form R), Asimov's (form R), F&SF (form tier 3 template - see above post), and now sending to BCS.

this post, if true, is very helpful - this means I can work on my ending

TFW you scroll back through old F&SF rejections and realize that half your stories have received Charlies, actually.

TFW you scroll back through old F&SF rejections and realize that half your stories have received Charlies, actually.

He seems like a nice guy. I'm sure that takes a lot of time.

What does an acceptance note look like? I'm beginning to think I will never learn the answer from first-hand experience.

TFW you scroll back through old F&SF rejections and realize that half your stories have received Charlies, actually.

He seems like a nice guy. I'm sure that takes a lot of time.

What does an acceptance note look like? I'm beginning to think I will never learn the answer from first-hand experience.

Couldn't tell you yet. Keep trying, though! Write what you care about, and sooner or later someone else will care too.