Beneath Ceaseless Skies

I had about 30 rejections go out before mine at Strange Horizons once. Then, I got a form rejection letter. I wouldn't read too much into the time being spent at a publisher. Sometimes, they are able to get to smaller stories because of time constraints, sometimes they get the longer ones out. It all depends. Mine normally last around 20 days there.

Varies between 1 and 4 weeks for me.

Strange Horizons is especially difficult to duotroperize because they assign stories to different readers based on a complex algorithm that effectively guarantees they won't be read in the order received.

I agree. But, I think I got the system figured out. After 30 days, you should expect the slush reader to read it. If they think it's good, it goes onto the editor's desk for about another 30 days.

Reason I know this is because my first one got flat rejected by "First Reader," but the others have had "send us more stuff" by the editor.

And when I said I had a ton go out before me, they were first reader rejects. At least, that's waht I had with my experience.

63 days and counting.

*sigh* No news is no news. Unfortunately.

I shall just have to wait it out but just for interests sake - what kinds of things have been said in your personal rejections from BCS?

I've gotten a couple sentences of feedback per rejection--flaws prefaced by positives.

I've gotten a couple sentences of feedback per rejection--flaws prefaced by positives.

My experience has pretty much been the same as Marina's it seems. To take it a bit further: I've gotten feedback that I don't always agree with, but I'm very appreciative that they take the time to make it more personal.

I've never gotten advice back from them that I've agreed with for the story in question, but even that is invaluable information, nonetheless, because it tells me I missed the mark on what I thought they'd be interested in, and gives me a much better window on what they're looking for than the guidelines or back issues do. Of course, with as little fantasy as I write, it's probably going to be years before I put the knowledge I've gained to good use...

One I got back was "it was a bit too futuristic for our tastes." That was the only thing they said wrong about it, which kind of shocked me.

Why would that be shocking? They publish secondary world fantasy. Anything with more advanced tech in it wouldn't be appropriate for that market. It's easy to see the kind of stories they like by reading the magazine (they also state it pretty clearly in their guidelines).

My rejections from them are generally a few positive sentences with a caveat attached of why it wasn't right for them. I don't worry about it too much. Eventually I'll write something that fits with what they need and is good enough to stick. That's the way of these things.

Why would that be shocking? They publish secondary world fantasy. Anything with more advanced tech in it wouldn't be appropriate for that market. It's easy to see the kind of stories they like by reading the magazine (they also state it pretty clearly in their guidelines).

My rejections from them are generally a few positive sentences with a caveat attached of why it wasn't right for them. I don't worry about it too much. Eventually I'll write something that fits with what they need and is good enough to stick. That's the way of these things.

I guess I was more surprised it fit into Urban Fantasy than anything else.

The latest slush update from BCS says:

All submissions to Beneath Ceaseless Skies sent on or before Apr. 16, 2013 have now been replied to.

I sent my story on Mar 3.
It doesn't look good.

I've sent a query as they suggest.

One I got back was "it was a bit too futuristic for our tastes." That was the only thing they said wrong about it, which kind of shocked me.

Yeah, I agree why shocking. They say they don't want UF. I forget the exact wording but it comes out that way.

I was a bit surprised because they are fantasy and usually fantasy markets take it all including UF but as I said they say so.

Of course they don't mind steampunk though or weird Westerns.

I'm waiting on them. But it's only been a month and one week or so. If it goes as usual I will be getting a rejection soon after this note. That seems to happen with them I say they seem to be taking longer than usual and in less than a week I have it.

One thing to keep in mind about BCS is that setting is of utmost importance. They want "secondary world," so anything that's urban fantasy is probably not a good bet. Sci-fi in the usual genre tropes probably isn't a good fit, either, although they don't explicitly say they don't want either.

Still nothing. My last story had some "Secondary World" setting but so did three or more others I sent in. That doesn't help me much even if I had that part down perfect for them.

Okay, got it, only took them a little bit longer than the last two I sent...or so I think.

Time to pick another story for that one too.

How long a wait was it? I have a story there at 36 days.

How long a wait was it? I have a story there at 36 days.

Mine went into a black hole. It was there for 90+ days or something. I had to send a query.

How long a wait was it? I have a story there at 36 days.

Mine went into a black hole. It was there for 90+ days or something. I had to send a query.

Duly noted.

How long a wait was it? I have a story there at 36 days.

I sent it in May 11, I received the rejection June 16 or was it the 17th, oh well close enough.

I said it took a bit longer but I estimated that.

I recently got a nice personal from BCS at 41 days.

IMHO, BCS is a plum of a market. Something like 75% of their rejections are personals. They make you feel all warm and fuzzy so you almost don't care that they didn't buy your story. Almost.

I recently got a nice personal from BCS at 41 days.

IMHO, BCS is a plum of a market. Something like 75% of their rejections are personals. They make you feel all warm and fuzzy so you almost don't care that they didn't buy your story. Almost.

Didn't know it was only 75% that got a personal note. But they are not all warm and fuzzy. The one I received a couple of months ago was pretty much negative, of course it was short too but still. But the one I got this week was significantly more positive.

I'm at 40 days right now, so expect to see my rejection e-mail shortly.

Rats, I don't have another one for them. I thought I did but couldn't find it if I do.

I don't know why but that is one of the Magazines I really want to be published in--I would take any pro and a couple of semi-pro magazines but this one is on the top of my list. Fantasy and Science Fiction--even though no one here ever talks about them--is one also. Asimov's is up there but not so much Analog. IGMS might be on the bottom of the list.

Maybe it's the stories I've read in BCS or just the way they present themselves of because I know writers who have gotten in .

Got back my latest rejection from them, at least this time they had one positive thing to say. Not bad for a short.