Putting the SUB in Submissions

Photo by Shansby, Creative Commons

Well, after half a year of neglecting my short story submissions, I’m back on the wagon…er, submarine, umm…whatever. I sent out 7 short stories this week, and have already gotten my first rejection! I’d forgotten how much I’d look for any traces of personalization in those little painful notes. My mind starts racing around positive comments, wondering if they really “loved my writing” and thought my story was full of whimsy or was that something they just say about every author whose dreams they just shattered?

Oh writer’s neurosis, how I’ve missed you.

None of it matters, I know. I’ve certainly had enough stories published that I shouldn’t have to go soul searching after the receipt of each and every rejection slip. And as an editor, I know that time is precious, and opinions are subjective, and stories can be perfectly awesome without being a perfect fit for a particular market.

I’ve probably sent out almost a hundred rejections for Drabblecast by now (all form, mind you, and I’m still running behind), but it still kinda sucks to get one. But for all the variations of rejections out there — form, personalized, semi-personalized, didn’t-want-to-waste-a-full-sheet-of-paper-on-you, missed-it-by-that-much, Dear Author…–there are only three truths to the submissions game:

1. You can’t win if you don’t play.

2. No means no. Nothing more, nothing less.

3. If they ask to see more, they mean it.

And there you have it. Now, if you need me, I’ll be at my inbox, pressing the refresh button twelve times per minute. How’s the game treating you this year?