The Write Idea

[Wanda]

Passing on a bit of editor weirdness.

Was recently shocked by a rejection on a piece I felt quite confident about. It is a short (tweaked and expanded from a 6-wk, 6-challenge here on TWI) titled "Roses and Peppermint Candy."

A character in the story dies. And her death is paramount to the story plot.

The editor of the magazine Untied Shoelaces of the Mind, which I have removed from my submission list, and not just because of this rejection, but also because of his pages of self-loving inlcuded on the website, wrote this:

This story really isn't right for our readers. I don't know what kind of person wants to read a story like this. I mean, you've got boy meets girl, things are going great, then whammi, one gets run over by a car.

Don't get me wrong, I've collected a box full of rejections. This goes with the territory. But good grief, isn't it the author's choice if a character dies or not. The editor's attitude blew me away.

So as a test, I sent him a upbeat "county fair" piece. A form rejection followed stating the editor didn't like it enough.

Wow...
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Featured Author bio: https://sites.google.com/site/unmaskingmswizard/featured-authors/wanda-morrow-clevenger

[flirtybee]

Interesting, as I'd sent them a couple of pieces too.

One was okay, and that got a form rejection.

The other was a bit darker. It got cut to pieces that were all individual tastes of the editor.

And then that rejection asked for more ...
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sometimes impossibility is only a state of mind, and yes, dammit, I do mind! -DP

The increase of disorder or entropy is what distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction to time - Stephen Hawking

[Wanda]

I hope him a long and fulfilling career publishing himself.
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Featured Author bio: https://sites.google.com/site/unmaskingmswizard/featured-authors/wanda-morrow-clevenger

[womble]

Here's a funny rejection I got from Northern Frights Publishing today. They initially sent a rejection letter for an anthology I hadn't submitted to:

"Seems I sent the wrong form rejection by mistake. It was intended for your 'Fallen' Submission. I apologise for the mixup."

W
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http://chaucers-uncle.weebly.com/
www.paulfreeman.weebly.com

Read my top five story from the National newpaper's annual short story competition:
http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/short-story-a-day-for-decisiveness

[Wanda]

Well, they are only human.

I recently got a rejection on the poem I submitted, but hadn't. I submitted a 6000+ fiction piece.

I replied to same and was told they'd look into it.
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Featured Author bio: https://sites.google.com/site/unmaskingmswizard/featured-authors/wanda-morrow-clevenger

[QBall]

[Wanda]

haha!
Correction, all are technically human. At least I hope they are. Just a couple I've encountered this year are a mite tactless.
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Featured Author bio: https://sites.google.com/site/unmaskingmswizard/featured-authors/wanda-morrow-clevenger