Writerly Ways
As of today I'm three for three on my shortlisted short stories, three rejections. Ah well. On the other hand, all three spent a lot of time telling me their whole selection process and inviting me to do others things with their presses (to be first in on the next anthology, to be interviewed for their press, to send to their featured stories). So that definitely helps with the sting.
How do you deal with the sting of rejection? I know I've asked this before but eh, new year, new thoughts and new people following me. Of course, this is a YMMV situation even from one rejection to the next. Some you really and truly wanted to be part of (that mafia horror for example), others you figure you aren't getting in (the Michael Bailey and Chuck Palahniuk thing which I have NOT been rejected from yet), and then the type of rejection you get. The above mentioned ones were so nice it's hard to be upset about it.
Other times you get the routine rejection, just a short no. There's nothing wrong with it but it is impersonal. Or how about that 30 minute rejection? That stings because you know they didn't read it. Or the truly worse, the one that rejections for things not even in your story (Yes Weird Tales, 30 years later I'm STILL looking at you because your editor sent a snotty, denigrating letter about how dumb I was to miss the fact your FAQ sheet said no werewolves and I sent a werewolf story. There wasn't werewolf one in my story. I did learn later this editor was an infamous douche)
I do what I need to do with rejections. I take note of the ones who offer me other opportunities and I move on.
OPEN CALLS
Dracula Beyond Stoker Issue 7 Speaking of rejections, this one rejected one of mine for an earlier call (also after being short listed) but asked me to write more but I hesitate only because they are specifically Dracula related so the market is narrow if they say no.
Plott Hound Magazine Animal-centric speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror)
The Other Stories Eldritch
34 Orchard 2025 Window Dark, intense pieces that speak to a deeper truth. We’re not genre-specific; we just like scary, disturbing, unsettling, and sad
Eye to the Telescope #56 Theme: Plants (poems)
Fraidy Cat Quarterly Volume 5 Theme: Paranoia
Fairy Tale Magazine: 2025 January Window Seeking Sleeping Beauty tales and poems
January 2025 Window For Novel Submissions Theme: Unpublished speculative Fiction novels, ideally with series potential.
10 Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions in January 2025
Frivolous Comma: Now Seeking Anthology Submissions speculative mysteries
From Around the Web
Writing Multiple Perspective in Three Easy Steps
9 Reasons Why I Love Having My Newsletter on Substack
Writer’s Resolution 2025: Change Your Story
The Art of Custom Book Sleeves: Protecting and Enhancing Your Book’s Design
Capitalization Rules for Titles and Chapters
How To Get Book Reviews
The Other Side of the Desk: Collected Interviews
From Betty
Five Horror Clichés Waiting to Be Broken
Finishing Strong with Aspects of the Novel
3 Tips for a Writer to Remember When Making Goals
How Writers Can Beat Creative Burnout
Avoid the Mistake of Over Writing by Remembering These Things
Simplify Your Writing Life This New Year with These 10 Tips
How do you deal with the sting of rejection? I know I've asked this before but eh, new year, new thoughts and new people following me. Of course, this is a YMMV situation even from one rejection to the next. Some you really and truly wanted to be part of (that mafia horror for example), others you figure you aren't getting in (the Michael Bailey and Chuck Palahniuk thing which I have NOT been rejected from yet), and then the type of rejection you get. The above mentioned ones were so nice it's hard to be upset about it.
Other times you get the routine rejection, just a short no. There's nothing wrong with it but it is impersonal. Or how about that 30 minute rejection? That stings because you know they didn't read it. Or the truly worse, the one that rejections for things not even in your story (Yes Weird Tales, 30 years later I'm STILL looking at you because your editor sent a snotty, denigrating letter about how dumb I was to miss the fact your FAQ sheet said no werewolves and I sent a werewolf story. There wasn't werewolf one in my story. I did learn later this editor was an infamous douche)
I do what I need to do with rejections. I take note of the ones who offer me other opportunities and I move on.
OPEN CALLS
Dracula Beyond Stoker Issue 7 Speaking of rejections, this one rejected one of mine for an earlier call (also after being short listed) but asked me to write more but I hesitate only because they are specifically Dracula related so the market is narrow if they say no.
Plott Hound Magazine Animal-centric speculative fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror)
The Other Stories Eldritch
34 Orchard 2025 Window Dark, intense pieces that speak to a deeper truth. We’re not genre-specific; we just like scary, disturbing, unsettling, and sad
Eye to the Telescope #56 Theme: Plants (poems)
Fraidy Cat Quarterly Volume 5 Theme: Paranoia
Fairy Tale Magazine: 2025 January Window Seeking Sleeping Beauty tales and poems
January 2025 Window For Novel Submissions Theme: Unpublished speculative Fiction novels, ideally with series potential.
10 Manuscript Publishers Open to Submissions in January 2025
Frivolous Comma: Now Seeking Anthology Submissions speculative mysteries
From Around the Web
Writing Multiple Perspective in Three Easy Steps
9 Reasons Why I Love Having My Newsletter on Substack
Writer’s Resolution 2025: Change Your Story
The Art of Custom Book Sleeves: Protecting and Enhancing Your Book’s Design
Capitalization Rules for Titles and Chapters
How To Get Book Reviews
The Other Side of the Desk: Collected Interviews
From Betty
Five Horror Clichés Waiting to Be Broken
Finishing Strong with Aspects of the Novel
3 Tips for a Writer to Remember When Making Goals
How Writers Can Beat Creative Burnout
Avoid the Mistake of Over Writing by Remembering These Things
Simplify Your Writing Life This New Year with These 10 Tips