"But the aliens and the repentance scene killed it"
Bummers travel in tribes of three. I got a new rejection today for "In the Belly of the Whale." It was nice, in that it was another personal rejection and the editor told me what worked and didn't work for them (the afforementioned aliens and the repentance scene) but I'd be lying if it doesn't sting. "In the Belly of the Whale" is an updated version of the Biblical story of Jonah, except this time around he's a wannabe serial killer and instead of getting swallowed by a whale (excuse me, a giant fish), he gets abducted by aliens. It's supposed to be funny. Kind of.
This time, I tried to sell it to a market called Coach's Midnight Diner, a Christian anthology that wants sci-fi/fantasy/horror that isn't packs an edge (I'm a little frustrated at not taking a stab at writing the Jesus vs. Chutulu story) and is not sanitzed or watered-down. It sounded like something right up my alley, so I submitted it to them. Coach, the editor, called the "explicit nature" of the story "refreshing" and the protagonist mindset -- thinking everything is about his dick "poignant...as how many of us think the same thing?" But unfortunately "in the end, the aliens and the repentance scene killed it" for him. I can see maybe rewriting that last bit -- this is the second time I've got a personal rejection for this story. (and I worked it after the initial rejection). But I can't see cutting the aliens. Really, how else would God abduct a prophet these days? Some whales are an endangered species. Let's look to the stars! So I don't know -- I'm trying to decide whether or not to take another pass at this or try sending it out as is. There's quite a few markets that I'd consider.
bogwitch64 would ask, "Is this the story you set out to write?" If it's not there yet, it's pretty damn close.
I've got one story that's out at F&SF right now and another story I'm *very* close to sending out. I really don't want to kill the momentum.
Bah. That's enough whining for one post.
This time, I tried to sell it to a market called Coach's Midnight Diner, a Christian anthology that wants sci-fi/fantasy/horror that isn't packs an edge (I'm a little frustrated at not taking a stab at writing the Jesus vs. Chutulu story) and is not sanitzed or watered-down. It sounded like something right up my alley, so I submitted it to them. Coach, the editor, called the "explicit nature" of the story "refreshing" and the protagonist mindset -- thinking everything is about his dick "poignant...as how many of us think the same thing?" But unfortunately "in the end, the aliens and the repentance scene killed it" for him. I can see maybe rewriting that last bit -- this is the second time I've got a personal rejection for this story. (and I worked it after the initial rejection). But I can't see cutting the aliens. Really, how else would God abduct a prophet these days? Some whales are an endangered species. Let's look to the stars! So I don't know -- I'm trying to decide whether or not to take another pass at this or try sending it out as is. There's quite a few markets that I'd consider.
bogwitch64 would ask, "Is this the story you set out to write?" If it's not there yet, it's pretty damn close.
I've got one story that's out at F&SF right now and another story I'm *very* close to sending out. I really don't want to kill the momentum.
Bah. That's enough whining for one post.