Rejection #35: Nanosim

L,

Thanks for submitting. I'm going to pass on this one, but please do try me again.

Best,
Ben

Comment: Had forgotten I'd submitted here. Oh well.

Rejection #34: Daily Science Fiction

Thank you for submitting your story, "Kill the Witch", to Daily Science Fiction. Unfortunately, we have decided not to publish it. To date, we have reviewed many strong stories that we did not take. Either the fit was wrong or we'd just taken tales with a similar theme or any of a half dozen other reasons.

Best success selling this story elsewhere.

- Jonathan & Michele, Daily Science Fiction

Comment: I really liked this story and thought it had a chance. Oh well.

Rejection #33: Apex Magazine

Dear L Lambert,

We regret to inform you that your story "Cold Revenge" does not currently meet our needs. We're going to pass.

Apex wishes you future writing successes, and to try us again soon.

Sincerely,

The Apex Team

Note: Because they use HeyPublisher!, I can see that between the opening of my story and the rejection, two minutes elapsed. There's a lesson there for me.  

Rejection #32: Daily Science Fiction

Lawrence,

Thank you for submitting your story, "The Brick and Prince Prick", to Daily Science Fiction. Unfortunately, we have decided not to publish it. To date, we have reviewed many strong stories that we did not take. Either the fit was wrong or we'd just taken tales with a similar theme or any of a half dozen other reasons.

Best success selling this story elsewhere.

- Jonathan & Michele, Daily Science Fiction

Rejection #31: Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Thanks very much for sending this story to _Beneath Ceaseless Skies_. Unfortunately, it's not quite right for us.  I liked the set-up of Elisabet's situation and the feel that she was being unfairly adjudicated, but when the story jumped to the township and Elisabet as Ice Queen, with the long jumps in time, I lost my earlier feel for her goals and stakes and personality as a character.

I appreciate your interest in our magazine.  Please feel free to submit again.

Regards,

Scott H. Andrews
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
_Beneath Ceaseless Skies_
http://beneath-ceaseless-skies.com

Notes: HEY! A PERSONALIZED REJECTION! That's almost like getting accepted.

Rejection #30 Hippocampus

Thank you for sending us "Survival of the Fiction". We appreciated the chance to read it; however, we are unable to accept your submission at this time. We wish you the best of luck finding a home for it.

Thanks again for your interest in Hippocampus. We hope you will consider submitting to us again in the future.

All the best,
Hippocampus Magazine
http://www.hippocampusmagazine.com

Note: Non-Paying Market Rejections Really Sting

Rejection #29: Daily SF

Lawrence,

Thank you for submitting your story, "Where the Lights Go", to Daily Science Fiction. Unfortunately, we have decided not to publish it. To date, we have reviewed many strong stories that we did not take. Either the fit was wrong or we'd just taken tales with a similar theme or any of a half dozen other reasons.

Best success selling this story elsewhere.

- Jonathan & Michele, Daily Science Fiction

Rejection #28: Clarkesworld

Dear Lawrence,

Thank you for the opportunity to read "Where the Lights Go." Unfortunately, your story isn't quite what we're looking for right now. Each month, we receive hundreds of submissions and while I may like many of them, I can only publish twelve of them per year.

In the past, we've provided detailed feedback on our rejections, but I'm afraid that due to time considerations, we're no longer able to offer that service. I appreciate your interest in Clarkesworld Magazine and hope that you'll keep us in mind in the future.

Take care,

Neil Clarke
Publisher/Editor
Clarkesworld Magazine
www.clarkesworldmagazine.com

Rejection 27: Fantasy Magazine

Dear Lawrence,

Thanks for submitting this story, but I'm going to pass on it. It didn't quite work for me, I'm afraid. Best of luck to you placing this one elsewhere, and thanks again for sending it my way.

Sincerely,
John Joseph Adams
Editor
Fantasy Magazine
www.fantasy-magazine.com

More form letters.

Rejection 26: F&SF Magazine

They rejected "Where the Lights Go" with the same form letter as my earlier F&SF stories were rejected.

One of these days, a personal note on a rejection is going to feel like acceptance. The rejections for this story suck a bit more than the others because I feel like it is one of the best I've written. Makes me think: Am I any good at this? I won't ever give up, but not giving up is definitely difficult.