It’s like *Rejection City* around these parts. Three stories that had been with Woman’s Weekly for over three months all winged their way back over the last few days. That’s a grand total of 17 rejections.
My road to Woman’s Weekly has been bumpy. It was around my eighth submission I got my hopes up. On the 17th March 2010 at 11.23 a.m precisely, after four months with Woman’s Weekly, one of my stories came back with a lovely letter saying they liked my writing and would like to see more of it. Although they added that –sorry, it’s a ‘NO’ this time, I still danced a little. Well wiggled my head in excitement. I thought I’d finally got somewhere. But since then it’s been rejection after rejection.
I was even more frustrated this time, as the stories came back in a different order than how I sent them out. Talk about give a girl false hope.
I refuse to give up, though. They don’t get rid of me that easily! Perseverance and determination is the key. I just wish I could find the blinking door.
In other news:
Novel: I’m galloping along with my new novel and loving it; hovering presently at 25,000 words. I’m convinced I learnt a lot from writing FMIAB and I’m hopefully not making the same mistakes with my new novel, although time will tell. The biggest difference is I have my plot summarized chapter by chapter, whereas I let FMIAB lead me. It’s making a huge difference.
A210 Open University: My Approaching Literature course is drawing to an end. I've completed my assignments and have a 3 hour exam to do. I should be revising right this minute, but seem to be continually finding things to do to avert it – hence the blog post! Next year is my final year – and then I’ll be in proud possession of an English Literature Degree – well that’s if I pass the scary exam!
Bye for now x
23 comments:
Rejections are so hard Mandy aren't they? But it's all part of it unfortunately. We have to develop thick enough skins to deal with it, but it's not easy. Take care and well done on all your achievements so far - many more to come! x
Keep trying with Woman's Weekly. You will get there in the end.
Rejections are acceptances that haven't happened yet.
Or so we keep telling ourselves! You will crack WW - just keep bombarding them with your fab stories and they'll eventually crack :o))
I hope I'll still be good enough to talk to you when you've got that English degree!
Bad luck with WW but you're doing really well on your other projects.
It's so annoying when there's one particular mag you just can't seem to get into however hard you try. Mine is TaB. I'd just like to do it once and I'd be happy!
Hugs, but...
Wasn't it after 17 rejections you cracked TaB? So next one to WW might be THE one!
xxPat
Never give up! Never surrender!!
Good luck with breaking the WW barrier and with your Open Uni course too! sounds good!!! All the best! x
You will PASS Ms Allsorts! Keep smiling now :-)))) TFx
Oh commiserations. I got 3 stories back from Woman's Weekly on Saturday too!
Good luck with the other MS's. :O)
As someone said to me, don't think of it as a rejection, think of it as a resubmission opportunity. Go for it!
I think blogger ate my comment?!
As someone once said to me, don't think of it as a rejection, think of it a resubmission opportunity. Good luck.
I'm glad you posted this, we all feel the pain. Keep looking at the T.A.B. acceptance letters to keep focused. Never give up Mandy, you're a writer.
Thank you, FP. I’ve had so many, like everyone else, I should be used to it by now, but they still sting! But, as you say, they are all part of being a writer. X
I hope so Helen. I would so love to crack them – and then sell them LOTS like you! :-)
I will never stop talking to you, Karen! HA – you thought you had your get out clause there, didn’t you?! :-)
Thank you, Joanne. I’m sure you will crack TaB. Just never give up - that's my motto!
Ooh yes, it was 17, Pat. So does that mean they will buy my next story? and that 18 is my lucky number?! Wouldn’t it be weird if it was!? – and VERY exciting of course.
Hee hee, Old Kitty – I’ll certainly go down fighting! X
YAY, hello there TF – hope you are well. :-)))
Yes, I think WW were clearing their desks last week, Madeleine. Commiserations on your returns too, we just have to keep on trying, don’t we!
Ooh, I seem to have both your comments, Debs :-) And that’s exactly right they are resubmission opportunities! In fact,I’ve resubmitted one of the stories already and changed a fair few things. Sometimes, I think, the stories go out in better form the second time.
Yes, we are certainly not alone with our rejections, Suzy. When you think how many of us are submitting and how few fiction slots there are – it’s not surprising we get our stories back. I guess, though, that makes the acceptances all the sweeter.
Sorry to hear about the rejections but hopefully they will find a home somewhere else. Good luck.
Rejection is part of the job of being a writer even thought it's tough on the heart.
Having said that it doesn't make it any easier, I know.
Well done, with all your achievements
It's funny how one particular market often proves difficult to crack. Mine is My Weekly and unless they start taking unsolicited mss I never will.
Good luck with your OU.
Thanks Colette :-)
I must admit my skin is getting thicker, Jarmara!
I have two, Gail - WW and PF. I've given up on PF for now - but still desperate to crack WW!
Hello Amanda! Sorry for the late visit, but good timing for me to read your post. Feeling a little better now, as I am finding it a challenge to get Woman's Weekly to accept my fiction. Actually the UK for that matter, as I have been trying to get into Fiction Feast as well! I will not give up tho. Rejection not so fun, hey? Well done on your other projects. x
Fine and dandy Ms Allsorts :-))) (I've set up a new blog. Hmmm, sortof ;-) DABx previously known as TFx)
WW are very hard to crack, Diane! And rejections are really dreadful - I've actually had nine on the trot now so particularly fed up! :-( x
Woo - hoo - that's great news DAB - coming over now ready or not! x
Hmmm, I fear it may not be you cup of tea, no words you see! ;-) Hope your writing is going well :) Dx
I think it's brilliant D :-)) Wish I could comment to say so - whoops - those word-things keep getting in the way! :-) x
Thanks :) Hmmm, I may succumb to a few words from time to time.
Now talking of words I can't hear your keybord tapping. Slacking again? Shame on you woman! tap... tap.... tap.... ;-) Dx
I'll look forward to reading them, DAB x
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