Sister Night, Sister Moon

[cathschaffstump]

This time, the rejection was because the story was not dark enough for the anthology. The story worked for the editor until the ending, and I can buy that. I became antsy about getting it done, rather than letting the thing take some time and letting my subconscious puzzle it out, which is ALWAYS my best strategy. (Watch the Type A personality fight the inner artist. Go on! You know you want to!)

Again, encouraging words:

I am not going to accept this story because I don't think it quite fits with the darker tone of the other stories I am looking at... and that's the only reason that I am not going to accept it. If I were doing a different anthology I would just ask for a rewrite of the ending...

What have we learned, author buddies? Both the take home message for me with this rejection and with Delirium has been, "this is good, but it's not what we want." So...with careful work, we get the good work to the right person. Your market research, when you can do it, is essential.

Both Cat Scratch and Delirium still each have one. We're still a contender. :)

Catherine

Comments

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

Rejection letters are still rejection letters, though. I don't know if people ever get so blasé about them that they can just let them roll off their backs. I actually kept my first rejection letter for a long time, just as a reminder: what we think is perfect doesn't always work for everyone else. What we think is pretty good doesn't necessarily ever work for anyone else.

I like your lesson about listening to your intuition, though. I've read story after story that feels like it was rushed to be finished, and that always shows. You know you're good at your craft. There are hundreds of thousands of people who are good at this craft. Learning to listen, being true to what you want instead of what you feel like you have to do in a hurry... these are things that set excellent writers apart from the merely good ones.

Or something. I'm babbling. Writer's prerogative.

[cathschaffstump.livejournal.com]

It really is goal driven!Catherine fighting with artist!Catherine every time on that issue.

However, artist!Catherine gets a rematch every time she revises, and/or an editor calls her on it. I just gotta get goal driven!Catherine to listen more.

Maybe if I whack her on the nose with a rolled up newspaper from time to time...

Are you sending stuff out now?

Catherine

[in-the-blue.livejournal.com]

No, I'm not sending stuff out now. I might start again at some point, though. When the mood strikes me and I feel both sufficiently thick-skinned and wildly creative.