Rejected!

Rejection is never easy--especially when you put your heart and soul into something. Over time, I've learned to grow thicker skin, but it's still frustrating to send a short story in the mail and then receive a rejection. My latest story wasn't even out in the mail longer than a week and a half. Such a fast rejection, and one that's a form letter, makes it even harder because you ask yourself: Did they spend about 30 seconds on reading my story? The truth is that the magazine probably gets about 800+ submissions per month and they need to screen through these as quickly as they can. Am I happy about that? No, I'm not, but there isn't much of a choice I have.

So... I'll be repackaging the story and sending it back out again in the hopes that I'll have better luck elsewhere. Honestly, though--I have made more money on freelance writing this past year in writing "how to" technology articles and gaming articles. My fiction just isn't selling. I'm bummed out by that, but the reality of the situation is that the market is tight and competition is fierce. I'll keep trying, but sometimes I feel as though I'm banging against a wall and I've not made a dent.

For you fellow writers out there, take heart: This is the reality of writing. Even after all my education, writing, practice, and networking, I still haven't been able to break into the fiction market. Obviously, I can't count on fiction sales for an income as I'm in the negative (when you factor in the mailing costs and the like). I still won't give up. Later today I'll do some research and get my story out for another magazine. Just wanted to share the story of my rejection. Peace.