But for every barb, there is a bouquet. And that came in the form of the absolute best rejection I've received to date. This is a true gem and it was almost better than getting accepted. Here it is:
Dear
Aaron,
Unfortunately,
your submission, "Little Bone Joey" has not been accepted to be included in the
anthology. I really would like to thank you, however, for your
consideration to be a part of this project.
I appreciate
the amount of time and work that you invested in this story and I am certain
that you will be able to find a publisher for this elsewhere.
Technically you
have written a nice story and I enjoyed reading it. Please know that I am not
rejecting this work due to any flaw of your own ability.
Aaron, I hate
to have to pass on this submission. Yours is one of those stories that, if I had
more room in the book, would definitely be in. I liked this story a lot and it's
been at the top of my consideration list since I received it. I particularly
enjoy the uniqueness of your plot - it's thoughtful, intriguing, and told
through a powerful voice in your character, Joey. You have a great talent for
emotional and descriptive prose.
Unfortunately,
I simply received a number of other stories which also held positive attributes
of their own. Due to the sheer volume of submissions, I am only able to select a
small amount which most closely matches the overall character of the
anthology.
I received
about 350 submissions for this anthology. The final Table of Contents, though
not yet finished, will probably number about 26 - 29 stories.
I learned a new
term that was shared with me in a rejection I recently received, and I think
it's appropriate for me to share with you. For my anthology, I received an
"embarrassment of riches." Meaning, I received SO many fantastic stories from SO
many fantastic authors that it is truly embarrassing to have to tell most I
cannot accept their writing for this book. This includes friends, peers, and
authors such as yourself, whose strength of writing and accomplishments far
surpass my own.
Keep writing -
You have gained a fan in me, and I look forward to reading more material from
you in the future.
Warm
regards
Wow. A writer, by default, must have skin thick enough to absorb rejection. They cannot get discouraged. They must persevere if they are to have any measure of success. Reading such a note re-established my faith in the publishing industry. This is the anti-form rejection. It truly made my day. Thank you, dear editor. You rock. That felt like a daub of salve on this thick skin.
