tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post1379147914512386747..comments2024-03-25T17:56:01.825-04:00Comments on Insecure Writer's Support Group: Competition Among WritersAlex J. Cavanaughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-22249391079476036282019-08-06T15:46:13.940-04:002019-08-06T15:46:13.940-04:00I like the way you put it. There are so many good ...I like the way you put it. There are so many good writers out there, but I guess we need to be great to stand out.Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-11351818247050923792019-08-05T20:41:00.011-04:002019-08-05T20:41:00.011-04:00That's definitely a different way to look at r...That's definitely a different way to look at rejection.Patricia JLhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17582005500429122486noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-51636986078788395952019-08-05T00:31:28.156-04:002019-08-05T00:31:28.156-04:00W ell that certainly puts a different spin on reje...W ell that certainly puts a different spin on rejection. You can't choose them all so you some perfectly good ones get thrown on the slush pile. It isn't personal, a story may be very very good. Thank you for this perspective.Kalpanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02503951641129389045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-57706290511276672932019-08-02T16:18:49.320-04:002019-08-02T16:18:49.320-04:00It's all so subjective, though never easy to t...It's all so subjective, though never easy to take rejection.<br /><br />Have a great Friday and weekend, my dear.Rawknrobyn.blogspot.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15997241410192066577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-18323082558913964862019-08-02T13:57:29.116-04:002019-08-02T13:57:29.116-04:00So true about the competition, Elizabeth. I guess ...So true about the competition, Elizabeth. I guess if anyone enjoys our work we should be pleased. It's such a jam-packed field and there's only so many stories a publisher can accept.cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-73349399538929918902019-08-02T08:08:45.628-04:002019-08-02T08:08:45.628-04:00We also have to bear in mind that while writing is...We also have to bear in mind that while writing is an art, publishing is a business, and publishers have to look out for their bottom line. Susan Appleyardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319960586055336017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-73590796224422760812019-08-01T18:45:01.120-04:002019-08-01T18:45:01.120-04:00Difficult. Long-shot. Steep odds. I get all that.
...Difficult. Long-shot. Steep odds. I get all that.<br />But I prefer to leave "brutal" out of it. Just my take. Writers help each other so much, that somehow that word rings wrong. Mirka Breenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00653086859905415156noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-84976963475918386912019-08-01T16:05:08.153-04:002019-08-01T16:05:08.153-04:00I think writing is one of the most difficult caree...I think writing is one of the most difficult careers available. Rejection sucks. <br />And even after you've found a home for your work, there's sales (or a lack thereof:).I try to go with the attitude that our books are up against millions, so even when sales aren't as high as we would like, every time you sell a book its a good thing.<br />Great post:)Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-24917966121175650182019-07-31T23:33:39.525-04:002019-07-31T23:33:39.525-04:00Interesting perspective on rejection. Rejection hu...Interesting perspective on rejection. Rejection hurts. However, by putting ourselves in the shoes of the slush readers and editors rejecting our stories, we gain a different take on the process. <br /><br />I wonder how many editors reject a story only to see that story win a major award. Actually, that question was asked to Neil Clarke at this year's Boskone. <br /><br />His answer was twofold:<br />1. I can only publish so many stories a month in my magazine.<br />2. I try to publish what I know my readers like although sometimes I will put a story which may not fit my readership's tastes but, I feel they will enjoy. <br /><br />Great article, Elizabeth.Ingmar Albizuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01329625581962664673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-1824870815793024152019-07-31T18:59:28.119-04:002019-07-31T18:59:28.119-04:00A mind-opening post - thanks, Elizabeth. I've ...A mind-opening post - thanks, Elizabeth. I've reached the point where I hardly submit anything - just the IWSG Anthology and one or two others. I reject my own stories on days when I don't think they are brilliant. Insecure, yes. But also perseverance, encouraged by posts like yours.Roland Clarkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03302133565980901397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-30453336840536593722019-07-31T12:23:42.065-04:002019-07-31T12:23:42.065-04:00Excellent perspective - Thank you!Excellent perspective - Thank you!diedre Knighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12772557495518846226noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-53903115686350763162019-07-31T09:15:30.775-04:002019-07-31T09:15:30.775-04:00On one hand, it's more difficult to choose bet...On one hand, it's more difficult to choose between good and best, but on the other hand, what a terrific problem to have, when the overall writing quality is that good!Lynda Dietzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15442214431341019380noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-73753881440265619532019-07-31T07:18:40.105-04:002019-07-31T07:18:40.105-04:00It's hard when you have to say no to a good st...It's hard when you have to say no to a good story.L. Diane Wolfehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06425864276166334896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-16423234684609984652019-07-31T05:35:57.298-04:002019-07-31T05:35:57.298-04:00True, you just can't choose them all.True, you just can't choose them all.Pat Hatthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07745293224202430152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-92036359349307716052019-07-31T02:16:58.665-04:002019-07-31T02:16:58.665-04:00Good stories are rejected simply because you can&#...Good stories are rejected simply because you can't choose them all. Now that's a comforting thought for authors who put their heart and soul into their work. <br />This means that authors are 'upping their game' and tons of good stories are flooding the markets. Food for thought.Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-37973542904282282412019-07-30T23:41:03.970-04:002019-07-30T23:41:03.970-04:00Most interesting to read, rejections isn't ver...Most interesting to read, rejections isn't very pleasant in any circumstances especially if you've worked hard with your writing.<br />Here's wishing everyone success.<br /><br />Yvonnenashvillecats2https://www.blogger.com/profile/02326956741209246895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-31282415946832346072019-07-30T19:52:45.991-04:002019-07-30T19:52:45.991-04:00That's so true. I don't like dealing with ...That's so true. I don't like dealing with rejection, but I know what it's like to have to choose between some amazing stories. Which one is the best fit? That is really what it comes down to ... and it's still a tough choice. <br />Thanks for your thoughts on this, Elizabeth!Tyrean Martinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15356604721537744361noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-64482447496433965852019-07-30T19:41:00.596-04:002019-07-30T19:41:00.596-04:00I am one of those who judges a book by its cover. ...I am one of those who judges a book by its cover. So that is how I chose. And I'm sure I miss some good ones because their covers aren't as good.Alex J. Cavanaughhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09770065693345181702noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3136420115688099157.post-61579368684544225952019-07-30T19:14:54.356-04:002019-07-30T19:14:54.356-04:00OMG I so feel ya. Since we started producing the ...OMG I so feel ya. Since we started producing the Grumpy Old Gods anthologies we get over a hundred submissions for each. <br /><br />We have been lucky in one sense that we have received a lot of great stories, but we can choose only 11 to 12. The first G1 we felt so mean sending out the rejection letters but we invited them to resubmit to the next one, and they did, lol, almost all that were invited. <br /><br />So to save some time we realized we were getting enough for more than one anthology, so if it fits the next anthology, we made them an offer on that one. That is how we created Vol. 4 which will publish in November. We will be putting the call out for Vol. 5 in August, which has a tentative publish date of January and yes one or two stories already accepted. <br /><br />Being on the other end definitely gives you a whole new take and perspective on rejection and being rejected. I don't feel so bad now oddly enough. I don't know if that will last but for now, I have made peace with the thought. <br /><br /><br /><br /> Juneta keyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08815758043024184034noreply@blogger.com