Gee, This is Awkward
Your piece in Lit Mag X was all Oil Glow/Lick-Stick Skillz. I fell in love. So I asked you to submit to a Mag I edit, Lit Y. You did, kind soul. But that piece is only good, not Oil Glow/Lick-Stick Skillz. Now what do I do? Why?
Tags: Edit Ethics, literary magazines, Submissions
You tell them. There are too many lit mags and too many words around to not tell them. Tell them that you still love what they write – what they wrote on that occasion – but in the dreadful words of the rejection email (but hopefully rather more meaningful, in this case) “this one’s not right for us”.
You tell them the truth. Sometimes someone will stop talking to you–even if you’re crazy nice about it. Most other times, they’ll understand. It’s happened to me both ways. To my mind, an editor’s job is to publish the shit that makes us quake in our boots. Or at least do something other than pick our boogers and eat them.
You tell them. There are too many lit mags and too many words around to not tell them. Tell them that you still love what they write – what they wrote on that occasion – but in the dreadful words of the rejection email (but hopefully rather more meaningful, in this case) “this one’s not right for us”.
You tell them the truth. Sometimes someone will stop talking to you–even if you’re crazy nice about it. Most other times, they’ll understand. It’s happened to me both ways. To my mind, an editor’s job is to publish the shit that makes us quake in our boots. Or at least do something other than pick our boogers and eat them.
how about you stop projecting bullshit expectations on them. you asked, they complied but they didn’t give the response you desired.
why is that their fault?
how about you stop projecting bullshit expectations on them. you asked, they complied but they didn’t give the response you desired.
why is that their fault?
I find honesty to be the best policy. It’s difficult but most writers will understand liking but not loving something.
I find honesty to be the best policy. It’s difficult but most writers will understand liking but not loving something.
It’s getting sparky. I already like. Everyone drink more then respond. It is Friday.
I generally try to ask for specific pieces because I hate that feeling. Like, “Hey, you just read that at this reading that I am at. Has someone else taken it yet? Can I have it?” And then I tear the paper out of their hands and run home. Mainly though I like the accompanying picture a lot. I would like to be that girl. I would probably wear protective eyewear. I have not started drinking yet.
I generally try to ask for specific pieces because I hate that feeling. Like, “Hey, you just read that at this reading that I am at. Has someone else taken it yet? Can I have it?” And then I tear the paper out of their hands and run home. Mainly though I like the accompanying picture a lot. I would like to be that girl. I would probably wear protective eyewear. I have not started drinking yet.
She is wearing headgear, actually. ZOOM IN. I have a program that can zoom WAY into any photo printed in the universe, if you wanna talk to me. Buy me one beer and I will give you the program, done, is the way I feel. But if you are a mean person, the exchange changes: 300,000 beers for the program.
S
I am awesome, not mean. I would buy you a beer if you were here. Want to go dancing? Let’s go. Although, how far in can you zoom to some picture that’s probably 72 dpi?
I am awesome, not mean. I would buy you a beer if you were here. Want to go dancing? Let’s go. Although, how far in can you zoom to some picture that’s probably 72 dpi?
23 X, if I do the easy math?
agree. editors should just take more care in who they ask. basing it on multiple works—maybe over a span of years—not just one piece, would help.
agree. editors should just take more care in who they ask. basing it on multiple works—maybe over a span of years—not just one piece, would help.
‘And then I tear the paper out of their hands and run home.’
you’re funny.
‘And then I tear the paper out of their hands and run home.’
you’re funny.
if i had a dildo for every time some asked me for a dildo i’d have like thirty packs of dried sausages by now and those things are delicious so i guess i’d go with telling them, hey, it didn’t work out, let’s try again, i’ve got a whole box of condoms and time to kill with a shotgun like skeet before bird (for everything there is a) season
if i had a dildo for every time some asked me for a dildo i’d have like thirty packs of dried sausages by now and those things are delicious so i guess i’d go with telling them, hey, it didn’t work out, let’s try again, i’ve got a whole box of condoms and time to kill with a shotgun like skeet before bird (for everything there is a) season
I try usually.
Nerd?
I try usually.
Nerd?
PROSEXTIP: Don’t share sex toys. You can catch STIs from used dildos. The experts suggest that you even put condoms on your toys.
PROSEXTIP: Don’t share sex toys. You can catch STIs from used dildos. The experts suggest that you even put condoms on your toys.
dorks, you don’t have to zoom in. just look at the way her hair suddenly dips in dramatically toward the center of the back of her skull then gracefully cranes outward like a leaf or some crap. you can tell she has some sort of headband. and basing on the fact that the bottles are in such a nice order, which suggests a level of control, it is safe to guess she is wearing some sort of protective eyewear. deductive reasoning THAT, yall. that’s what you get when you request more drinking before responding.
dorks, you don’t have to zoom in. just look at the way her hair suddenly dips in dramatically toward the center of the back of her skull then gracefully cranes outward like a leaf or some crap. you can tell she has some sort of headband. and basing on the fact that the bottles are in such a nice order, which suggests a level of control, it is safe to guess she is wearing some sort of protective eyewear. deductive reasoning THAT, yall. that’s what you get when you request more drinking before responding.
What does “Oil Glow / Lick-Stick Skillz” mean? If you solicited me with this kind of request–not to presume you would–I would be absolutely baffled, and probably not respond.
What does “Oil Glow / Lick-Stick Skillz” mean? If you solicited me with this kind of request–not to presume you would–I would be absolutely baffled, and probably not respond.
I would like to point out that I didn’t say she wasn’t wearing protective eyewear. Only that I would do so, were I her. Way to assume I don’t trust that girl who’s throwing bottles at a wall to be safety-oriented.
I would like to point out that I didn’t say she wasn’t wearing protective eyewear. Only that I would do so, were I her. Way to assume I don’t trust that girl who’s throwing bottles at a wall to be safety-oriented.
oh, well you should just suck a dick then
oh, well you should just suck a dick then
Who the fuck are you talking to, Lovelace? Is this is a blog or yr Facebook page?
Who the fuck are you talking to, Lovelace? Is this is a blog or yr Facebook page?
And what if you do just that – base it on a few books and other assorted works you’ve really enjoyed and they send in your direction that story, the one that nobody has taken from them in six years but they still think is done and done up as well as everything else they’ve ever written? Or even something new they’ve just finished that just doesn’t have what every other story of theirs you’ve read have had.
I think as an editor you project bullshit expectations on every submission you open up, and if the writing doesn’t match up to what you plan on publishing in your journal, you say no thank you.
It is awkward when you’ve solicited people, and the no thank you should be handled differently than your standard no thank you to unsolicited material. You should also be smart enough to know that there’s a possibility that this could happen, and make things very clear when you solicit that while you’d love for them to send you a story (or poem, essay, etc.), that you’re a fan of the work of theirs, that the work is still going to have to be right for your journal/press.
And what if you do just that – base it on a few books and other assorted works you’ve really enjoyed and they send in your direction that story, the one that nobody has taken from them in six years but they still think is done and done up as well as everything else they’ve ever written? Or even something new they’ve just finished that just doesn’t have what every other story of theirs you’ve read have had.
I think as an editor you project bullshit expectations on every submission you open up, and if the writing doesn’t match up to what you plan on publishing in your journal, you say no thank you.
It is awkward when you’ve solicited people, and the no thank you should be handled differently than your standard no thank you to unsolicited material. You should also be smart enough to know that there’s a possibility that this could happen, and make things very clear when you solicit that while you’d love for them to send you a story (or poem, essay, etc.), that you’re a fan of the work of theirs, that the work is still going to have to be right for your journal/press.
(nodding)
uh, yes, what Dan said
i’ve had this happen a few times and certainly the rejection sucks to write but i’m not going to publish something that isn’t a good fit/not what i want
if someone solicits me and i don’t give them something they want, i won’t be pleased but certainly i’ll understand and try again. i have very little ego with that kind of thing…some would say not enough of one.
(nodding)
uh, yes, what Dan said
i’ve had this happen a few times and certainly the rejection sucks to write but i’m not going to publish something that isn’t a good fit/not what i want
if someone solicits me and i don’t give them something they want, i won’t be pleased but certainly i’ll understand and try again. i have very little ego with that kind of thing…some would say not enough of one.
you not read htmlg much or just stirring up stuff?
you not read htmlg much or just stirring up stuff?
I like Drew’s post.
CB, Mean Week is a while away.
[…] to add: Just read this from Sean over at HTML Giant. Yeah, good point: what of the rejections of solicitations? Those are […]
i have to say, i’m kind of afraid of soliciting straight from a reading. what if the pieces don’t read well on paper and it was just the reader’s way of reading it that made it work? or just the feeling of the audience, or the alcohol i just consumed?
i have to say, i’m kind of afraid of soliciting straight from a reading. what if the pieces don’t read well on paper and it was just the reader’s way of reading it that made it work? or just the feeling of the audience, or the alcohol i just consumed?
You should always explain that you are not promising acceptance when you solicit. This way it is 1) Much easier to reject and 2) Writers are more likely to send their better stuff.
If you asked me for lick stick glow oil or whatever I’d give you the thing that’s been rejected 100 times.
In my case it’s a piece of flash fiction called “Running the Drain.”
If anyone wants to read it they can solicit my work for their publication at carr.ba[at]gmail.com. But be sure to put Glow Lick Stick Oil in the subject line of your e-mail, or the solicitation will be deleted unread.
You should always explain that you are not promising acceptance when you solicit. This way it is 1) Much easier to reject and 2) Writers are more likely to send their better stuff.
If you asked me for lick stick glow oil or whatever I’d give you the thing that’s been rejected 100 times.
In my case it’s a piece of flash fiction called “Running the Drain.”
If anyone wants to read it they can solicit my work for their publication at carr.ba[at]gmail.com. But be sure to put Glow Lick Stick Oil in the subject line of your e-mail, or the solicitation will be deleted unread.
i got a piece that wasn’t exactly what i was expecting over at everyday genius and so i worked with the author to make it strong enough that i’d be real excited about it instead of it being strong enough that i thought it was real good but could be better.
otherwise i don’t know. i haven’t had that happen so i can only imagine my response. maybe a clip of some guy masturbating and then nothing happens and it makes a sad face and says THIS WAS FUN BUT BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME
probably not, but maybe.
i got a piece that wasn’t exactly what i was expecting over at everyday genius and so i worked with the author to make it strong enough that i’d be real excited about it instead of it being strong enough that i thought it was real good but could be better.
otherwise i don’t know. i haven’t had that happen so i can only imagine my response. maybe a clip of some guy masturbating and then nothing happens and it makes a sad face and says THIS WAS FUN BUT BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME
probably not, but maybe.
i don’t know. when i first saw “oil glow / lick-stick skillz” i seriously thought “penis picture, like an emailed picture of somebody’s penis, somebody has emailed him a picture of a penis”
which i guess would be awkward, if it wasn’t a nice penis, or if the penis was from somebody you didn’t want to imagine having a penis, or having the penis in question, or if you just don’t like penises, generally
i think what sean’s saying when he says “oil glow / lick-stick skillz” is something like “something that is better than just ‘only good’ possibly even bordering on ‘really good’ but i’m also kind of hella not really sure”
i don’t know. when i first saw “oil glow / lick-stick skillz” i seriously thought “penis picture, like an emailed picture of somebody’s penis, somebody has emailed him a picture of a penis”
which i guess would be awkward, if it wasn’t a nice penis, or if the penis was from somebody you didn’t want to imagine having a penis, or having the penis in question, or if you just don’t like penises, generally
i think what sean’s saying when he says “oil glow / lick-stick skillz” is something like “something that is better than just ‘only good’ possibly even bordering on ‘really good’ but i’m also kind of hella not really sure”
i’ve now been rejected three times after being solicited. what’s with this? a rejection is bad enough, sure, but to be rejected after being asked is way worse. it’s like: i thought i liked you last night when i was drunk but turns out you’re not so hot when i’m sober. it hurts. it hurts.
i’ve now been rejected three times after being solicited. what’s with this? a rejection is bad enough, sure, but to be rejected after being asked is way worse. it’s like: i thought i liked you last night when i was drunk but turns out you’re not so hot when i’m sober. it hurts. it hurts.
heh
heh
I love you so much
I love you so much
not to presume i would receive such a request either, but if i did, i think i would feel bad, like “i did something wrong to receive such a request, phrased in such a way”
not to presume i would receive such a request either, but if i did, i think i would feel bad, like “i did something wrong to receive such a request, phrased in such a way”
hey james: you should ask all of us for work for gigantic, then reject us! that’d be awesome!
hey james: you should ask all of us for work for gigantic, then reject us! that’d be awesome!
someone nameless once compared this issue with soliciting a prostitute: you roll up to the red light, lean out the window to assess the prostitutes’ faces (and genders) then decide who gets in the car. but only when you see them in a better light (like in the car or at the motel) can you truly see who you have in your net.
i’ve never done that, nor would i, so this seems more like catch-and-release fishing to me. and that leaves marks in fishes mouths which sounds painful.
someone nameless once compared this issue with soliciting a prostitute: you roll up to the red light, lean out the window to assess the prostitutes’ faces (and genders) then decide who gets in the car. but only when you see them in a better light (like in the car or at the motel) can you truly see who you have in your net.
i’ve never done that, nor would i, so this seems more like catch-and-release fishing to me. and that leaves marks in fishes mouths which sounds painful.
How many times have we all read stuff by our favorite people and found we liked (or in some abstract sense, recognized the quality of) but did not love these pieces? You do not need to be an editor to get this. I feel like people should get this. It does not bother me not to be loved. Love is too intangible for it to bother me. Who wants to be loved by everyone? That much love would be a nightmare, wouldn’t it? I think it’s far more devastating to be told you haven’t met some more basic or more objective standard, b/c then you begin to question your judgment. I find I’m significantly more distraught when my judgment is questioned than when a particular work isn’t loved. Although I think even questioning one’s judgment (probably repeatedly) is a critical part of this process.
How many times have we all read stuff by our favorite people and found we liked (or in some abstract sense, recognized the quality of) but did not love these pieces? You do not need to be an editor to get this. I feel like people should get this. It does not bother me not to be loved. Love is too intangible for it to bother me. Who wants to be loved by everyone? That much love would be a nightmare, wouldn’t it? I think it’s far more devastating to be told you haven’t met some more basic or more objective standard, b/c then you begin to question your judgment. I find I’m significantly more distraught when my judgment is questioned than when a particular work isn’t loved. Although I think even questioning one’s judgment (probably repeatedly) is a critical part of this process.
When james has solicited people before for Gigantic but then we decided to reject them he makes me do the rejection and write up an excuse like “Oh, I’m sorry James fell into the hippo cage at the snow and had both hands mangled by hippo teeth and is unable to email you back. Please don’t contact him in anger about this rejection, because the doctor says any more stress may kill him.”
When james has solicited people before for Gigantic but then we decided to reject them he makes me do the rejection and write up an excuse like “Oh, I’m sorry James fell into the hippo cage at the snow and had both hands mangled by hippo teeth and is unable to email you back. Please don’t contact him in anger about this rejection, because the doctor says any more stress may kill him.”
james DIDN’T really fall into a hippo cage!?! seriously!?
james DIDN’T really fall into a hippo cage!?! seriously!?
way to make a rational argument to make all of us feel like jerks. thanks, tim.
way to make a rational argument to make all of us feel like jerks. thanks, tim.
you have no idea how hard it is right now for me to type these comments with my mangled hands
you have no idea how hard it is right now for me to type these comments with my mangled hands
hahaha. I so don’t think of myself as even remotely rational. Was that rational? Maybe there’s hope.
hahaha. I so don’t think of myself as even remotely rational. Was that rational? Maybe there’s hope.
Have you ever had weaker work accepted because the editor asked you for it? Be honest now. Just saying…
“Weaker” being your own author opinion, obviously.
yes. of course. and you, sean?
yes. of course. and you, sean?
Indeed.
I am a mistress to shame.
I consider that, and I don’t promise to take it. I just say I’d like to look at it. Sometimes I make the other staff the bad guys, and say I have to ask them if they’d like it. And often they do. And sometimes they don’t. It’s not a foolproof system by any means.
I’m sorry I left last night. I had glass in my foot.
I consider that, and I don’t promise to take it. I just say I’d like to look at it. Sometimes I make the other staff the bad guys, and say I have to ask them if they’d like it. And often they do. And sometimes they don’t. It’s not a foolproof system by any means.
I’m sorry I left last night. I had glass in my foot.
I realize that the OP can’t be too specific, but it’s difficult to comment on this matter without knowing what actually made the work “weaker” compared to the writer’s other work.
I realize that the OP can’t be too specific, but it’s difficult to comment on this matter without knowing what actually made the work “weaker” compared to the writer’s other work.
that’s a lovely image, sean, you being a mistress to shame. better that than whore to guilt?
that’s a lovely image, sean, you being a mistress to shame. better that than whore to guilt?
If you gotta ask…
If you gotta ask…
I think we gotta see that ZOOM shot.
I think we gotta see that ZOOM shot.
After getting my work solicited by various editors who know my published writing, my rule is now that I always say no thank you. I prefer my pieces getting accepted on their merit, and I get annoyed when someone asks me for a submission and then doesn’t take it. Of course, they have a right to, and I respect them for it, but I find it annoying, and I can’t help that. So I politely decline. A few years ago a certain well-known NYC mag asked me for something, and I declined. The editor kept writing me back, seeming to take my “rejection” of her solicitation as a challenge. After about three exchanges, I gave in and sent something. The issue she solicited for came out and my piece wasn’t in it. She didn’t have the grace to send me a rejection. Now I’ve learned my lesson. I’d tell editors not to ask people to send them stuff. At best a nice note saying something like we’d always be interested in considering your work for our publication would be OK.
After getting my work solicited by various editors who know my published writing, my rule is now that I always say no thank you. I prefer my pieces getting accepted on their merit, and I get annoyed when someone asks me for a submission and then doesn’t take it. Of course, they have a right to, and I respect them for it, but I find it annoying, and I can’t help that. So I politely decline. A few years ago a certain well-known NYC mag asked me for something, and I declined. The editor kept writing me back, seeming to take my “rejection” of her solicitation as a challenge. After about three exchanges, I gave in and sent something. The issue she solicited for came out and my piece wasn’t in it. She didn’t have the grace to send me a rejection. Now I’ve learned my lesson. I’d tell editors not to ask people to send them stuff. At best a nice note saying something like we’d always be interested in considering your work for our publication would be OK.
I call “ouch” on that one, anon.
I call “ouch” on that one, anon.