Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Rejection (11/15/04)
TITLE: The Bumpy Way By Karen O'Leary 11/20/04 |
LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE SEND A PRIVATE COMMENT SEND ARTICLE TO A FRIEND |
Another standard form came with a line checked. “Although we can not publish this submission, we would like to read more.” Rejected, though there was a glimmer of hope.
A fiction manuscript was returned with a hand written note relating that the editor liked the piece, but it didn’t quite meet his needs. He, too, wanted to read future work. Rejected but encouraged. Energized, I started on my next short story.
I pulled another self addressed stamped envelope from my mailbox. This one was thin. My hands trembled as I opened it. The editor had written that she was holding my article for possible publication in a future edition. Though there were no guarantees, but it was a improvement over a rejection slip.
A poetry editor returned my submissions with the comment, “Your writing style doesn’t match mine. The terse rejection rocked my self confidence until I remembered other successes. The road of freelance writing is a bumpy one.
Another thick envelope rested in my mailbox. Reluctantly, I pulled it out. I waited until I got inside to open it. “Thank you for sending this well written article. I accept it for publication in our fall edition and look forward to working with you.” The envelope also contained a biographical questionnaire, some contract information, and a check. I whooped, did a quick jig, then bowed my head to thank God.