I am sorry to report to you that, after much consideration, we at [lit mag I would love to be published in] will not be making you an offer for your story. We liked it, and it made it all the way to our final meeting, but it got edged out by the competition. A near miss, as they say. I hope you’ll send this out to another good mag, because I believe it is eminently publishable, and most of our readers agree, but not all.
Yeah well, no hummus for the ones that disagreed. But isn’t the editor just a very nice rejection letter writer?
I do hope this story finds a home. But damn! This would have been one of my big ambitious moments, had all the readers agreed.
I suppose Noah and I are both cutting our molars. Mine are just metaphorical.
[edited to add: yes, it will be out to another magazine by Tuesday's post. It's the rule. :)]
I’m in awe – you’re actually SENDING THINGS TO PEOPLE. That’s so much more likely to lead to publication than;
a) losing them
b) tearing them up
c) using them to line cat box
Well done.
:)
polly
ps, Also – it sounds like a great story. And what a nice rejection letter.