Submitted My First Story

[Spacetronaut]

As the title indicates I submitted my fist story to a literary magazine today. In 2 to 4 months I should be getting my first rejection letter, I'm pretty excited. It's just a tiny step towards my dream of becoming a full time fiction writer, but it feels pretty good. Anybody else submit anything, or better yet get anything published this year?

[Karak]

As the title indicates I submitted my fist story to a literary magazine today. In 2 to 4 months I should be getting my first rejection letter, I'm pretty excited. It's just a tiny step towards my dream of becoming a full time fiction writer, but it feels pretty good. Anybody else submit anything, or better yet get anything published this year?

My last published was the year before last.
And a couple dozen articles for Dragon magazine in the late 90's.

Good for you. Go for it man. Its a good feeling.
One thing to remember, a full time writer makes little cash:( When I found out how much I would make from my first novel..I was actually sick.

[Jeffool]

In an odd way, even your first rejection letter is actually pretty cool. But hopefully you won't find that out for a long while! Good luck!

[Spacetronaut]

One thing to remember, a full time writer makes little cash:( When I found out how much I would make from my first novel..I was actually sick.

I know, even being able to support yourself at all is fairly rare, but it's still a nice dream.

[DangerousDaze]

Good luck! :)

[Karak]

I know, even being able to support yourself at all is fairly rare, but it's still a nice dream.

It is! And keep that dream. There is nothing bad about it.
Also it depends. I have a close friend who writes dozens of articles for many many different magazines and newspapers and actually doesn't work a normal job so its possible to do different things as well.

[Crittias]

Good luck to you! What's your story about?

[Spacetronaut]

Thanks guys. The story is about a boy on a farm in Russia during world war 1. I'd try to summarize it but every time I do that for one of my stories it ends up sounding completely retarded. I'll be sure to update this thread in 2-4 months when I hear back.

[JRR006]

Sorry to get to this thread so late, but good luck!

[Jeffool]

When pitching an idea, you should give the reveal away first. (I know, counter intuitive, but it works.)

For instance, The Sixth Sense?Story about a psychologist who treats a child that sees dead people, only to discover that he's one of the ghosts that the child sees.Then people say "What the fuck? Tell me more!"

[Spectre-7]

Thanks guys. The story is about a boy on a farm in Russia during world war 1. I'd try to summarize it but every time I do that for one of my stories it ends up sounding completely retarded. I'll be sure to update this thread in 2-4 months when I hear back.

If that's the case, then I'd highly recommend working on your summarization skills. Your first impression with most publishers/agents is going to be a query letter that includes a summary of the work, followed directly by a synopsis that touches all of your major plot points. If neither of those manage to engage the person handling your submission, the quality of your work won't matter because it'll already be in the circular file.

Consider the following components to be part of writing your story:
A one sentence hook
A one paragraph summary
A one page synopsis

I know writing this stuff can be a drag, but it needs to be done and done well. Hack them out and polish 'em until they shine.

IMO and all that jazz, of course. :)

[pronounconnoun]

If that's the case, then I'd highly recommend working on your summarization skills. Your first impression with most publishers/agents is going to be a query letter that includes a summary of the work, followed directly by a synopsis that touches all of your major plot points. If neither of those manage to engage the person handling your submission, the quality of your work won't matter because it'll already be in the circular file.

Consider the following components to be part of writing your story:
A one sentence hook
A one paragraph summary
A one page synopsis

I know writing this stuff can be a drag, but it needs to be done and done well. Hack them out and polish 'em until they shine.

IMO and all that jazz, of course. :)
Wow, great advice. I'll try to use this.

Congratulations! I have not the gonads to submit anything I've written yet.

[VerseD]

One thing to remember, a full time writer makes little cash:( When I found out how much I would make from my first novel..I was actually sick.

Well when I found out people would give me money for doing what I loved, I was happy. Most fulfilling careers are really hard to get into and they don't pay a lot, especially at first. Don't give up, but don't quit your day job either.

You gotta think of the good things, such as the low operating costs. My friends who do painting or photography or graphic design shell out thousands just to get started. You need a pen and paper, and you can do it anywhere. It's very convenient.

[Spacetronaut]

Well after 14ish weeks I got my first rejection letter. Not handwritten, unfortunately. I'm sort of bummed, but it still feels good. It is a little weird to get a rejection letter on April Fools Day. I'm still trying to decide if it's funny or not.

[Spectre-7]

Congratulations! Being rejected is the first step on the road to being accepted, so you're now one step closer to victory. :D

If I can make a suggestion, don't let yourself read anything into the rejection letter. There's a billion possible reasons, and there's no point trying to guess. Even the greats were rejected dozens (sometimes hundreds) of times before someone recognized their genius.

...and yes, getting your rejection letter today is funny (IMO). If I were you, I'd be laughing into a nice bottle of red wine right about now.

[Spacetronaut]

Congratulations! Being rejected is the first step on the road to being accepted, so you're now one step closer to victory. :D

An excellent way of thinking about it, I will adopt your viewpoint. :D

If I can make a suggestion, don't let yourself read anything into the rejection letter. There's a billion possible reasons, and there's no point trying to guess. Even the greats were rejected dozens (sometimes hundreds) of times before someone recognized their genius.

I had hoped that my genius would be recognized right away. :p In all seriousness this hasn't crushed my spirit or anything, I'm going to keep sending stuff out and hoping for the best. I'll probably take another look at this story and send it out somewhere else.

...and yes, getting your rejection letter today is funny (IMO). If I were you, I'd be laughing into a nice bottle of red wine right about now.

If it wasn't definitely my handwriting and stamp on the envelope I'd half think someone was messing with me. I like your suggestion though, I'll acquire some booze and celebrate properly.

[JRR006]

Definitely keep sending it out! One rejection letter doesn't mean much. Just don't let it dampen your enthusiasm. It sounds like you haven't let that happen, so bravo! :)

[Crittias]

Frame that first rejection letter. That way when you're rich and famous, you can look to your wall and remember your humble beginnings. :)

Good luck for your next submission (you are sending it back out, right?)

[tombofsoldier]

Yah, I got a rejection letter. It's not the end of the world. Bestselling novels have been rejected again and again for years before being published, it's not the end of the world.


Good for you. Go for it man. Its a good feeling.
One thing to remember, a full time writer makes little cash:( When I found out how much I would make from my first novel..I was actually sick.

Which is why I decided to go all out and write the best stuff I could. Most novels never do make much money unless they get on the new york times bestseller list. Seems your either one of a million people who do their best and don't have much to show for it, or your Stephen King and make millions. I just hope I can be in the Stephen King category :o

[JRR006]

Or you could be one of the geniuses who go unrecognized until after their death... sucks for your wallet, but hey, your work could lead a revival of early 21st century American literature studies! Think of all those students, in a college classroom on a gently-spinning centrifuge colony station, debating the symbolism in your writing. Live for the dream!

[Generation ABXY]

Well after 14ish weeks I got my first rejection letter. Not handwritten, unfortunately. I'm sort of bummed, but it still feels good. It is a little weird to get a rejection letter on April Fools Day. I'm still trying to decide if it's funny or not.

Ah, I started querying for my book in the beginning of March. So far, all I've received is rejection, so you have my sympathies...and my congratulations. As others have said, it is just another step on the way to publication, and a strangely exciting one at that. Better luck in the future! :)

[alienmastermind]

Rejections are the branding scars of those brave enough to try. I have quite a few. But to have something written and rejected means you're trying...not just sitting on a story and not submitting it, or heaven help us, 'have a great idea for a story'.

Keep your chin up, that way the bastards know where to hit first. :)

Alienmastermind.

[Spacetronaut]

Thanks for the words of wisdom everyone. I decided to celebrate rejection in style last night and now I'm nursing one of the worst hangovers in recent memory.

[Spectre-7]

Thanks for the words of wisdom everyone. I decided to celebrate rejection in style last night and now I'm nursing one of the worst hangovers in recent memory.

Yes sir, that's the way ya do it. :)

Heading off in a few to grab a few bottles of cheap vino, myself.

[bean]

I'm working on a novel. It's a fantasy novel in the vein of Feist or Lackey. It is more about adventure, relationships, and telling a fun tale than any particular themes. It isn't even ready to be sent out for consideration though.