Can't Get Arrested
I don't know if this is just a run of bad coincidence or what, and I am at a loss to explain it further, but I am distressed just the same, especially if this is actually more trend than some weird karmic funky.
Item: I submitted a story to a webzine several months ago. The editor responded with a brief but personal acknowledgment of receipt and said he'd read it over the weekend. Never heard from him again.
Item: Sent an article to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Outdoors magazine. The package included a properly formatted manuscript, cover letter, and a stamped self-addressed envelope (SASE). Never heard from them.
Item: Submitted the same package to the local newspaper. They publish a lot of hiking and outdoors material and provide submission information. The paper comes out each Wednesday and services the town which contains about six thousand people (according to the last census). Never heard from them.
Since when is it cool to reject an article by merely ignoring the author? Since when is returning an SASE too much work for a publication that actually solicits material from freelancers and other non-staffers?
Unless I really, really stink. That would make sense. I could be discouraged by going broke creating unanswered submission packages. I never thought I'd look forward to getting rejected but that would actually be a step up from where I'm at now.
Item: I submitted a story to a webzine several months ago. The editor responded with a brief but personal acknowledgment of receipt and said he'd read it over the weekend. Never heard from him again.
Item: Sent an article to the Appalachian Mountain Club's Outdoors magazine. The package included a properly formatted manuscript, cover letter, and a stamped self-addressed envelope (SASE). Never heard from them.
Item: Submitted the same package to the local newspaper. They publish a lot of hiking and outdoors material and provide submission information. The paper comes out each Wednesday and services the town which contains about six thousand people (according to the last census). Never heard from them.
Since when is it cool to reject an article by merely ignoring the author? Since when is returning an SASE too much work for a publication that actually solicits material from freelancers and other non-staffers?
Unless I really, really stink. That would make sense. I could be discouraged by going broke creating unanswered submission packages. I never thought I'd look forward to getting rejected but that would actually be a step up from where I'm at now.
posted by Rick Ollerman at 8:18 PM
2 Comments:
I include a pre-paid postcard from myself to myself that states: "(PUBLICATION NAME) received your manuscript on ________ (DATE)."
So far, I've always at least gotten that postcard back.
This has always struck me as being potentially annoying for the recipients so I've never done it. I don't know that I'd feel any better if my postcards had been returned and then still not received actual rejections. On the other hand, this would be an opportunity to shuffle more money into the P.O.'s coffers and I rarely pass up opportunities like that.
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