Friday 26 September 2008

Four Rejection Friday

First my deodrant tries to blind me - it wouldn't stop squiriting. It obviously thought I stunk. And then I hit work and there are two rejections in my inbox. I growled - more because I hadn't had my breakfast yet - and concentrated on all the lovely blog comments from the previous days post.

Then I decided to have a sneaky peek at my emails in the lunch hour (only I don't get a lunch hour so technically I was being bad) and found two more rejections. I may have pouted. I definitely had chocolate.

Anyhow, I then cheered up when I realised I would have to spend a wee bit of time this evening (okay an hour) searching Duotrope for the perfect markets to send the stories out to. Plus I edited one thanks to the wonderful (and talented) Ms. Buburuz's comments. This meant I didn't have to stress over the rewrite of Strange Bones. See, there are always silver linings.

I've changed the title of one of the stories from 'Ugly Duckling' to 'Glass Coffins', and tried not to panic that two of the stories ('Glass Coffins' and 'Lazarus Jones' Creep Carnival of Corpses') are zombie stories. And darn it, zombie stories without any science in them so I couldn't cheat and send them along to Dead Science.***

I also sent one of the stories out to Clarkesworld, who have super fast reply times and a fun new tracking system so you know exactly where you are in the queue. Maybe I should retitle this post 'Five Rejection Weekend'.

***My 'Dead Science' story Irish Roots, an Arsenic & Lace style comedy about a boy staying with his grandpa who decides to help his grandpa by making his own weed killer (I think we all know what's hiding under those weeds), has kind of stalled at the gate. No panic, there's 4 days left to sub... Erm, gulp!

14 comments:

Michael Stone said...

Considering you had four rejections, that's quite an upbeat post. Good for you! Or was it the chocolate talking?

Cate Gardner said...

Always the chocolate. :)

Jamie Eyberg said...

Mmmm-Chocolate (drools a little with head tilted to side.)

Sounds like the day I had last week. I am sure it will get better for you. Good luck finding markets.

Unknown said...

I was rooting for Ugly Duckling too... that was on a hold request and everything!

Brenda said...

Chocolate can make almost anything better... ;)

I know things will turn around soon...and I love the movie arsenic & old lace, so I can't wait to read your boy helping grandpa make weedkiller story! Hugs...

K.C. Shaw said...

Ouch, four in one day! I got one today and I felt grouchy all morning. But the chocolate at lunch helped. Thank goodness for chocolate!

Cate Gardner said...

Cheers, Jamie, Brenda & KC

Jeremy - Yep, got my hopes up with the whole hold queue thing.

Mary said...

Rejections are like No.7 buses. You wait ages then they all come at once. ;)

But four in one day is tough. (Thank heavens for chocolate!) I bet your luck will change next week. :)

Cate Gardner said...

It's a good job I'm off a buoyant disposition (and that there's a chocolate machine in the kitchen at work).

Anonymous said...

I sympathize, those four rejection days are hard to bounce back from!

Cate Gardner said...

I like to think I bounce pretty well... Though the perfect tonic would be a 'Four Acceptance Friday' post...

Jamie Eyberg said...

four acceptances and a little bit of chocolate.

Anonymous said...

Ouch! But great attitude. Haven't received that many in one day before, but I imagine it would be tough. I feel a rejection storm brewing in these parts as well (better stock up on chocolate). Good luck on the next markets!

Cate Gardner said...

Jamie, the chocolate is guaranteed...

Justin, over at the Graveside Tales Forum this weekend lots of people received rejections - I think it was some evil editor conspiracy. :)