Actually, in the short story markets a recommendation that the writer try another market can be helpful. The reader -- can't match the initials to anyone on the masthead -- at Esquire who rejected my last story hand-wrote across the bottom of the form: "Fun read, but not right for us. You might want try ..." (No, they didn't just trail off, I'm not mentioning the suggested market because I'm waiting to hear from them.)
That note raises an interesting point in the not-yet-or-well-published ranking system. When you progress from form letters to personal notes it indicates *something* in terms of development as a writer. Though I doubt an editor would be impressed with "I've received very pleasant comments jotted on my rejection forms from both New Yorker and the Atlantic."
The only rejection letters I've ever kept were from Marion Zimmer Bradley. She sent back a ms -- back in my manual typewriter days when I really wanted the ms back so I could mail it off again -- with notes all along the margin explaining where she felt the story went wrong. Invaluable editorial and writing advice. I followed all of her suggestions religiously and sent the revised story to her within the week. And got back a form rejection without comment.
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Date: 2006-04-06 10:23 am (UTC)That note raises an interesting point in the not-yet-or-well-published ranking system. When you progress from form letters to personal notes it indicates *something* in terms of development as a writer. Though I doubt an editor would be impressed with "I've received very pleasant comments jotted on my rejection forms from both New Yorker and the Atlantic."
The only rejection letters I've ever kept were from Marion Zimmer Bradley. She sent back a ms -- back in my manual typewriter days when I really wanted the ms back so I could mail it off again -- with notes all along the margin explaining where she felt the story went wrong. Invaluable editorial and writing advice. I followed all of her suggestions religiously and sent the revised story to her within the week. And got back a form rejection without comment.