In my dreams, an editor will read my precious story, a jewel of 2,000-ish words, filled with luxurious descriptions and a finely-honed plot. They will read it and think: this story is perfect. Any publication would be honored to receive and publish such an incredible story. Please, allow us to publish your work unedited, they will say.
In reality, an editor opens my story, glances at it quickly and thinks, great, another story about unicorns. We already have a story about unicorns by an established author. With some professional editing, the submission could be highly readable and fun. But, we don’t need any more unicorn stories.
“Dear <authorname>, We receive hundreds of submissions a day. Unfortunately…”
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This week’s prompt from Rochelle and Roger is (I think) about facing our fears and/or things waiting in mailbox. Here is (one of) my greatest fears involving things waiting in mailboxes to be (deep breath) read. And, that’s Real Writer Talk.
Anne Higa 
Ain’t that the truth!
The sad truth, to which I can attest from being a slush reader, is that editors aren’t looking for reasons to accept a submission. They’re looking for reasons to reject it
I know. It has to be hard to be the one reading through all those stories. I’d probably go crazy trying. Thanks for sharing that insight.
Never give up, one day your dream might just come true!
I think we can all identify.
the thing is not to give up. just keep trying.
Ah, when one dreads the mailbox!
Great story connecting to the mailboxes. I had not noticed them until you pointed them out. Then it was so logical.
Someday you may receive a check for your story.
Never ever too many unicorn stories 😀
Excuse me, I need to go make some changes to my lifetime opus “Homeland of the Unicorns”…
A fact of life. I am please there was a reply, an acknowledgement your submission was received, is a bonus.
Change the word Unicorn to girl and resubmit…
Oh I hear that… ouch. It’s that little ding of your email alert that raises the hairs on the back of my neck
Dear Anne,
I recently post this quote on twitter: “Wanting to be a writer and not wanting to be rejectedis like wanting to be a boxer and wanting to get punched.” I didn’t coin it, but I certainly relate. It’s all part of being a serious author. 😉 Well written piece of “fiction.”
Shalom,
Rochelle
One day when you reach into that dreaded mailbox with trepidation, you might just find the wait was worth it. Keep following your dream Anne. You never know. Great take on the prompt.
Your story made me cringe. It felt very relatable. Keep hoping and writing and submitting!!
A true life trial. A novel angle too! Nice.
You have to have persistence and a flexible enough ego to be able to handle rejection to get published. I hope your dream comes true!
Keep trying! The competition is so fierce that lots of good stuff is rejected.
We all need a reality check sometimes, but at other times, we can dream! 😊