In my last post I mentioned that for a few years before I tried to get serious in 2006 I submitted probably a story a year without any success. One of those stories was recently accepted for publication and I have asked myself why.
The truth is that when I looked at it a few months ago I could see why it wasn't accepted the first time round. I don't remember who I submitted it to because I didn't keep records in those days but I can almost guarantee that it was sent to the wrong market.
But despite all the things that I could see wrong with it I still liked it which is why I decided to play around with it a bit. I looked at it and saw what it for what it was and decided on the "right" market for it. Then I tweaked the word length, took out the cliches, gave it a better ending and hey presto.
I think that a lot of the things that I wrote in the early days was cliched. I would say that was my biggest failing back then. But I can see that now so maybe there is some hope for the stories that were dumped unceremoniously into the "archived" file.
10 comments:
Some times it's really hard to know why some things are accepted and others aren't, isn't it? But the more we reflect on it, the more chance we have of getting it right again - hopefully!
I guess we just have to remember to keep trying.
I read work I wrote a few years ago and say - to the dogs, 'What was I thinking of?'
But then I know I'll say the same thing about the stuff I'm writing now.
Oh I know that feeling Fia - so does the dog.
Yey! It's such a great feeling when something that got rejected originally, gets accepted after doing some more work on it, isn't it! Get them all out and try them again, I say! x
It is a great feeling Olivia. I think that I used to have good ideas but just didn't have enough experience in the craft of writing back then. maybe I can turn them into something now.
I recently came across a short story I wrote and submitted a few years ago, and although it wasn't bad it was rather cheesey! Even with work I don't think it would sell now!
Congrats on yours though, that must be a good feeling :o)
It is a great feeling. Its like saying that you maybe weren't as bad a syou thought you were back then - with a little help anyway.
Congratulations. Just goes to show we should never give up something!
Got to keep the faith Lily
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