Rejection 275 and 276, 2 stories, and a book

Ensemble Jourine wrote asking for a submission, and I sent them some poem parts, and they asked for a poem that was more like 10-30 pages, which seemed eye-widening to me.  The thing is, I do not ever have poems that long, and I don't think I could just make one on cue, and I am working on a new novel thinger, so there's no hope.  BUT, Anobium wrote a few days later accepting all those poem parts, so they have a home, and I couldn't be happier.

Rejection 276 came from the kindly Mike Czyzniejewski at Mid-American who didn't think the story I sent was right for them, but was super nice and friendly in his letter. Thanks, Mike!

I forgot to announce formally on here that I had a story in the new issue of Ping Pong, the journal out of the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur, but their site appears to be down right now, so I won't provide a link.

I had a story up in Necessary Fiction thanks to Jess Stoner!

Finally, my book appears to be available for preorder on Amazon which is a strange feeling, being that I couldn't be more pro-small bookstore, and I urge you to wait and order it from Dzanc or get it at your local bookshop or come to Chicago in April to celebrate and get a copy at the party!  That is all.

Rejection 274

Fourteen Hills doesn't want the story I sent them.  That is fine.  What Fourteen Hills doesn't know is that they rejected one of two stories I have left to be accepted right now, and that there won't be more stories for a while, because I got started working on a new novel, and that won't see the light of day for sometime.  So, the story getting rejected means I can just a find it a more perfect and loving home.  Fair!

So far, the new novel may or may not be a spooky story, which may or may not have something to do with what fall brings out in me.

Good News!

I don't usually post for an acceptance, but this is an unusual story, so I will.

I tried my hand at writing an essay and it was about luck and Hobart had a luck-themed issue approaching and the timing was perfect.  I don't write essays, I rarely write toward themed issues.

Aaron at Hobart said the piece wasn't quite right, and that it felt more like notes toward an essay than an essay, and I agreed, but it was the first time I'd really written an essay for the fun of it, so that was that.  I would do better next time.

I changed a few things in the essay and submitted it a couple other places, but they didn't like it either.

This weekend Aaron emailed to say that he and Elizabeth had reread the piece and wanted to take it after all.

So that's the story of the rejection that got un-rejected and how it was the first essay I've written and how I'm so excited to finally have a piece in Hobart and how that made a day that was already pretty good because I'd been uber-productive.  There you have it.

Rejection 273

I received a rejection from Bat City Review this week that has a wording that's a little different than a typical letter:

"We aren't the right magazine for this piece."

Granted, it's just a flip of "This piece doesn't fit our current needs," or something of the like, but it was a fun flip that caught my eye.  I don't think it's a magazine's job to take the blame for a relationship not being formed, but it's fun to see it tilt in that direction.  Very clever, Bat City.

Also, I'm embarrassed to admit I'd never thought about how Austin has those crazy bats and that's probably why this journal is called that.  I'm a dumb-dumb.

Rejection 272

Hayden's Ferry doesn't care for the essay I sent them.  Fair enough.  I'm still working that essay business out.  Lots to learn.  Lots to learn.  Lots to learn.

Rejection 271

Devil's Lake dun't want a new story I've written which is disappointing but just fine.  I'm trying to work on something longer, and it might be a while before I write something short again, so I'll just be focusing on finding the right home for what I've got.

Rejection 270

Drunken Boat sadly rejected the story I sent, after encouraging my last submission.

BUT, before I got a chance to make a post about that rejection, MAKE accepted that story,

which is just thrillinggggggggggggg!

Rejections 268 and 269

Muzzle Mag rejected a few poems and The Portland Review rejected a story.

I've been being really good about writing every day though, so I don't care.

Rejections 266 and 267

I got a generic rejection from The Missouri Review for an essay, but that submission was a real tall tale in and of itself.

I also got a super kind and encouraging rejection from Callie at American Short Fiction. That's the kind of rejection that makes me wanna send them a fruit basket full of real rare fruits: miracle berries and coco de mers and durians and cloudberries and mangosteens.  Enjoy!

New poem parts at Strange Machine and new story at Joyland!

I have new pieces of a poemup at Strange Machine alongside work by Michael Earl Craig, Camilo Roldán, Melanie Hubbard, David Brennan, Changming YuanBilly Cancel, Sarah Carson, Steve Langan, Ted Powers and Philip Sorenson.

I also have a new story up on the homepage of Joyland.  A banner day, if I do say so myself!