A little rant about sore losers

I only have one rejection under my belt, and the disappointment was crushing, but I believe that I handled it pretty well.  The dejection settled in me for a day, maybe two, numbing my normally hot temper and silencing my ever active tongue.  I couldn't write, didn't want to go back to that particular piece, and reading - my favorite outlet - was off the agenda.

You're thinking, where's this bit about "taking it well"?   LOL  I'm getting there, be patient!

The thing is, I looked at my rejection objectively.  My first (and so far, only) submission was for an anthology through an e-pub I particularly love.  I saw it on their site twenty days before the open call deadline.  I frantically worked for sixteen of those twenty days (my baby became ill and my mom hat was securely on my head).  You wouldn't believe the hours, the rewrite, the editing, and the polishing, all without the eyes of any reader or CP, though any of them would have gladly helped me out.

Mine was probably one of a hundred (maybe more) entries, and I missed the deadline by one minute - read above where baby was sick and I lost days.  There were quite a few grammatical errors both in the MS and the synopsis, and my "world building" was incomplete. 

Maybe my writing was just that bad.

Any of these factors could have contributed to my rejection.

I didn't take it personally.

Neither should you at the iHeart site.  The competition was fierce, as always, the editors looked for those pieces that fit their line, as always; your rejection wasn't personal, and the winners deserve their justified applause for all of their hard work.  Please don't minimize their achievement because you feel cheated.

As many other hopefuls and published authors have stated:   your catty behavior will only jeopardize your possible future relationship with that house.  Be gracious.  Thank the editor's for their time, this wonderful chance to have your work read, and hope that you get some constructive feedback.

Okay, done venting

UPDATE: AAAHHHHH!!!!

So, I received a very polite response from the editor that my story was not chosen for the anthology.  *sigh*  I'll be honest, I kind of suspected as much.  I haven't looked at my piece since my submission, but glaring holes have managed to flash through my mind in the meantime.  I'll be going back and fixing those (and countless others) soon.

To the other chosen authors, congratulations and high fives.  I'm so excited for you all.  :)

Giving it a day, then right back to the writing board.

~Hetal


My nerves are killing me.  I should maybe find out tomorrow whether or not my story is a good fit for that anthology I mentioned before.  I have a feeling I'll be checking my email every hour or so hoping for good news.  But, even if I get the big "R" (the dreaded rejection), I have plans for expanding this novella into a full.  I have the backup, now I need the info.

Fingers (toes and eyes) crossed.  :)