By Shawn D. Brink
So you’re submitting
that short story to editors of various appropriate markets and getting rejected
time and time again. “Why can’t anybody see the genius in my work?” you
declare. “ARGH!!!” you add for emphasis.
Well, I’m here to tell
you that it isn’t some literary-world conspiracy that is keeping you on the
reject list. The blame falls squarely on you, the author.
I am not saying this
because I am holier than thou are. No, I was once there too. Submission after
submission I lobbed at editors only to see rejection after rejection lobbed
back at me.
Then at some point (I
can’t recall just when) I experienced that moment of clarity. A ray of angelic
light shone down on me. Somewhere unseen, a heavenly choir sang a single,
crystal clear note, and simultaneously, a loose wire inside of my brain fell
into place.
What did I realize at
that moment? I realized that it’s not enough to be a good writer creating good
stories. The competition is too fierce for that. In order to break this
rejection cycle, I need to write GREAT stories.
From that moment on,
every time I received a rejection, I would make it a point to re-examine the
work. I would ask how I could make the writing tighter. How can I make it jump
off the page? How could I make it glow to the point that an editor can do
nothing but ooh and ah and send me an acceptance
letter?
Upon completing these
edits, I would resubmit to another market. Upon receiving another rejection, I
would re-examine, do further editing and resubmit to a third magazine. And
repeat. And repeat. And rinse and lather and repeat.
Since taking this
additional level of dedication to heart, the acceptance letters have been
trickling in. Sure, I still receive rejections, but I know now that being
rejected is simply an opportunity to polish the story so that it can eventually
be what it was meant to be - published.
I encourage all writers
out there to take on this same level of dedication. Take responsibility for
your rejections and turn them into acceptances. Your writing deserves it and so
do you.
_____________________________________________________________________
Shawn D. Brink lives in
eastern Nebraska with his wife, four kids and a miniature schnauzer. He is
currently building a following with two (soon to be three) novels to his name.
His first book, THE SPACE BETWEEN (Fantasy/Christian/Apocalyptic thriller), was
published through Martin Sisters Publishing (MSP) in 2013. In 2015, MSP
released the sequel entitled THE DEVIL’S REVENGE. MSP is tentatively scheduling
the third book in this series for release in December of 2016. One of his published
manuscripts placed third in a horror/ghost story contest sponsored by WRITERS’
JOURNAL. In addition, he has numerous stories in publications such as APHELION,
TWJ MAGAZINE, THEME OF ABSENCE, SPECKLIT, and FLASHES IN THE DARK. His social
media links are Website: www.shawnbrinkauthor.wordpress.com
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