meanjin … took about 4 weeks to return the manuscript with a nice A5 rejection slip (cut with a kitchen knife?) on white paper saying my submission has been considered by the editor (carmel bird) and at least two other readers – no reason given : just “i am sorry we cannot accept it for publication” and “owing to other demands … we have been unable to provide detailed feedback”.
favourite bit : carmel bird’s autograph
heat … took about five weeks to respond. did not return manuscript, but included a subscription form (a hint perhaps?) – half A5 rejection slip on white paper initialled by ivor indyk(?)
favourite bit : “please don’t despair. our judgement is well-schooled but inevitably subjective.”
southerly … arrived on the same day as the heat rejection, with manuscript. my favorite rejection slip so far since it leaves the door half-open : “there is no space in the coming year to publish your work.” but then handwritten in brackets : ”but we’d be happy to read more of your work in early 2007.“
favourite bit : the cute southerly logo
i decided that i should try and create the impression that i am a real writer, although i am actually a half-arsed dabbler which is much better since it stops me, and other people, taking my writing too seriously. but now that i am a mentor on a writing project, and launching a collection of poetry and prose (at the wagga wagga library – this friday at 5.30 … come along !) i really should make more of an effort.
thus i thought i might as well begin by starting a rejection slips collection, so i submitted a half-arsed sentimental childhood memoir (the cuban crisis, which, ironically, was also rejected by fourw, the very publication i am launching {insert emoticon here} to three magazines (meanjin, southerly and heat), and an editor, robert drewe for consideration for best australian stories 2006 published by black ink – the latter was submitted a week late to make it more likely to be rejected …
bookmark this page for more reviews of the rejection slips as i submit other work and build my collection