Thank You For Your Efforts and Letting Me Read Your Work

It's all right, little kitties, everyone gets a form rejection letter. I've been worrying lately about the state of the short story. It seems like the only way those things get read any more is if they are in a collection, published as a book.  But maybe I have just lost touch with all the great stuff out there on the great and vast Inter-webs. I better get back to reading fiction that way, bettern't I?

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This is One Historic and Prestigious Rejection, Lad

I was going to say something snarky about being rejected by an undergrad lit magazine run by a bunch of undergrads, but thought I'd check it out first.  Good thing.  Did you know that Stylus is Boston College’s largest undergraduate literary and art magazine? I did not know that.  According to BC's English Department page of publishing opportunities, Stylus was founded in 1882. That's a long time ago and a lot of rejection, Mice.  It is in fact the oldest club at Boston College and one of the oldest collegiate literary magazines. It is also a completely student-run publication.  Thus, today's rejection is a piece of fine rejection history.

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Is It Form-Rejection Friday Already?

Yes, it is.

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Three Hundred Books to Read Every Week

I found this rejection online since it is now, apparently, all the rage to post one's rejections, though remember the good old days when people used to post comments telling me I would get sued and lynched, and I would never get published in "this town" again?  I wasn't getting published in any town anyway, was my thought on the matter.  That was what was funny.  That and the fact that no one really gave a crap about my posting my little treasure trove of rejections.  But when this whole concern started in 2007, it was a radical move to expose the names of the rejecters, which I have generally done. This particular found rejection has the name of the writer removed, as well as the last name of "Vicki, Agency Editor."  Because the title "Agency Editor" is so unusual, you can pretty much use the old Google-Whats-It and figure out who she is. Very young, bless her heart.

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Reinterpretation of Permafrost Rejection

What the dog hears:  Blah, blah, blah, Permafrost rejection; blah, blah, blah.

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Public Space, Private Rejection

Dear Writer McWriterson: Thank you for your patience while we read your submission. We appreciated the chance to consider "Title of Work," but unfortunately we must pass. Best of luck placing this work elsewhere. To learn more about goings-on at A Public Space, please visit your local bookstore to find our latest issue, visit us online at www.apublicspace.org or join us on Twitter @apublicspace. With very best wishes, A Public Space

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Short(er) Daughters of American Fiction

Subject: The American Short(er) Fiction Prize
Dear Writer McWriter:
You and your fellow contest entrants stunned and delighted us with your stories. We received close to 1,000 entries this year for the American Short(er) Fiction Prize, and we learned again and again that the short form is incredibly versatile and powerful. Thanks for sharing your work with us and showing us what flash fiction can do. We're sorry to report that your work did not place as a finalist. We wish you the best of luck in placing it elsewhere.
Sincerely,
The Editors of American Short Fiction

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Thank You Very Much!

Dear Writer: I am very sorry to inform you that our judge did not select your story for this year’s fiction award at Washington Square. I do, however, want to thank you very much for submitting, and hope you will think of us in the future. Best, Lizzie Harris Washington Square Awards Editor

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Read the Winner, Loser; Subscription is Free

Is the subscription really free or did you have to pay money to enter the contest? Just wondering; I've done it a million times myself:

Thank you for submitting "Title of your Work" to The Willow Springs Fiction Prize. Unfortunately, your story was not selected as this year's winner. We do hope you enjoy the chosen story, which will be featured in Willow Springs issue 70. As a contest entrant, your subscription to the magazine will begin with this issue. We wish you the best of luck in placing your story elsewhere. Sincerely, The Editors, Willow Springs

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One Among Thousands

Thank you for considering Bayou Magazine. Unfortunately, we have decided that your work is not a match for us at this time. Because we receive thousands of submissions each year, we must reject many fine stories and poems. We thank you for the opportunity to read your writing, and we wish you the best in placing it elsewhere.

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Unakkommodated in Amerika

Dear Author, Unfortunately, we are unable to find a place for the work you submitted to Hotel Amerika. Although we're not accepting your submission, we're honored to have received it and hope you try us again soon. Yours, The Editors

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Would Old Ohio Like it Better?

Oh, the misfortune, the misfortune.

Unfortunately, the work you submitted is not right for us, but we are grateful for the opportunity to consider it, and we wish you the best of luck in placing it elsewhere. Best Wishes, The Editors, New Ohio Review

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Great Volumes of Work

Oh, more regret, more regret.

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So Much Poetry in the Name

Oh, the regret, the regret:

Thank you for sending "Title" to Willow Springs. We regret that we are unable to accept it for publication. Best of luck placing it elsewhere. Sincerely, The Editors

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Don't Take Them, Wooden or Copper

Oh, the appreciation, the appreciation:

We appreciate the opportunity to read your work, but unfortunately this submission was not right for Copper Nickel. Thank you for trying us. Sincerely, The Editors of Copper Nickel

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A Stone Boat is a Bad Idea

I'm on the west coast this and last week, so posting has been a little spotty.  I'm on vacation and trying to read everything in sight that might help prepare me to write my book when the book editor remerges to say he wants to buy my proposal. Here's a rejection to tide you over:

Dear [First name with typo]:
The editors of Stoneboat have read your work and, after careful consideration, have decided that it isn’t right for our journal at this time. We regret that we are unable to offer personalized feedback, but it isn’t possible due to the volume of submissions we receive. We wish you luck in placing your work elsewhere and hope you will consider submitting to us again.
Sincerely, The Editors

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New Ohio Review, Old Rejection

Unfortunately, the work you submitted is not right for us, but we are grateful for the opportunity to consider it, and we wish you the best of luck in placing it elsewhere. Best Wishes, The Editors

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Sorry to Report

Dear Author: Thank you for submitting to Chicago Review. We're sorry to report that we are not going to publish your story. Good luck placing it elsewhere.     The Editors

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Yale Spells Your Name Wrong

Here's a rejection from an anonymice:

Dear Ms. [Last Name Spelled Wrong]: Although in the end we could not find a place for your story, we want you to know that we gave it a careful reading. Thank you for your interest in the Review. Sincerely, The editors

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Nothing Much to Say About This One

basalt [dark-colored, fine-grained] 

Dear Writer: Thank you for your submission to basalt. We regret that it does not meet our current needs. We appreciate your interest in basalt and wish you the very best luck publishing your work elsewhere. Sincerely, The Editors 

Eastern Oregon University One University Blvd, La Grande, Oregon 97850

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