Emerge It Somewhere Else, Bub

Dear Emerging Voices Applicant:  

Thank you for applying to the 2012 Emerging Voices Fellowship. We regret we are unable to offer you a place in the 2012 program.  

There were an overwhelming number of exceptional applicants, and unfortunately, a very limited number of spots available for Fellows. We wish you the best of luck in the future.  

Sincerely, Libby Flores,  

Program Manager, 

Emerging Voices & The Mark Program 

PEN Center USA 

A community of writers defending freedom of expression and building a literary culture

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You Can't Keep A Crazy Mo-Fo Down

One thing I do pretty well, surly and happy mice, is bounce back. I'm already working a new angle on the new non-fiction book proposal and making traction with a new agent. Your loss, Agent 99, and the 98 who came before! (Actually, when I put it that way, I see something effed-up about my formula.) It's just not that personal. I once had lunch with this editor who'd passed up an insanely successful, pulitzer-prize-winning literary book. I asked her if she regretted letting the opportunity pass, and she said. "Naw, I just didn't like it that much!" I did hear the faint sound of "ka-ching, ka-ching" ringing somewhere behind her dead eyes, but she did seem to believe her own b.s. Whatever. They have their own formulas for success and they are working in a dying business, or so everyone says.  It does occur to me that maybe after a while you stop feeling the blows so acutely when you are being pummeled.  Not sure.  But, anyway, onward! as Howard Junker would say. Let's not let anything hold us back now.

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Modelland by Tyra Banks

Tyra Banks, people. Another effing inspirational YA book to egg you along your journey as  writer. All you need to do is be famous in some other way first. Super model to literary author. What's your path? To tell the truth, despite how ridiculously breezy she makes it all look--she even drives and writes her novel at the same time--I still kind of like her. I don't know why. Call me crazy.

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Rahlly We Do

News soon about this crazy proposal.  In the meantime, here's one from the Kenyon Review:

Thank you for submitting your story. We regret that we are unable to use "Title." Your work has received careful consideration, which sometimes means a response less prompt than we would wish. Unfortunately, the large number of submissions prevents us from commenting on many worthy manuscripts. We do appreciate your interest in The Kenyon Review. --The Editors

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What's It All About?

Says the witty submitter of this rejection, "I am a forty-something in a twenty-something world."

Thank you for your recent query regarding representation. Having considered this, we've concluded that LMQ is not going to be the right fit for your project, but of course wish you all the best with it. Sincerely, LMQ [for Jason Anthony]

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New York City Rejection Line

In case you don't want to do it yourself, some good creative New Yorkers will do it for you.  Check it out by playing this mp3. Or call the line yourself: (212) 479-7990. This is what you'll hear: "Welcome to the New York City Rejection Line.  Unfortunately, the person who gave you this number does not want to talk to you or speak to you again. We would like to take this opportunity to officially reject you. If you want to hear from our comfort specialist, press 1. If you want to hear a sad poem written by a kindred spirit, press 2." Maybe there should be a literary equivalent?

p.s. No cancer...phew.

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Inspiring!

An inspiring story from the editor of Anderbo:

I started writing my first short story, "Boys Who Do the Bop" in 1976 (I was born in 1950). I finished writing it in 1982 and promptly submitted it to The New Yorker -- and it was rejected. Over the next six years I submitted it to publications large and tiny (including two re-submissions to The New Yorker) but nothing but rejections came back. I wrote no other stories, just kept sending out "Boys Who Do the Bop". Then, in the spring of 1988, the story was finally accepted -- by The New Yorker! (By this time I was 37 1/2). Rick Rofihe, Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, anderbo.com

He also included his new revised rejection letter, complete with handy resource links:

Anderbo.com is an all-volunteer organization. We are able to use less than 1/2 of 1% of what comes in; most submissions receive a response within 6 to 96 hours.

Effective August 1st, 2011: Due to the increasing number of submissions we are receiving, we cannot consider more than one submission from any individual in a 3-month period. Other literary sites of interest:

http://newpages.com/literary-magazines/
http://www.pw.org/literary_magazines?apage=*
http://andromeda.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/pbonline.html
http://www.duotrope.com/listallmarkets.aspx
http://litlist.net/online_journals
http://www.litmags.org/list.php

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