Thanks so much for submitting to Tor.com, and for your patience while
we evaluated your story. Unfortunately, I'm afraid that "Owed to the
Toothpick Counters" isn't quite right for us. I wish you the best of
luck placing it elsewhere.
Please send us more of your stories in the future.
Best,
Tor.com Submissions Staff
 |
| Interesting fact; A box like this became the basis for 'Owed to the Toothpick Counters' |
No doubt about it, the worst part of writing is actually (besides the i should be writing instead of watching reality tv guilt, the just before you start writing feeling of misplaced optimism, the how do i start this off feeling of inadequacy, the how does this end feeling of inadequate closure and finally the let's put this out there and start my path to the Pulitzter sense of hesitation), finally getting a response about your writing from an actual 'pays $$' publisher that says 'thanks, but no thanks'.
It hurts. It always does. I've been riding a bit of a high lately; having a job that allows me a good 2-3 hours a night of downtime which gives me some time to write and edit a couple of my own blogs plus finding a website that has been pretty lax on submission requirements. Whatculture has given me some much-needed confidence in writing and although i am not yet at that agent-represented place in my writing career as most would like to be, it's still a bit of a thrill to see that i now have been read by more people in my hometown.
Plus, my article on Tom Jones seemed to has gone somewhat 'viral' in my humble opinion, (3400 likes) topping my previous personal best article/essay about Arrested Development over at popmatters.com of approximately 800 facebook likes at it's peak (i'm not sure why it's now saying 17...but oh, well).
So, i've started off this non-profit blog as part ego and part...well, more ego. It's going to be a collection of short stories and rejection letters that i will have received in the coming years.
First, up top is the rejection of 'Owed to the Toothpick Counters' which is one of my personal favourites. Written nearly 10 years ago when i was working another job, spinning my wheels and feeling that I had accomplished all that i was going to accomplish there and had nothing left to do but warn new recruits to be prepared to have their individualistic identities crushed through name tags and homogenized corporate culture events.
Enjoy the short read (or not) after the break. Feel free to add criticisms and comments as to why this may not have worked for publishers or even better, where it might work.
For my fellow writers, if you wish to add some of your own personal rejections, feelings, short stories, just fwd them to me and we can share in our ... growing pains/misery together.
