Just to let you know I am delighted to be guest posting over at Womagwriter's Blog today. Do pop over and join me. This week I celebrate the anniversary of writing my first magazine story and I am talking about my roller coaster journey since then.
Meanwhile, the roller coaster ride continues!
Having been ecstatic with my three sales last week, I was brought back down to earth with a bump three days later with five - YES FIVE- rejections all in one day. Two were by email and three plopped through my letterbox.
Mind you, it's not in my nature to dwell on adversity for too long so I decided to put a positive spin on it. After much scratching of my head (as I'm useless at maths) I realised that 3:5 acceptance to rejection ratio meant it was still a 37.5% success rate this week. If the rejections had come last week it would have been 100% failure!
I daren't work out the yearly percentage as the results would be too scary!
Well done on celebrating the anniversary, Wendy. I've left a comment on the Womag blog (great post). I think rejections are just as much proof of your writing career as acceptances - at least you're writing and sending out, which is more than a lot of people do!
ReplyDeleteThank you Rosemary. I thought it was important for people to read about my rejections as well as otherwise it might all seem too easy - and of course, as you know, it isn't!
DeleteLoved the Womag post Wendy. It is interesting to assess success ratios, but like all statistics can look differently depending on how you cut up the time slots. Looking at my own womag submissions I realise that for some mags my success ratio wasn't all that bad, but that was because I didn't submit that many! Can you share how many stories you write in a month, or week even, and how many you submit in a month.Agree with Rosemary that rejections are concrete proof that you are a writer!
ReplyDeleteHi Tracy. I try and write and send out four a month. I agree the success ratio depends on how you look at it. In the first few months nearly everything was rejeced so this keeps the ratio down. I have had more accepted with experience. Also my ratio for each magazine is different - good for FF ok and getting better for PF just starting with WW and very bad for WN. I also, at any one time, have about 25 stories out there waiting to be looked at which I suppose can't be counted.
DeleteHi, Wendy
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your guest post over at Womag's.
Are you on Facebook? Have you 'liked' PF's Facebook page? We have some interesting chats there.
xxPat
I'm glad you enjoyed it. I am afraid to say that I am the only person in the world not to be on Facebook! Having said that, I have seen the PF page but of course I can't leave comments. They are so lovely - I have another story in there on 9th so am excited to see the illustration that will go with it.
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, two rejections through my letterbox from take a break this week, so I'm a writer with proof of it. I will keep on trying and thank you for your positive blog posts.
ReplyDeleteHa! We should make a badge with 'I was rejected this week' and wear it with pride Susan! Any more out there who would like to join our new club?
ReplyDeleteHi Wendy, I also really liked the Womag post. Someone made a comment on it about writers being like gardeners and i think the analogy is an especially good one because from what you say, sending out your stories for consideration is a bit like sowing seeds, not all of them may come to fruition but some will. I LOVE the idea of wearing a badge with pride that says "My story was rejected this week" - can I join, please? I have had so many stories rejected I could wear it every day of the year, never mind week ;o)
ReplyDeleteThanks Marianne and yes, you may join my 'Rejection Club' - we are a growing band and you can be my first Scottish member!
ReplyDelete