Richard H. Fay

I received another rejection in my e-mail box today. The editor thought the work in question, a little previously published piece of diabolically dark speculative poetry, was very good, but not quite good enough to buy. Close, but no cigar! This was the second work of mine to be rejected out of a batch of three sent to the same market at the same time. However, the editor did inform me that the third piece, a previously unpublished dark speculative poem inspired by real-life stories of paranormal activity, is still being held for further consideration. I should know one way or the other by October. Fingers crossed!

This makes the second piece of mine in submission limbo currently being held for further consideration. Holds are much better than quick rejections, in that a hold means your work is under serious consideration for publication, but it does prolong the period of anxious waiting. Plus, holds can have disappointing outcomes. In the past, I've had pieces held for further consideration that didn't make it through the final cut. I hope things are different this time around. I could use a little good news; with a few minor exceptions, things have been rather depressing on the acceptance front as of late.

As for the rejection, it's really not a big deal. I'm not nearly as invested emotionally in reprint submissions as I am in previously unpublished submissions. After all, the piece was published once already. At least one editor thought the piece was worthy of publication. I already received that small bit of validation that comes with an editor's nod of approval. However, in this instance, it would be nice to find a new home for the poem, since its original home closed its doors and disappeared. Currently, you can't find the poem in question anywhere. I would like to rectify that situation, eventually.

Rejected reprint poem sent out yet again. Fourth submission since it's original publication. Fourth time's a charm, perhaps? I guess we see what happens. Fingers crossed a second time!