Today, a book is released into the wild. An anthology.
And my story Faithless is in it!
I wrote this story a couple years ago for an anthology looking for asylum stories. I read it in my writers’ group, and had mixed reactions. Some people liked it and one or two wanted something else. Something more…asylum residents getting out and killing. But I didn’t want it to be the usual asylum story. So I cleaned it up and submitted it.
It was rejected.
But, I liked this story. I liked that it was different. So I let it sit until I found another place to send it.
One. Two. Three rejections…and I would not give up. Faithless would find a home…somewhere.
And it has.
Not where I thought it would, not in the publication I wrote it for. That’s how it goes.
Publishing. An interesting world of you-never-know-so-never-ever-give-up. What are the editors looking for when they put together a line up of stories for an anthology or magazine? Only they know.
My story was rejected. More than once. I did wonder if the writing smelled like dog poop, or the story left the reader with a whole bunch of confusion.
But I believed in it.
Sure, rejections happen because a story isn’t well-written or doesn’t make sense. But they can mean that the words don’t fit, the story isn’t quite what they were looking for. And with all sorts of people submitting, the choices can be great and choosing can be difficult.
Here’s Schreyer Ink’s blog with submission facts about this book…for the curious.
So many submissions. Mine just a drop in the bucket. But it was chosen.
If you like the weird and creepy…go buy a copy of Twilight Madhouse Vol. 4 on amazon!
Enjoy Faithless, my story exploring faith versus religion in a future where praying can get you a room in the Asylum for the Religiously Afflicted and a visit from Tech MT.
And when you’re submitting, remember…rejections are not always a reflection of your writing talent.
And never ever give up.
Kathleen Palm 