What was your strangest or most frustrating rejection?

The funniest rejection I've had was a pre-rejection from a pro horror mag. They sent a form rejection but I hadn't got a sub with them. (I'd subbed to them a few months ago and got a reply).
It was obviously a mistake, but it just cracked me up. I could imagine them think "Hmmm, Debs hasn't subbed in awhile. She'll be sending us something soon, no doubt. Let's save her the trouble."
pre-rejection -- what a time saver.

-deboree

That's funnny.  Last summer I had a story accepted, send in the contract all after the editor called me because her emails weren't getting to me for some reason.  A month later I get a rejection from them with my name on it.  I'm like WTF!  I emailed them and they said it was a mix up.  I though I was going to get a return to my email that said something like:  "We apologise, Mr. Essig, but as it turns out your story really has no bearing and isn't worth the paper it was printed on."  (This market has rtejected my work furiously in the past.)

That's retrospective rejection. Glad it all turned all right.

Now the best rejections I ever recieved were from my numerous submissions to the Bits of the Dead anthology. I pummeled them with story after story, almost one every two days for a few weeks, writing from the hip and on the fly. Each story was rejected with a detailed explanation and advice, and with every rejection, the editor invited me to submit again. In the end, three made it into the second round, and one made it into the anthology. A very satisfying and grueling experience.

Not a rejection but a very inappropriate submission -

a friend of mine submitted a story that had a big abortion angle in it to a mag in England called 'People's Friend' which is basically a weekly glossy for old people.

It was not accepted and he will never live it down.

Not a rejection but a very inappropriate submission -
a friend of mine submitted a story that had a big abortion angle in it to a mag in England called 'People's Friend' which is basically a weekly glossy for old people.
It was not accepted and he will never live it down.

-hellharper

LOL!  That's a good reminder to familiarize yourself with the publisher before submitting!

Not a rejection but a very inappropriate submission -
a friend of mine submitted a story that had a big abortion angle in it to a mag in England called 'People's Friend' which is basically a weekly glossy for old people.
It was not accepted and he will never live it down.

-hellharper

Good one, jeyberg!  Rimshot!

I always hate when they spell my name wrong in the rejection (which happened recently).

Really?  They can't just cut and paste from my cover letter or byline or something?

I always hate when they spell my name wrong in the rejection (which happened recently).
Really?  They can't just cut and paste from my cover letter or byline or something?

-victorya

If you spelled it right that wouldn't happen....

"A very satisfying and grueling experience."

No need to tell me, I was there.  

Just found this one in my rejection box from a long time ago:

Sorry, I only rep children's books.

So what is your funniest, strangest, or most frustrating rejection?

-robertessig

That time I hit on Milla Jovovich.
-nr

That time I hit on Milla Jovovich. [image]-nr

-nickie

I would actually be envious that you had the opportunity.

I would love to tell the story of how I was shot down in flames by Milla Jovovitch.

My strangest rejection was for a comedy/horror blend written specifically for a humorous horror antho.  It said something like "While (we) appreciate humorous horror, we cannot accept this story as it makes a mockery of the horror genre." 

Umm, okay.  I thought the point of comedic horror was to poke a little fun at the genre, but hey, what do I know.  Heh heh, that story was snapped up three days later, so I guess I wasn't dissing the genre too badly! 

I hate form rejections.  As per the requirements of my Creative Writing degree, I had to work on the staff of my alma mater's literary journal.  We had to give valid, literary reasons why we did or did not want to accept the work.  Whether the editor used our reasons in his/her letters to the writers remain unknown.

I've also received a rejection that contained spelling errors.  It hurt the sting of the rejection a little.  I mean, at least I can spell.

I also received a rejection in poem-form.  That was...interesting.

The worst rejection I've received was for a story I had written that included a chupacabra.  I don't remember the email exactly, but it was something along the lines of "A chupacabra?  Not a chance.  I wouldn't accept it if it was Bigfoot."  I was angered and confused.  What's so wrong with chupacabras?  Did the editor like everything but that fact?  It was not helpful at all.

Welcome to the forums, Elstupacabra. Looks like you come with some pretty good writing credentials! Share you experience around, yeah? Have fun.

Well, thanks. 

My credentials aren't great, just a small journal at a small-ish state school, but it does give me a little insight on the publishing process.

Yup, sounds good to me!

Well, thanks.  [image]
My credentials aren't great, just a small journal at a small-ish state school, but it does give me a little insight on the publishing process.

-elstupacabra