Years back while studying with the Writer's Digest Novel Writing School, I was also writing short fiction. There were some stories that only merited a few pages, and since short stories finish much more quickly, I could get a few ready for marketing in a short period of time. The more stories you have out, the better the odds of getting published.
In those pre-Internet days, I used the Writer's Digest to find magazines to submit to. I found those who were open to unpublished writers, who accepted the type of work I wrote, and from there I leaned toward ones where the rejection letters were more likely to be a personal note.
That was the smartest thing I ever did, to that point.
I wrote a story I called Identity, about a woman who discovered she existed only in men's fantasies. It started out strong, leading to her discovery, then wound down as she tried to get what she wanted from life.
The first magazine I sent it to was one of the top for dark fantasy and weird tales. The letter I received back told me how the story was great up to the midpoint, but faltered after that. I was disappointed, but I read through again and again, trying to figure out how to fix the ending.
At the same time, I looked for new markets. I saw a listing where After Hours wanted entries of 1,000 words or less for a summer contest. In addition to the word count limitation, the story had to be dark, and it had to be set in the nighttime.
A tiny light flickered in my mind. I took out Identity and checked to word count up to the midpoint, the moment where she began to suspect the truth. It was under the word limit. I grinned.
I cut off the last half of the story and rethought the ending. A Twilight Zone finish would increase the eery feel yet tie off the loose ends. I worked a final scene and renamed it Saturday Night, then ran it through my critique group for polish, and mailed it off.
I am certain the entire apartment complex where I lived heard me scream when the acceptance letter came in the mail. I had sold a story, I was being published! It earned a whole penny a word. I still have a copy of the check for $9.38.
It is rare that a story will sell on its second submission. I believe part of what got it sold that quickly was my willingness to listen to a professional and make changes in my story. I don't recommend a complete rewrite every time you get a rejection, but do listen when a pro tells you what they didn't like.
There will be times that you choose not to change your work, but it all comes down to how badly you want to be published. The one story, a few hours of work, got me into The Locus Index to Science Fiction (1984 - 1998).
Seeing my name alongside Jack Finney, Richard and Richard Christian Matheson and Ray Bradbury was the ultimate thrill, much more fulfilling than the happily-ever-after ending I wanted for my story!
recommend
Facebook
Twitter
bookmark 
print
Comments: 26
article unavailable
You either do not have permission to see this article or it has been deleted. If the article is private you must be signed in for permission to view this.
You're so right, Aileen, about being willing to change a piece if an editor requests it. Any time an editor will publish a piece if we make a few changes, I think we should do it -- there may be someone out there who'll like it "as is," but you may not be able to find him or her. "A bird in the hand," they say, "is worth two in the bush." Especially when it comes to being published.
Besides, good editors often make writers great!
Good story.