Rejection 365

Alaska Quarterly Review turned down the paper submission of a story I sent them. 

Jeff VanderMeer, author of the Southern Reach trilogy (Annihilation, Authority, and Acceptance), Borne and City of Saints & Madmen had really kind words to say about The Grip of It though!

"The Grip of It is a stunning, smart, genuinely creepy page-turner that I couldn't put down. It's got depth, thrills, twists, and great writing. I'd recommend this novel to anyone. One of the few haunted house stories that sticks the landing."

Rejections 363 & 364

I google-imaged "no rules" and it autocompleted to No Rules Parmesan Pasta Outback, so this is what you get. 

I received a rejection from New Ohio Review. 

I received a really personal, encouraging note from the Missouri Review. It was for the really long story, so this was especially affirming. 

Rejection 362

#blessed

Bomb sent the nicest rejection, and that made my morning. 

The Grip of It also received its first blurb!

"I mean this in the best possible way: Jac Jemc gives me the creeps. The Grip of It deserves a spot on the shelf beside Shirley Jackson's The Haunting of Hill House, Henry James's The Turn of the Screw, and Mark Danielewski's House of Leaves -- not only because it is a masterful haunted house story, but because it, like its literary predecessors, is elegantly written, psychologically rich, and damn terrifying."

                   -- Benjamin Percy, author of The Dark Net, The Dead Lands, Thrill Me and Red Moon 

It also got a nice call out in Nylon Magazine, which I'm supremely grateful for: http://www.nylon.com/articles/best-new-books-2017. 

2017: Going fine despite all evidence to the contrary. 

Rejection 361

Washington Square Review declined the story I sent them. Their form letter is very kindly worded. 

I've been reading Best American Short Stories 2016 and I think I'd tuned out of what kind of stories get that kind of recognition for a while. It's helpful to think in those terms again, and to decide if that's something I'm interested in/capable of pursuing. The stories feel very different from what I write and that seems fine. Diaz's picks are pretty spectacular. 

Rejection 360

My sister made me this! She's a treasure. 

Thankful that that Tupelo Quarterly remains interested, but the last story I sent them still isn't the right one sadly.  Merriest!

Residency Rejection and Rejection 359

One of these is a Halloween costume. 

The Women's International Study Center sadly declined me for a residency. 

Conjunctions said no to an excerpt of The Grip of It I tried to turn into a fragmented story to fit their theme. Paper rejections are somehow always a leeeetle more disappointing to me, but that's countered by the fact that I love to get mail, so. 

Rejections 356, 357, & 358

When I google-image "vague," I get this because of French, and it doesn't feel wrong. 

The Iowa Review, American Short Fiction and The New England Review all said no to different stories I sent them. Some of the form letters seem vaguely encouraging.

Rejection 355

Too accurate.

Is there anything sadder than receiving an encouraging rejection, only to send more work and receive a form rejection? Yes, and it is the state of our country. Thank you for giving me a second chance, West Branch. Sorry I messed it up.

Rejection 354

Srsly.

Okey-Panky said my story made their final round, but they had to say no. 

This was from a series of stories that were a little closer to regular life than I normally write. It's interesting to see what the response is! I don't know if it's a style I'll stick with, but it was something that felt necessary for a while.

Residency Rejection

Harvest time!

Today is Thanksgiving and I'm thankful to have received my rejection from Hedgebrook. 1,779 applications for 40 spots - it's hard to feel bad about not getting that. They said that while I didn't advance to the final round this year, my application resonated with readers. That seems like a tiered rejection? Dunno. In any case, I am full of turkey and already in my pajamas at 8pm and working on a story, so all is well in the world.