This is my first posting of the New Year and I hope that you all had a cracking time that you either can’t remember or won’t regret!
I should be happy and uplifted.
And I am in an inverted way due to some shite that we need to put up with. (It gave me this posting).
I want to share an email that we received from a rather inadequate writer (I’ll change that word, ‘writer’ that is.) who was a bit peeved that we hadn’t accepted them. We have read everything that this person wrote and none of it came close to the standard that all of you who have been published have reached.
It would have been an insult to this site and all our writers if we had accepted their work. That’s how bad it was.
Now we have had terrible writers before and we have never pointed this out. We have been courteous and encouraging. If they enjoy what they do, who are we to hurt them. Throughout my life I have loved playing golf, snooker, pool, squash and writing – To no success. But what the fuck – I’ve enjoyed the experience. I accept the levels that I am at and I suggest this person should do the same.
Maybe it is churlish or childish to show you this but we get this every now and again so for some transparency I wanted you to see what a few folks think of us…I think it is only fair.
If you agree with any of this person’s points, I would love you to tell us.
So here it is:
‘I see you didn’t like my last story. Big surprise. All I can say is that I have a lot more fiction where that came from, but I won’t be submitting it to you. Sorry, by LS didn’t make the cut this time—nor will they. But that’s alright, we gave one another a fair chance—didn’t we? I particularly relished the detailed reasoning behind your editorial decisions that you proffered. It gave me a lot to work with for future submissions. You have captured, dare I say it, the art of the form letter. You’ll pardon my going on at length, but it serves a writer well to dismiss a recalcitrant editor/publisher now and then, in particular in pursuit of a lost cause. Normally, I crave rejection as much as the next benighted writer, but this has just gotten silly. Further, I am genuinely touched that you are “Really sorry….” Perhaps I would never have fitted into your writers’ community after all; I don’t believe, after all, that I’m incestuous enough. And have a good holiday, on me. That goes for you too, Hugh. Remember: it’s not polite to smirk.’
We responded (Probably shouldn’t have but this clown insulted not just us, that doesn’t matter, we are a bit thick skinned that way!! But insulting our writers, inferring that they are incestuous in some way (??) – That is unforgivable. We protect every one of you as much as we can!! That was a stipulation when we started all this)
Our answer was:
I would normally not reply to this but I felt I had to.
Maybe you should look at your ‘Big Surprise’ comment and think on it in reverse.
I don’t think you have ever asked for feedback, I might be wrong but maybe you were wise.
I suggest that you craving rejection is a good thing. We do not use form letters except on the occasion of an acceptance and we do that because there is a lot of information and we are worried about leaving something out. On this site we read all the stories, we consider and respond to every one individually and we fund it out of our own pockets so that other people may have their work in the public eye. If your stories are rejected then you join many, many more. Fortunately most of them act in a professional and pleasant manner.
And you using the word ‘incestuous’ is insulting not to us but to the thousands of writers that we have considered and published.
One last thing – I don’t smirk. I am saddened when a writer doesn’t get through, especially due to their lack of talent, humility and arrogance.
You don’t know anything about me so please don’t assume.
Hugh Cron on behalf of Literally Stories.
We love doing this and no Gnats-testicle of a human being should take that away from us.
We’ll NEVER let them do that.
Okay, now that I’m on depressing note I need to voice another issue that’s been going on in Britain and that is the potential extinction of the XL Bullies.
This is a travesty. There are owners in England who are bringing their dogs to Scotland as (For now) we are a bit more accepting.
For the last ten years or so this idea raises its fucking terrible head. A few years back we were looking at banning certain breeds from public areas. And the usual persecuted were in the mix, Rottweilers, Staffies, Shepherds, Dobermanns etc. But that was nothing compared to putting a perfectly loving dog down due to its breed. (That looks like the way that it is going)
Wee dogs get away with being vicious and is that fair? Just because they can’t kill you doesn’t take away from the fact that they are still vicious.
Let’s be honest, you have good dogs and bad dogs. Some haven’t a chance due to the fucking mutants that own them. Some are just bad – That happens.
But that happens with humans too. So if we want to eradicate all the XL Bullys due to those few who have killed, should we not have eradicated humankind because of the likes of hitler???
Man this has got depressing – I think it may be because of my last bank statement, medical and work, always fucking work! But hey-ho backwards and downwards!!
Let’s get back to something happier and that is the stories of this week!!
We had two new writers, two well established old hands and me.
As always our initial comments follow.
And another as always, we welcome our newbies and hope that they have fun on the site.
Shannon Frost Greenstein got us up and running with her first story for us,
‘This Is My Rifle, This Is My Gun.’
‘Very emotional.’
‘I wanted to kick the artist in the balls!’
‘I was hooked by this.’
Doug Hawley has been a long time friend of the site. His comments and asides are perceptive and astute, just like his writing!
We were delighted to publish his sixteenth story for us.
‘Kingdom Collapse’ was next up.
‘Tremendously dry.’
‘That red guy with goat horns did it for me.’
‘Well thought out.’
I always love being on the other side of the site and I was delighted to be published on Wednesday with ‘Peter.’
This story has been in my head for over twenty years but I couldn’t get a thread on how to put it across…Finally I had an idea on how to tell it and was pleased that both Diane and Leila accepted it for publication.
Ximena Escobar graced the site for the fourth time with ‘Doll Parts’ on Thursday.
‘It’s a failed romance written with a lot of class.’
‘Well written and full of passion.’
‘Ximena accurately describes depression without using the word.
We completed the week with our second new writer, Rebecca Klassen.
‘Watchtower’ was her first offering for us.
‘Well written and spooky!’
‘Not my usual reading choice so it says a lot as I enjoyed this.’
‘Really good writing.’
That’s us for another week guys.
Just the usual prompts, we have a few features for a Sunday, have a look back and you will see what we are interested in.
Please get involved!!
And keep commenting – Commenting and reading comments instigates inspiration!!
Just to finish off I want to share a put-down I heard Frankie Boyle say:
To a lady – When I saw you I got a semi.
…Before I saw you, I was fully erect.
I could give you the gender alternative but even the first part would delude me!!
For our usual musical finish.
I haven’t a Scooby why this came to me, but this man sang a song for Scotland!
There are a few that he did early 1980’s that were infectious, I was actually trying to find a terrible performance he did, miming wise on ‘Top Of The Pops’ but it wasn’t there (To Be Or Not To Be) – And then I saw this!!
His collaboration with the amazing Maggie Bell (Taggert, Hazel theme tunes and she has an amazing raspy soulful voice that is on a par with Janis Joplin (In my opinion)) is not just brilliant but a whole lot of fun!!
Hugh
literally stories 
Hugh
You are a brave and honest soul! I concur with what you state and stated.
That’s a shame about the Dogs. I think of them the same as I do people, on a individual basis. As you point out there are some awfully nasty Teas Cup Dogs and Pits who are so friendly that they will show a burglar where the family hides the valuables. A bit too friendly, but that’s the way it goes.
Reminds me of my favorite Far Side strip in which a Weenie Dog spies a monster climbing through the window and decides not to react noisily as in the past.
Excellent clip as always!
Leila
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Hi Leila,
Thanks as always.
I do like me a real dog. There are so many out there that beggars the thought, ‘Why did the owner not buy a Guinea Pig’ They’re never vicious, have functioning young from birth and are very loving!
Cheers Leila!!
Hugh
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I also concur with what you have shared in this post, Hugh.
Ah, dogs – I agree that now and then you do get one that is ‘bad’ but if you go into the past I think that even they have had something that has made them that way. It’s owners, isn’t it. Where we live in UK there is a path beside the canal just below out balcony and it is a magnet for dog walkers and so we see the whole range from the ones who have beautifully behaved animals either on a lead or under voice and hand control and then the others who wander along looking at the phone while the dog is running around shitting on everything and digging up plants. The worst are the ones that let the dogs chase the poor wild fowl that live there. Okay, they usually escape by jumping into the water but they have still been alarmed. These people would no doubt describe themselves as animal lovers.
Ah well it’s a funny old world we live in these days and there seems to be more anger than I remember growing up when arguably life was harder for the vast majority of us.
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Hi Diane,
I think in the last day or so the Scottish Government has done a U-Turn and they are also working towards a ban.
Ah the arrogance of man deciding on what lives and what dies is something that will never go away.
All my very best!
Hugh
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That’s a fascinating anecdote about the exchange with the disgruntled submitter. Glad you did what you did, Hugh. All of us are bad writers sometimes, but there’s nothing to be gained by lashing out after a rejection. I’ve found beating my head against the wall is better.
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I have always understood that it is simply bad practice to throw your toys out of the pram with either a rejection or a poor review – yes, it stings but then again it helps to make the acceptances and the kind reviews so much the sweeter in a way. Just not professional behaviour, is it?
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Hi Diane,
The thing that makes me happy is how some of our younger writers have conducted themselves.
Hugh
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Thanks for the words of support Dave.
And the thing about banging your head against a brick wall is, it’s so good when you stop.
All the very best my fine friend.
Hugh
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It is possible I know the disgruntled writer. If so, I believe he is a good writer. Beyond that, editors and publishers are not gods. I’ve explicitly asked (not here) for just an up or down and gotten a review I didn’t want and ignored. A sub has gotten a review with the list of things wrong, next time subbed a glowing acceptance. Some rejctions have been just dumb, to paraphrase a reason for rejection “A fat cat couldn’t dance”, and editor quit reading because he/she disagreed with commas which had passed muster with two people and online editor.
It is more pointless to respond to a bad review than it is fight city hall and I try to keep than in mind (but have slipped) and just move onto the next publication. For the record, negative review have changed stories <1% of the time. I refuse to learn anything. I burn bridges while I’m on them.
Don’t want to leave it like that – prolly already wished LS peeps and healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year. No more war.
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Hi Doug,
Thanks as always.
Your comment got me thinking on preference.
You see, all of you who have submitted, commented and how you have conducted yourselves has given us the bench mark of what we are looking for in all aspects of the process. When someone falls short in one way or them all, that is when they will be refused.
Those who spit out the dummy and insult need to have a long honest look in their mirror.
We all need to accept differences of opinion – Who is right and who is wrong is immaterial. Saying ‘Thanks for your time’ would suffice.
Keep being you my interesting friend.
Hugh
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Thanks for your time.
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I hope that I don’t have to say that LS is my fave for various reasons. Some places are pitas. Accept but don’t run, run for a day and then pull it.
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Hi Doug,
I wanted to also thank you for your time on the other comment but the site only lets us answer once per posting so
…Thanks for your time!!!
All the very best my fine friend.
Hugh
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I’m sure you were right to reply to the abusive, would-be writer. Before I retired, I noticed there was an increasing number of abusive internal work emails. Twitter/X and the rest are full of posts where the writers are plainly proud of their proficiency in abuse. Please take comfort from the knowledge that your abuser would lack both the wit and the courage to abuse you face-to-face. And please know that your readers and contributors are very appreciative of the effort you put in at LS.
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Hi Mick,
Thanks so much for the kind words.
We try the best we can.
We don’t look for anyone tipping their hats, just some common courtesy for us and especially, our writers.
This is a labour of love and we have never totted it up but I reckon between us, we must be spending more than sixty hours a week on the site. It’s actually more lately as we are receiving around thirty submissions each day. I think we are on the end of a ‘New Years Resolution’ flurry.
But we wouldn’t have it any other way!
Hope all is well with you my fine friend.
Hugh
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Very interesting post and completely agree that a reply was correct in this case. I like the irony that this writer particular finally got published by LS albeit via a shirty, unnecessary email. I personally take rejections (and I’ve had many more than I have acceptances) as a test of character – the more I’m at peace with rejections the better writer it makes me I believe.
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Hi Paul,
I totally agree.
The best advice I have ever given is simply – Enjoy the whole process, warts and all!
Hope all is well with you my fine friend.
Hugh
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I used to work as a counselor at a halfway house for addicts, and part of my group was the idea that “The beginning of wisdom lies in understanding that we are ignorant.” Simply put, we can’t get better at something we believe we have mastered beyond criticism. That becomes, in my vernacular, “willfully stupid.” You often find such people crowing, “I don’t care what anyone says…”
I say that because I have received a rejection from this site on a previous occasion. It was, very obviously, not a form letter. It was, furthermore, very empathetic and even uplifting. Not only did it encourage me to submit other work here, but to submit that particular work elsewhere. It is the job of every editor to inspire a writer to reach higher, strive to do better. That is exactly what your rejection did for me.
I’d also share this: My personal belief is that such a letter as you received is more about the person sending it than anything else. In the early days of Kindle Direct Publishing, I received a one-star rating from someone who was angry because my font was too small (for those unfamiliar with a Kindle, the reader controls the size of the font). I remember that when I receive any criticism I believe to be too harsh or misplaced.
In short, I enjoy this little place you’ve built here. I am exposed to new authors, ideas, and means of expression. I appreciate the work it takes to keep it going, and I hope the Inner Circle never tire of doing so (or, at very least, do not tire of it simultaneously).
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Hi Thurman,
I can’t thank you enough for your kind comments.
You have grasped the essence of the site with understanding and courtesy!
Hope all is well with you my fine friend and you know where we are if you have anything else to send!
Hugh
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