I’ve noticed that in my short fiction, I usually write from the POV of a male character. In fact, of the stories which I’ve sold, 12 of them have had male POV characters, 3 of them female  POV characters,  and 1 had a POV which shifted between a male and female character. That’s pretty overwhelming, but really, I’m just choosing what seems best for each individual story. Any other authors out there who tend to select (overwhelmingly) POV characters of the opposite gender?

*

And on a sad and glum note, a story of mine (one of my favorites!) earned its fourth rejection tonight. Here are the comments received with each rejection so far. I’m paraphrasing:

Fantasy Magazine said: No on this, but do send another.

Strange Horizons passed on it, without comment.

Abyss & Apex said: No. Good story, but begins slowly. Try fixing that.

Beneath Ceaseless Skies said: Good beginning, but the story didn’t live up to its promise.

Hah! Try reconciling those last two! Actually, I do like this story as is, and in the midst of other projects I don’t feel like going back and reworking the same stories over and over.  Also, I do feel pretty confident that it will be published somewhere, eventually. So I’m sending it off again tomorrow, and going back to the other things that interest me right now.

Attention short story writers!

Here’s the link to an article I found on the Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine website. It’s a list of the 24 most common reasons short stories get rejected.

Note the cruel advice about starting in the middle and cutting your beloved story down to its bare essentials. I know this is sometimes hard for me.

Some news to report: I received a rejection today from Greatest Uncommon Denominator. I expected it, but still… (sigh)

But on the same day, my short story “Hot Air” was accepted by Defenestration. They’re an online magazine that publishes humorous stories, and this will be my first time appearing there.

I don’t keep mine.

Oh, I keep track of submissions. But as for the actual rejection slips – I read them, I make sure I understand them, then I throw them away. Even the encouraging, personal ones – those I might read over a couple of times, but eventually I toss those too.

I’m not much of a saver to begin with. And rejection is such a negative experience, it just seems senseless to want to keep mementos.

That’s just me.