Originally published at Thus Sayeth the Lord…. You can comment here or there.

My Mormon werewolf story, Out of the Deep Have I Howled Unto Thee, was recently returned from Asimov’s via a form letter rejection.

I’ve been at this…trying-to-get-published thing for a while now, and one would think I’d be hardened against rejection slips. One would think that it’s like building up an immunity… when you’re a writer-childe, you go into the editor’s office, and the editor stabs you in the rump with the rejection needle. Eventually, you get enough booster shots, you don’t get heartsick whenever you see that SASE in the mail.

That’s the theory. It’s crap as far as I’m concerned.

I don’t believe in throwing hissy-fits over being rejected. It’s a stupid, unproductive way to go about living. Logically the editors at…hm… F&SF, Strange Horizons, Intergalactic Medicine Show, and Asimov’s know what they’re doing. I believe them, intrinsically, when they say that Out of the Deep isn’t right (or whatever) for their magazine. Even though it is a work of genius, it is completely wrong for them.

I do get a little down, though. I feel the same thing when one of the kids doesn’t hit the ball at every at-bat.

So, this is what I do to get over the blues:

First, I talk about my feelings with M. She’s fantastic, like this. Talking them out with her, because she’s someone who I trust, whose validation I crave, and whose intelligence I respect, makes me feel that, despite the rejection, I’m still a valid human being.

Second, I research markets briefly and then send the story out again.

Third, I continue writing other projects.

That’s all. My three step program to dealing with rejection.

Step one is important to me personally. Steps two and three, I believe, are important for all writers. No matter what you FEEL, the cold hard fact of things is that the story will not sell unless an editor is given the chance to read it. So get it back out there. And if you DON’T sell it, take comfort in the fact that you’ve been productive anyway– you’re certain to have other stories to send out, if you have been writing diligently for the three months it takes MagX to get back to you.

Thus, the terrible, horrible, awful, wonderful joyride can begin anew. Huzzah!

OotD is pending response from Pedestal Magazine; they are more of a literary/psychological mag than Asimov’s; I think (hope) that OotD is a better fit. But if not, I know where I’m sending it after.

Now. I need to go work on my novel.