Don't Take It Personally #6

And so, the last word in rejection for the moment comes from Sally Zigmond, ex Assistant Editor of QWF before it absconded for the younger, brighter, better looking lights of America. Sally's also a darned fine writer so we'd be wise to believe the following information regarding what would lead to instant rejection on the bumpy playing field of the short story market:

What I hated and what I know most other editors hate is anything that begins with the protagonist in bed with dawn creeping round the curtains and then spends pages explaining why he or she can't get up. Then again, if they do eventually rise, I don't want to know that they take a shower and have breakfast - unless of course, these dull daily acts have significance. Get them out of the bedroom and doing something interesting!

Thanks Sally, and good luck with your future projects.

In fact, good luck to all future projects everywhere. I kiss you all metaphorically on the lips and say, Get out there, mariners and pirates! Meet rejection with a smile, and remember, no matter how people dissect your sea slug, it's still gonna smell of your unique brinyness. They can't take that away from you.

Cast off.