Rejection
Remember how I submitted a personal essay to a couple of literary journals, and didn't expect to hear anything back for months? Well, one of the journals got back to me just a few days after I submitted...
With a rejection.
However!
It was a really nice rejection.
It might be the rejection that I'm most proud to have received. It wasn't a generic "this isn't the right fit, we're going to pass" or even a slightly more encouraging "we already have some pieces like this one lined up, but please pitch again."
The editor who rejected me said that my writing was strong and a source of conversation amongst the editors. He liked the topic and complimented some of my "wonderful observations and sentences." He said the team enjoyed reading my work and, you know, maybe they say that to everyone, and maybe the editorial team is only two or three people, but I like imagining a room full of editors discussing my work. I like imagining that someone really loved my essay and was pushing for its inclusion in the journal, and even though the team ended up rejecting it, I like imagining that I had a chance. Because I did. Because I'm a good writer.
So, this issue of On / Off is just a quick update to say that I'm still writing and pitching and submitting and trying and waiting to see what will come of my efforts. And I'll check in with you all again on December 1st.