A while back, I sent a short story out to a magazine, and today, I got it back. It was a story I don’t really have a plan for. It’s not my usual, anyway. So, I wind up sending it out. And… Did I leave a box checked? I don’t remember signing up for a newsletter, but there it is. And, of course, it’s a newsletter sent from the same people I was expecting to hear back from, so… Oh. That’s not a rejection. Or an acceptance. What is that?

Well, the answer is a more-than-weekly newsletter with a return address that makes me expect a real response every time.

I got several of them before I decided I didn’t care if unsubscribing hurt my chances. Time to get off the roller coaster. I just don’t have the extra energy. (Maybe if they had been labeled as a newsletter? I don’t know.

And I did think about withdrawing the piece. Probably would have, if I’d had a clear plan for where to send it next.

The rejection was a relief. Just a relief. There was no oh, damn mixed in with it.

I just didn’t feel good about the magazine, anymore. I felt spammed.

I’m thinking about what to do with the story next.