Doug Goodman

Breaking into writing can be a real up-and-down affair.  Case in point is the last fwe weeks for me.  I had one story (Stitching the Vamp - originally published in Tales of the Talisman) that was not rejected, but is being held in case a second volume of the anthology is published.  I have another story that is going to be published in an e-anthology promoting the first year of publication for that website.  As seen on my homepage, the anthology that was going to house my story, "Last Ride of the Headless Horseman," is going under, so it looks like that one won't be published either.

Last one returned is one of the greatest stories never published.  I receive better rejection letters for this story than any acceptance letter I have received (with the exception of the phrase "We would like to purchase your story.")  My latest rejection letter came from a pro-rate fantasy magazine.

"Please accept my apologies for holding your story so long while we considered it.  (Note:  I submitted the story in May 2009.)  I was very impressed with your story -- it's splendidly written, fast paced, and you have a real flair for characters...I hope you'll try us again when we next re-open to submissions." 

As they say in the business, anything that isn't a typical rejection letter is a step forward.  If I can finish the novel, maybe I will write a few more short stories and pick up where this one left off.