I had some short stories, poems and photographs to share ... and so here I am

A Shameless Graffito (N°4)

 
Photobucket

* * *

Oh, this also came into my inbox from The New Yorker poetry section today, after sending in five poems:


Dear Seamus Kearney,

We're sorry to say that this manuscript is not right for us, in spite of its evident merit. Unfortunately, we are receiving so many submissions that it is impossible for us to reply more specifically. We thank you for the chance to consider your work.

The Editors

Now, is that a standard reply or what? Should I be pleased that someone at The New Yorker thought the poems had "evident merit"? I don't think so somehow. A Google search shows that it's not personal at all. Also, it may just be me, but is it not slightly odd to call five poems a manuscript? I do wonder what kick the editors get out of saying "in spite of its evident merit". Ah. Unless of course there are different kinds of rejection letters, and mine was in the pile of those with "merit". Mmmmmmm.

Anyway, I'm smiling. I will let the poems marinate a little longer and then no doubt post them here. Who needs to publish in The New Yorker when we can publish here ourselves, right?

76 comments:

Lane Mathias said...

You'd think as writerly types they'd be more creative in their rejections.
At least you were on the 'merit' pile and not the 'unsuitable'.

Keep clicking that 'Publish Post' button:-)

Love the graffito:-)

S. Kearney said...

Lane - I have seen other forms of rejection letters from TNY on the Internet, so maybe there really are different piles for different styles. I must admit that I sent the poems in with a bit of warped curiosity. They make it so easy though, being able to submit by email. :-) I'm glad you liked the graffito ... Can you imagine what it would be like to look out the window and see that ... after take-off? ! lol

Eric Valentine said...

Thanks to the 'net' the world is full of poets now, sadly there equally, almost as many rejections Seamus. :)

At least you recieved a r/notice... I sent a story away and I guesss it's stll out there in the universe. LOL

It will be nice to read your poems my friend. Keep writing. :)

WH said...

Seamus, the majority of rejection slips I've received have had glaring grammatical errors and awkward or inaccurate phrasing, which I save for inspirational wallpaper. An agent once requested the entire mansucript for a horror novel I wrote, and the reply was "Thank you for letting us review FINNEGANS WAKE, which does not suit our needs at present." Well, isn't that comforting. I send in a manuscript, and the agent rejects James Joyce LOL.

virtual nexus said...

Love the marinate bit...

Er, the pic actually happened to mother-in-law over a Florida swamp filled with crocks. Big chunk of the wing sailed right off into the blue...

at nearly eighty she thought "why worry??" though she wasn't too fussy about the crocks circling below....

Anonymous said...

They may have a couple of versions of rejections -- manuscript/poems with/without merit -- but take comfort in knowing that you you did get through.

Their loss is someone else's gain.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

David is right, their loss is our gain; I can't wait to read them!

You're a wonderful writer and what you publish here is well worth every moment we spend savoring the words.

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

PS ~ Your picture looks like Colorado from the sky.

Unknown said...

I would say that's quite a positive rejection if there is such a thing - at least you got a reply! Onwards, onwards....

Sarah Hina said...

Sometimes I wonder if The New Yorker takes on relative unknowns at all. Can't wait to read your poems here, though!

That graffito would be funny if it didn't look like too many of my nightmares. I'm a temperamental flier. ;)

Chris Eldin said...

That kind of reply sucks. And evidently so.

The more I learn, the more I want to submit to small houses (which is what I started doing)

Good luck---

Steve H said...

post them here and we will benefit from TNY's oversight

Kay Cooke said...

Be encouraged - remember you're worth ten of any editor!
Have a great Christmas - see you in the New Year! :)

L.M.Noonan said...

Personally I prefer the subtle knife approach--apologies to Mr Pullman.
"This sucks" or "We promise not to contact you if you contact us" or perhaps the ever popular..."get a real job".
On the bright side, I love the new shortstory buttons.

virtual nexus said...

Random suggestion -

Any mileage in a Shameless Eagles award for best Blog Photography - make a nice pair for the Lion??

(Or maybe extend that to visual art in a wider sense, for good blog layout and presentation etc..... an idea for the back burner?)

laurie said...

i still cherish the personal rejection letter i got from Roger Angell many years ago when he was the new yorker's fiction editor. i have it nearly committed to memory... (he said my story, while nice, was "too slight" for the new yorker. hmph.)

and a friend of mine went a step farther--he framed his rejection letter and hung it over his writing desk.

keep going, buddy. some day, some day...

S. Kearney said...

Eric - Yes, communication is far more easier now, and maybe all these publications will disappear in the future anyway ... except online. :-)

Billy - That reminds me of those naughty experiments where well-known fiction/poetry is submitted and then rejected. :-)

Julie - Oh, yes, nothing like poems being left to marinate. I find this process essential, to make sure the creative juices have gone through everything! :-) And wow re the story of your mother-in-law. Cripes!

Witnessing Am I - Yes, someone at an anthology publisher told me they have different kinds of rejection slips. Maybe TNY does too. :-)

Wanderlust - You are too kind. Thank you. The picture is over the French Alps, coming into Lyon. It might as well be Colorado though, with that split in the wing:-)

Minx - Yes, the "merit" bit would ring nicely if we knew that not all rejection slips included that. I did send the poems in with a kind of mischievous intent though. Apparently brilliant poets and writers already published spend years trying to crack the riddle of submitting to TNY. I wasn't even at the starting line! :-)

Sarah - You're right. One needs to have a "name" already. I was kind of hoping they would confuse me with Seamus Heaney! I've been introduced a couple of times on the radio by distracted presenters as Seamus Heaney, which is very flattering! But hey, from Shameless Words to TNY one day. And yeah, not the most reassuring photo for those who hate flying.
:-)

Church Lady - Yes, there is something nice about dealing with small houses. The personal touch is so satisfying.

Hotwire - Thank you so much for your kind words. I really must have a good, proper read of your blog. I've only browsed quickly, but will get there! :-)

Chief Biscuit - Wow! Good to see you! How is your break? Are you back soon? Is the room done? Thanks for your comments here. :-)

LMN - Yes, I would prefer something like that - at least I would laugh! And, oh, yes, the buttons. I just thought everything was getting buried, when there were some nice images to go with those stories. Adds colour as well.

Julie - Now there's an idea, but yes, probably one for the back burner. I've only just got to the blog this week with all the rush at work and elsewhere. It's all good though ... lots of things happening. :-)

Laurie - Hello and welcome! :-) Good to have you stop by. I'm not sure what "too slight" means. That can be taken in so many ways. But yes, a personal reply with some kind of feedback is always good.
:-) I look forward to checking out your blog, Laurie.

virtual nexus said...

Yep, sympathies with the rush. My old rag editor had 'I want it yesterday' tattoed on his forehead.

unarex said...

I sent TNY a short story a while back and have yet to hear a response. I sent one a few years ago about a dog getting kicked and beat up and the editor said it was "funny and original". Yeah, I just laugh when I see animals in pain. Sadist.

The only way unknowns can make it in there are through sexual favors...there is no other way.

Did I ever mention the agent who did not know the difference between loath and loathe?

Chris Eldin said...

Seamus, I wante to wish you and your family a great Holiday Season!

Even though I am new to your blog, I am enjoying it immensely. Thank you for your efforts to bring the writing community together.

:-)

S. Kearney said...

Julie - everyone seems to be rushing. The streets are packed. It's hard to get a park. Zen is the word. Xmas zen! :-)

Jessica - Sexual favours? I'm all for it. Who do I write to? :-) lol

Church Lady - Thank you so much for your festive message. I also wish you and yours a happy time. I'm also glad to have discovered your blog, with its vaste range of subjects! :-)

Anonymous said...

Seamus, if you post pics like those, you're going to make a frightened, instead of a frequent, flyer out of me. Not one for the fainthearted, lol.

How cold and impersonal. Mek dem gwaan yah. "Evident merit"? Where do they get off making statements like those? That letter pissed me off royally. Anyway, there are other editors and publishers around. I wonder what song they'll be singing when you're famous and your work is heading the New York Times bestseller lists.

litlove said...

Never lose heart, Seamus! It's time for us to amke more forums for our own work here in the blogosphere. That's what keeps me motivated!

And a very happy new year to you, by the way!

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Church Lady - Thank you so much for your festive message. I also wish you and yours a happy time. I'm also glad to have discovered your blog, with its vaste range of subjects! :-)

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