I’m a real writer now because in today’s mail, I received my first rejection slip in 16 years. TTB was turned down by the first place I sent it. It was a very nice rejection: no specific comments, but it wasn’t a total form rejection, either.
I have to say that I’m impressed by the turnaround time. I mailed a 63-page manuscript on May 12, and the editor mailed the rejection on May 28. The guidelines said eight weeks, but it was more like two.
I’m neither surprised nor too unhappy about the rejection. I don’t enjoy rejection, but it’s the first submission of my first complete work of fiction in 16 years — what do you think I expected to happen?
I’m going to do what I did when I got my first rejection slip on the first story I ever submitted: turn it around and send it back out on Monday to another of the Big Three magazines, and while it’s out, I’ll review the research I’ve done on potential markets. The concern I have is that it may not be science fiction enough for the skiffy markets, but too genre for the non-genre markets.
Anyway, thanks to all of you who wrote to express your good wishes when I sent it out into the world. I’ll mail it out again on Monday, and let you all know what happens.
In other news, I know I haven’t posted much, and I owe Freshhell a response to her meme. I’ve been traveling for work and generally knocking myself out, so I haven’t had much time for discretionary writing. I hope to get more done this weekend and next week.
The Unfocused Life 
Yay for rejection slips! I still don’t have any papery ones, though that’ll probably change soon. With paper ones, you know it’s come from the story place. It might have an infusion of writingness or something.
Keep going!
Wish I could help you on the on-the-fence-is-it-sf-enough question, but unfortunately a lot also depends on the editor. Who knows?
Best of luck next time, don’t give up.
I love your attitude about rejection slips. I also feel like a real writer when I get one–at least I’m submitting!
LFOX