I’m ending the year with recent feedback I received from one of the literary magazines I’ve been regularly submitting to. They opened up with an immediate “Thank You” and followed it with other supportive information. The condensed version: summarize in one sentence what the story is about, think about what the story does and how it leaves the reader, take yourself and your writing seriously and continue to write. I appreciate their response, regardless of the form letter (to receive any comments is amazing in this day and age, especially from a prestigious lit mag). Their care in providing that reaction to my story gave me further incentive to push forward, which every writer needs at some point, especially when starting out.
It was the positive reinforcement booster I needed and enjoyed hearing. I love the fact that they thanked me for the opportunity to read my writing. I also want to thank them for providing the resource to have my work published.
Thank You Glimmer Train for your feedback!
Glimmer Train caught my eye back in the 90s when I wasn’t taking my short story writing seriously; wait, let me rephrase that. It was the beginning that led to where I am today, now taking the time to become a published short story writer and novelist. I have been submitting regularly to Glimmer Train, revising every step of the way the pieces I’ve crafted, the narratives that say listen to me.
I love what I do. A smile appears on my face when I write, alone in my world, carefully creating a realm that pre-exists only in my mind, learning how to share it with you, my audience, my readers. Writing can be a great deal of time spent alone, but it is also spent with many other people. Research, editing, feedback from fellow writers—all of it—is a process that I thoroughly appreciate regardless how frustrated (at times) I may feel. The reward—the completed story—is worth it.