Wolf Althuis at Abandoned Towers informed me today that they're accepting a reprint of my story "Hero for Hire" for the online version of their magazine. This tale was my first-ever published work way back in January of 2010 at A Fly in Amber, so it's obviously had a well-ensconced place in my heart. But the Abandoned Towers crew didn't take it as-was…
1. There are way too many asides in parentheses. Some of these could be removed to streamline the reader's experience.
2. The pacing of the story is mostly very good, but there are a few times where it gets bogged down in details, boring the reader.
3. There are a few things that should be cleaned up, namely frequent word repetition.
4. This line needs to be adjusted to be within our language guideline of no swearing: “My bro's a real dumbass.”
Suffering from no delusions that "Hero for Hire" was perfect, I went to work on the revisions and had it back to Mr. Althuis a few weeks later. Here's what the team had to say today:
1. The story is well paced and very funny. The descriptions and point of view from Darrell is very well done; it’s a great view into his mind and his delusions.
2. There are enough funny parts and action to hold a person's interest in this story. I enjoyed reading this and thank you for your submission.
3. I love the voice in this piece. It has that imaginative tone to it that you remembering having when you were ten, fighting off invisible monsters. The main character is awkward, honest and quite loveable. He has his faults, but he tries hard.
No $ for this one, but a chance to share "Hero for Hire" with new readers. I'll post a link as soon as it's available.
Congratulations!! That is awesome, Milo. And now that it's cleaned up to perfection, maybe someone else will pay $$ for it.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! ("Dumbass" is a swear word now?)
ReplyDeleteAlex: You never know. I'm kind of testing the "reprint" waters lately; 2 for 2 so far. When I get paid the first time around for my work, it's all about further exposure after that.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth: I was a little confused by that, particularly since their submission guidelines say they accept "PG" material. Regardless, "dummy" is an okay substitute, I suppose.
Nice work, Milo. Glad for you, and to know that some reprints can find a home. And BTW, great post series for A to Z, it really is a great resource for all of your followers and represents a lot of effort on your part.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! More exposure is always a good thing. :)
ReplyDeleteVery cool, Milo! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI would be put off by the "no swearing" rule, though. There's no justification for censorship. Ever.
Li: I'm glad it was helpful; just doing what I can in my corner of the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteLiz: Mos def.
Joe: Even for young readers? Editors have a right to make their own rules, but we don't have to follow them.
'grats, Milo. Rewrites are good for a writer's soul.
ReplyDeleteEven when we don't want to do them.
I've had good experiences with three of the four rewrites I've done this year; for the most part, I like the story better after I've cleaned and cleared it up a bit.
ReplyDeleteVery very cool! It was great to see the before and after feedback. Congrats on another acceptance!
ReplyDeleteDumbass is a bad word? Yikes. I'm in big trouble.
That's great. It's always good when more than one publisher likes your work.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for all the fantastic A-Z posts. I've started submitting stuff to one or two of those you suggested. Here's hoping!
That's fascinating, Milo. It illustrates the diffrences in editorial taste. What's perfect for one market, needs a little re-writing for another.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations. And hoorah for reprint markets.
Congratulations! This demonstrates how submitting your work can pay off and that writers should listen to constructive critism.
ReplyDeleteEllie Garratt
Congrats, Milo! I've sold 2 reprints this year, too. This might just be me, but re-placing them felt better than how I'd felt when I placed them originally. Did you feel that way at all? One flash was originally published in 2004, and the poem was in 2007. I still had this feeling of "it's probably a fluke" sometimes back then (and now and then still, if I'm being honest). That someone wanted them even as reprints felt like a kind of validation. It wasn't just an accident! Does that make sense. :)
ReplyDeleteSometimes a writer's brain is a funky thing.
Anyway, congrats!
Jennifer: Thanks; yes, I'm pretty sure you are!
ReplyDeleteJuliet: That's so cool. Keep up the good work.
Deborah: I think it's a tighter, better version now because of it.
Ellie: Mos def.
Shelley: It makes perfect sense to me!
CONGRATULATIONS! :D
ReplyDeleteCongrats! How cool is that?
ReplyDeleteCate + D.U.: Gracias; I'm thinking it's pretty darn cool, but that might just be me.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! And thanks for sharing the "before and after" comments. Thoughtful crits like that are so valuable, aren't they? I know I appreciate them, even if I don't always agree with everything in them. :)
ReplyDelete(For what it's worth, I think "dummy" works just as well. It's not like they wanted you to take it out totally - just tone it down some.)
Milo: I've never been a believer in "cleaning things up" for young readers or viewers. Swear words aren't the devil. No one has ever been corrupted by a curse word.
ReplyDeleteI just hate to think that someone who chooses to support the arts by putting them on display would want to change that art to suit their worldview. I understand in this case it isn't something that makes a major difference, but to me it's the principal of it.
Madeline: I know what you mean, and I don't always like receiving negative feedback on a piece I think I've worked to near-perfection; but in this case, it was for the best, and the new version of "Hero for Hire" is much better than the original I had published last year.
ReplyDeleteJoe: I can see where you're coming from, and I'm sure kids are seeing/hearing plenty already in movies and online. But again, editors have a right to their own opinions, and I'm sure they turn down many quality stories for other reasons. In this case, I didn't have a problem with making the change.
Great stuff, Milo. A shame not to be paid, for sure, but it all helps, my firend, it all helps.
ReplyDeleteI love it when I can get feedback on my work. Sounds like you went above and beyond their expectations. You rock!
ReplyDeleteSimon: We've just gotta keep getting our work out there.
ReplyDeleteA.A.: Well, I do what I can.
Congratulations, Milo! Ah how I remember fighting those monsters---I'll be watching for that link.
ReplyDeleteHey, I listed some of the answers to my 80s TV trivia during AtoZ & gave a silly award to those who got answers right. You got one! Thanks for playing. ;)
I win? I win? (Mr. Bean)
ReplyDeleteA reprint, huh? That's wonderful, Milo! I've never sold a reprint, but it's been a while since some of my first stories were published, I am considering looking at my options. It's nice to hear of places that are open to reprints, thanks for sharing your experience. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteDuotrope's Digest is a great resource; you can narrow your search results to markets that allow reprint subs.
ReplyDeleteGreat news, Milo. That was a very funny story. How do you have time to research reprints when you're doing W1S1? I might repost my review when the story comes out. : )
ReplyDeleteI got a great deal on 30-hour days from eBay; it makes a big difference. I'm still in your debt for that awesome review -- I might have to post another link to it!
ReplyDeleteNice job, Milo, much like your wonderfully witchy output at Write 1 Sub 1. You're inspiring on so many levels.
ReplyDeleteHey, I used to read slush for AT! Cool. Congrats on the acceptance.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they sent out lots of rewrite requests, so I got to look over several of those stories more than once. But rewrites on a reprint? That's new to me. Ah, well.
Cheers!
Steve: Thanks, Flash-Master.
ReplyDeleteCourt: I'm glad they forced me to make it the best it's ever been.
Congrats!
ReplyDeleteGracias!
ReplyDeleteMore congrats. You are galloping your way to success! :O)
ReplyDeleteDoing my best with the coconuts God's given me. (Monty Python reference, not anything anatomical.)
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing the before/after revision feedback. Amazing what a difference taking constructive criticism to heart can make. To have received such specific feedback in the first place is invaluable. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteI agree; specific feedback is hard to come by, and I always appreciate it -- even if I don't particularly like it.
ReplyDeleteGood for you Milo. I hope it leads to bigger and better things.
ReplyDeleteMichael
More exposure is always a good thing.
ReplyDelete