Thursday, April 24, 2008

on publishing


I get tired of rejection letters from magazines no one reads. A lot of times those magazines will reject something, and I just change the title and send it a magazine I like, which usually works.

I don't keep very good track of things, so sometimes I think I'm being rejected, and really, nothing is happening. It's hard to tell the difference between rejection and nothing happening.

Sometimes I come up with theories about why my stories are being rejected, but actually, I haven't sent them anywhere. My theories usually are related to the perceived lack of interest in hallucinatory visions of Gumby.

Some magazines make you mail things, but I am too impulsive to mail anything, except seasons of DVDs to relatives who have shingles and are tired of everything on cable. Sometimes an activity like that can take all day, and I don't even have shingles. I'm not convinced mail ever leaves Chicago.

Anyway, I've included this rejection letter from Disney. I would like to receive a rejection letter like this. Perhaps I already have, but I don't check or open my mail.

4 comments:

potato said...

here's what the letter says, if you can't see it:
June 7, 1938

Dear Miss Ford:
Your letter of recent date has been received in the Inking and Painting Department for reply.

Women do not do any of the creative work in connection with preparing the cartoons for the screen, as that work is performed entirely by young men. For this reason girls are not considered for the training school.

The only work open to women consists of tracing the characters on clear celluloid sheets with India ink and filling in the tracings on the reverse side with paint according to directions.

In order to apply for a position of “Inker” or “Painter” it is necessary that one appear at the Studio, brining samples of pen and ink and water for color work. It would not be advisable to come to Hollywood with the above specifically in view, as there are really very few openings in comparison with the number of girls who apply.

Yours very truly,

WALT DISNEY PRODUCTIONS, LTD.

Anonymous said...

I often feel like I'm being rejected when really I just haven't sent anything out in a long time. I need to become more organized and energetic.

All rejection letters should have snow white on them. Also, does that letter really say that?

potato said...

Yep, it really says that. And that's really Snow White.

Megan said...

we should send a copy of donald barthelme's totally raunchy version of "snow white" to disney. it's like my favorite-ever version of a fairytale. they probably don't even know it exists.