Well, that was odd...

[prusik]

I just heard back from IGMS, more or less on schedule. However, what they told me was that when I emailed them my submission, I'd attached a copy of the RTF of their submissions guidelines rather than a copy of the RTF of my story. Odd...

Now, I don't doubt that when they opened up my email, and looked at the attachment, they saw a copy of their submissions guidelines rather than my story. However, sitting in my Sent mail folder is the e-mail I had sent them three months ago. When I open that email, I see an RTF of my story. Considering that I've never even seen an RTF of their submission guidelines (only the plain text), I have absolutely no idea what happened there. I certainly couldn't have sent what I don't have. Obviously, strange events are afoot.

They said that I'm not the only person to do this. I'm interpreting this as "I'm not the only person this has happened to." So, something weird is happening to a bunch of submissions. (I hope they don't think I'm one of those people who don't follow submissions guidelines.)

Anyway, they suggested putting the story, as plain text, in the body of the email, just in case. So, if anyone is submitting to Intergalactic Medicine show, consider putting in your story as plain text along with attaching your RTF, Word or WordPerfect file.

Comments

[orogeny.livejournal.com]

Ack! And you're so careful!

I'm sorry that happened to you. I hope it's a sale, when they finally get the real story. :)

[avocadovpx.livejournal.com]

Hmm, the same odd thing happened several times. The common element is the magazine's inbox, and possibly their hardware. If I were their slush-handler, I would have to seriously consider that the problem was on my end, which they may have already done, and word the form letter to allow that the fault might have been mine or was of indeterminate origin.

However, it's a much more honorable response than if they had just sent a standard form rejection, either to hide their own technical difficulties or to rid thsmselves of a submission that accidentally might not have followed the guidelines.

[avocadovpx.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah -- good luck with the resubmitting!

[prusik.livejournal.com]

To be fair, their exact words are: "Yours is not the first to be received this way,
and we have yet to figure out exactly what is going wrong."

I think that's suitably circumspect. I think I've spent so much time eliminating passive voice that I now do it automatically as a matter of course. (This is really going to screw me over when I write something where passive voice is exactly the right tool.)

I'm only disturbed because I did exactly what I did when I sent to Clarkesworld and to InterZone. I know they received my stories because I received personal rejections. (Or perhaps they're psychic...)

Anyway, I'm glad that I get to submit it again.

[krylyr.livejournal.com]

That really sucks, man. Good job getting it back out to them, though. And thanks for the heads-up.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

That is SO bizarre.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

Oh man, you waited three months to hear about a mail screw-up? Hard days! On the other hand, it wasn't a rejection, so, um, yay.