Two down, how ever many to go

[prusik]

Got my Clarion West rejection this morning. Actually, it arrived last night about half an hour after I went to bed. Too bad. I'd have slept better if I'd seen the rejection first.

It's the standard "too many good stories, not enough slots" type rejection. Next time, I'm seriously tempted to say "because I'm really sick of writing good stories that don't get chosen" when they ask me why I want to attend Clarion [West]. (Ok, this rejection merely allows me to infer that mine was one of those. However, I have gotten rejections that explicitly say that my story was one of those good stories they wished they could have taken. I figure that means I can complain about wanting to get over the hump without too much hubris.)

Clarion is supposed to get back to me today or tomorrow. I'm not optimistic. However, they could still be notifying people and someone has to be the writer they contact last. And, hey, ice cream. (Well, maybe not tonight. I have rehearsal from 6pm-10pm.)

Comments

[avocadovpx.livejournal.com]

Have you considered writing the bad stories that *do* get chosen? Based on some magazines and anthologies I've read, there's room to make a living at that.

Hoping for better news for you from Clarion. But, yeah, ice cream either way.

(I think you were right -- I can't find Mayan Chocolate H-D anywhere. It wasn't quite the same as the new Amazon chocolate. It had cinnamon dark chocolate ice cream with bits of fudge in it.)

[prusik.livejournal.com]

Ideally, though, I'd rather write stories on the level of Jim Kelly, Kelly Link, John Kessel, and Nalo Hopkinson. (This not an inclusive list, BTW.) Failing that, it still has to be a story that I want to see in print. (Yeah, I know. I keep throwing obstacles in my way.)

As for ice cream, like I said, the only current mention of Mayan Chocolate H-D I found on the web is at H-D's Canadian web site. If you go to WorldCon, perhaps you could pick some up then? Or maybe have someone going to WorldCon pick some up for you?

[avocadovpx.livejournal.com]

>> Ideally, though, I'd rather write stories on the level of Jim Kelly, Kelly Link, John Kessel, and Nalo Hopkinson.

Sounds like a pretty good anthology, or a pretty good Clarion.

>> If you go to WorldCon, perhaps you could pick some up then?

I'm still waiting to see if the Vietnam trip is really going to happen this year, but if it does, I expect that will be my Worldcon.

Sounds like a good reason to plan a visit to bmlg's neck of the woods some time in the future though.

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

Ah, crap. Sorry, lovey. I wish there were more to say, but Dip already beat me to any ice-cream related distraction, so I'll just leave it at that. Big ((((HUGS))))

[prusik.livejournal.com]

You call avocadovpx Dip?

[bogwitch64.livejournal.com]

That is the name several VPXers refer to him by, as in Avocado Dip. I think Dru started it, but I'm not sure. Usually, I call him Avocadoman. :)

[bmlg.livejournal.com]

I think it may have been Lucy - at least, she recorded her determination to do so on a thread in Room 50.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

My fault. I mean, it's not like you can shorten "Bart" so you have to get creative.

[avocadovpx.livejournal.com]

It'll make things easy for the program writer at the 2023 Worldcon (Montreal again) where Samuel Delany and I are co-GoH's.

[krylyr.livejournal.com]

Aw hell, man. Really sorry to hear about this. I was really pulling for you.

[garunya.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that, John :( Really hope Clarion makes the right choice :) Good luck!

[bmlg.livejournal.com]

The competition must have been astounding, is all I can say. I wonder if more people are going for workshops because of the economy, looking for a second / third income from writing?
Very sorry to hear it, and really hope Clarion doesn't miss the ball too.

[avocadovpx.livejournal.com]

>> I wonder if more people are going for workshops because of the economy, looking for a second / third income from writing?

It could also be that more people had six weeks available this year, because in previous years they had jobs.

[athenais.livejournal.com]

I'll hold out hope for Clarion. And if not this year, then next.

[ts52.livejournal.com]

Sorry to hear that John.
Here's hoping Clarion makes the right choice.