Alan Beard's site

This isn't a blog really, just a record of all rejections I receive with editorial comment (when there is one) and my comment. Might not be a good idea but useful for my records and maybe of interest to others. I also put occasional entries on what I'm reading, my PLR statement etc..

Story: At Gloucester Docks

Mag: Bristol Story Competition

Editorial comments: none

My comment: Congratulations to all on the longlist, I didn't make even the notable list. Ah well...

Story: The Flabby Man 

Mag: 100 word story

Editorial comment:

Thank you for sending us "The Flabby Man". We appreciate the chance to read it because we believe that making art is such a daring, wonderful act.

It's difficult for us because despite the number of great pieces we receive, many of them don't quite fit into our editorial needs. We're glad you thought of us, though, and hope that you'll submit again. We receive too many manuscripts to make individual comment possible, but we do wish you luck in placing this with another magazine.

Thanks again. Best of luck with this.

Sincerely,

100 Word Story

My comment: had had this piece published before, but it had disappeared from the net, so asked if I could submit again, and the editor kindly said yes. Be nice to get in there, looks a lovely site...

Story: At Gloucester Docks

Mag: Fish Short Story Competition 2016

Editorial Comment: None

My comment: Congratualtions to the winners announced this week. I wasn't among them..

Story: Ladybird; The Room Peels; Ice Cream

Mag: Conium Competition

Editorial comment: Even though "Ladybird; The room peels; Ice Cream" was not selected by this year's judge, we appreciate your submission and your interest in our small press.

My comment: send 'em off again...  (later: Ice Cream has been accepted by Skelp.

Story: Ladybird; The room, the house, the whole thing

Mag: Bridport Flash Fiction Competition

Editorial comment:

My comment: heard that winners had been contacted, so not me again. Congratulations to the winners.

Story: November

Mag: Fish Flash Competition

Editorial Comment: -

My comment: Same as last year:  Not even on the very long long list, again. Anyway, congratulations to the winners.

This year I have earned a whopping £2.86. Might buy a half pint to celebrate.

Story: Ice Cream

Mag: Fish Flash Competition

Editorial Comment: -

My comment: Not even on the very long long list, again. Anyway, congratulations to the winners.

Story: Ice Cream

Mag: Every Day Fiction

Editorial comment: 

Dear Alan Beard,

Thank you for your submission to Every Day Fiction. I regret to inform you that we are unable to use it at this time.

There is a vivid image of Rodge at the end. Apparently something has happened to him? But is the man talking to the pov character responsible? What has happened? How do these characters know each other? Do they all work at the shop? I am lost in this story.

-- Jenn Goddu

I like the realism of this piece, the way it jumps into things unhesitatingly. The voice here strikes me as being sure of itself, having a kind of fluid chattiness a la Roddy Doyle or Raymond Carver.

For this to be worth publication, though, I think it would probably have to have more tension, as it seems to easy to read, if you understand what I mean. There probably isn't quite enough to draw the reader in.

An admirable piece, though. Writing style is excellent.

-- Andrew Cochrane

There were some really good descriptions here. I particularly liked how clear this guy was in my mind, and how the protagonist felt about him, even from the start. The prose, while tight, felt precise and intentional, which is a strong point as well. Yet, I'm not sure it has the kind of arc we usually go for. I can see this character realizing he/she will soon be working for this guy, and how he/she feels about it, but that only seems to set a stage by foreshadowing a future conflict. While the character goes to find some solace in some ice cream at the end, that conflict nevertheless feels unresolved.

-- J. Chris Lawrence

This has a good hook and is intriguing. But I'm afraid this leaves way too many questions unanswered and things unexplained to be satisfying.

-- Sealey Andrews

The character descriptions are vivid and the voice feels authentic. However, the comments above are an indication to me that much of our readership might have trouble sorting out the implied details and following the story. This piece might be better suited for a more purely literary readership.

-- Camille Gooderham Campbell

Unfortunately due to the insanely massive amounts of submissions in our slush pile, we cannot reconsider your piece at this time.

We wish you good luck in placing the story elsewhere.

Sincerely,

All of us at Every Day Fiction

http://www.everydayfiction.com/pages/

My comment: thanks for the comments. One day I'll get in!

Story: The Brilliant Wife

Mag: Gemini Flash Fiction Competition

Editorial comment:

GeminiMAGAZINE

Thanks so much for participating in our Flash Fiction Contest this year. It was truly an honor to read your work. We received over 1,300 stories and they brought us much enjoyment. Watch for our next Flash Fiction Contest in April or May. Our Short Story Contest opens late this month.

The winning flashes can be read online at http://www.gemini-magazine.com/.

My comment: Try again next year..

Story: No Beatles' Song

Mag: First Stop Fiction

Editorial Comment:

Dear Alan,

Thank you for the opportunity to read your work. There's a lot to like here, but we are going to pass on this piece.

I appreciate the concise language and I like the "box no bigger than an eye." But I had a hard time making sense of what was actually happening, and some of the details (like each word being carefully pronounced) didn't add much for me. Just my take, of course, and other readers could easily feel quite differently.

Thank you for thinking of First Stop, and feel free to try us again in the future.

Sincerely,

Justis Mills

Editor

My comment: Thanks for the crit, Justis. I will try again. PS it's not 'no bigger than an eye' but 'no bigger than a die' (singular of dice)...

my royalties statement came today: minus 75 pence on 'You Don't Have to Say' (three returns) and minus 43 pence on 'Going the distance' (I edited): four returns. So that's 75p off the royalties I didn't get on Feb 28th (see below). I did once get a royalty cheque for £2.95. I was thrilled...

Story: Ice Cream

Mag: Bridport Competition (Flash Fiction section)

Editorial comment: None

My comment: just found out winners and those on the shortlist have been informed. I haven't been informed, therefore not a winner. Curses.

Story: Two parties

Mag: BBC Short Story Competition

Editorial comment: nil

My comment: realised i hadn't made it when they announced the all-women shortlist.