Hi all,

Justw anted to share this with teh group. I recently sent my posted story 'Jesus in a Chat Room' (posted in the archive)to a US online magazine. They deal specifically with cyberpunk/fantasy stories and I felt the piece was really suitable for them.

Here is the response:

James,
I just got a chance to read your piece last nite. I thought it was very interesting and a good read. To be very frank, though, I'm well...non-Christian, to say the least. For that reason alone I don't think that we can use it at this time. If you have any other works you'd like
to submit, I'd be happy to check them out.
- Editor

Now I thought this was a good rejection and I am submitting anotehr story to them later today. However, it seems a little silly to reject it on these grounds. I mean, I'm not a Christian either, and I wrote the damn thing!

Anyway, just wanted to share.

JB

James, how weird! What a crazy reason to reject something. I’m not Christian either – that’s one of the reasons I thought this story was so hilariously funny…

There just ain’t no accounting for some people.

It’s their loss. Better luck next time.

Dee
x

Yes, that does seem a bit strange, that he rejected it on those grounds. Oh well, he didn't have any crits on the story, maybe the next "non-christian" piece you send he will be forced to either accept it, or give you a better explaination for the grounds of disapproval.

Well, he did crit it by saying it was interesting and a good read, which is something I suppose.

I agree Dee. It's the strangest reason I've ever had for a rejection. Imagine if Shindler's List had never been published on the grounds that the editor wasn't jewish! It seems a little subjective to me, but there you go!

JB

Maybe he's a Satanist, or from the little clue in the reply...the Anti-Christ himself?

That's the only reason I can think why anyone would reject it on those grounds!

Even then it would seem harsh!

Maybe you should mail him back and argue your case. I dunno how these online things work, but maybe its more free and easy than "real" publishers?


Dav

Well, he doesn't look like the antichrist (at least, not how I imagine him, and I should know, I've dated about 5 versions of him!) and he seems friendly enough.

I did explain it was a pastiche and I found it a little strange he thinks it even promotes Christianity. Maybe because Jesus wins in the end. He basically explained he doesn't want anything remotely religious in his mag, which is fair enough, but urged me to send him other examples of my work. So in a way, it is pretty positive really.

Now watch him reject 'A Little Black Rain Must Fall' on the grounds that it's 'chemical'

JB

As rejections go, that looks like a good one. I know a lot of people who react the same way, believing that their principles of being non-religious means that they have to shy away from anything which even might feel (if they gave it the chance) slightly religious. But if they think its ironic, and somehow a dig at the religious machine then bingo!

That's probably not a big help but what I did see in the rejection is the potential of continuing the dialogue. He's rejecting it, but he seems interested in you. Might be worth giving him a ring.

Colin M

Christian or whatever religion, you have to have a knowledge of religious history to get your piece.
Anyway, he wants to see more - good luck with Black Rain.

Elspeth

Thanks Elspeth.

Colin - He is in the Us, so I won't actually be ringing him but we're having an interesting chat over email.

Cross fingers.

JB

Oh James, you really make me laugh -

Well, he doesn't look like the antichrist (at least, not how I imagine him, and I should know, I've dated about 5 versions of him!)

That's brilliant. You already know that I'm a fan of 'Jesus in a Chat Room' - I think you do anyway - but I think that perhaps the real reason this guy rejected the story was because it might rile up some bad feeling from Pro or Anti Anything You Like people. It's a very effective and chilling story about what goes on in Chat rooms - and it being a Christian chatroom - it might be too close to the knuckle for some.

Good luck with it though - I'm sure you'll find the right publication for it.

Nahed

Thanks Nahed. I'll certainly keep trying. I know that our American cousins are a lot more easily offended about these kind of things than we are over here.

JB