The WF I-Sold-A-Story/Poem Thread

[brewpat]

Well done, George.

[lasm]

All right, not sure if this will make me happy or a traitor to my Art, but I will have sold a story on the condition that I replace my precious swears with something less offensive. I think the story is better with the swear--even the editor says she thinks so, but their standards are their standards, which is understandable.

I'm inclined to bend, as it's a paying market and it would be nice to be accepted. Two I can scrub easily enough. One is harder but I think I can replace it with a lighter swear while retaining 85% of sentence impact, 60% with no swear at all (these numbers were scientifically obtained, of course).

Is there a good reason not to do it?

[Jon M]

.

[lasm]

Yeah, that's the place. It's really not gonna ruin the story, so despite the one sentence I think is kinda lessened, I don't feel too dirty or compromised or anything.

As a hater of mustard, probably I should not have been throwing stones in the first place.

Thanks!

[Jon M]

.

[Leyline]

Congrats lasm! What story if you don't mind?

And happy, of course. Rewrite requests are par for the course, every writer gets them some time or another. As long as they aren't trying to make you fundamentally alter the story itself, I don't think it's a big deal.

[Cran]

Is there a good reason not to do it?

Not unless:
1. You'd rather starve; or
2. You want a reputation among publishers that you are difficult to deal with.

Reasons to do it:
1. Getting published is sort of a goal of being a writer; and
2. You can always publish the original version later; and
3. The money.

[moderan]

And then there's the money.

[lasm]

Which, by the way, recently found a home in the same le Journal yours did.

Congratulations, that's great! I've found I like almost everything they put up, I think it's a cool spot.

Congrats lasm! What story if you don't mind?

And happy, of course. Rewrite requests are par for the course, every writer gets them some time or another. As long as they aren't trying to make you fundamentally alter the story itself, I don't think it's a big deal.

Thanks! No, it's not a big change at all, and I've agreed to make it. In any case, their guidelines do say they ask for profanity to be removed, so I was forewarned (just didn't really think I'd get in) and don't mind that much.

Not unless:
1. You'd rather starve; or
2. You want a reputation among publishers that you are difficult to deal with.

Reasons to do it:
1. Getting published is sort of a goal of being a writer; and
2. You can always publish the original version later; and
3. The money.

Whaddya mean, I don't get to be a primadonna at this stage of the game?!

And then there's the money.

Can't remember the exact quote or where it comes from (Of Human Bondage, maybe); something to the effect that the only people who sneer at money are the ones who've never had to earn some. Me, I do not sneer.

[dale]

Whaddya mean, I don't get to be a primadonna at this stage of the game?!

well christ. i've only completed 8 stories and i've already been a "prima donna" once. i worried about what cran mentioned, too.
but oh well. i didn't want my name attached to that hatchet job they did on it. i won't make a habit of it, though.