Never give up, never surrender: My 44-year quest to sell a short story to Analog

Posted by: Scott Tags: Analog, Ben Bova, my writing Posted date: February 1, 2016 | 23 Comments

I made my first short story submission to Analog in 1972. Seven days later, editor Ben Bova rejected it.

Why am I telling you this?

Because 44 years and two editors later, I’ve finally sold a story to Analog!

And here’s how I got from there to here.

On June 22, 1972, when I was but a wee lad, I slid the manuscript of a story titled “No Pun Intended” into a manilla envelope and mailed it off. I no longer have any idea what that story was about, and I no longer have the ability to check. Long ago, I destroyed all evidence of my first three novels and 25 short stories. So all I know is … it included a pun, because I made mention of that fact in my cover letter, and because of, well, that title.

On June 29, I received this response.

I didn’t realize at the time, since I’d only been submitting my fiction for a year or so, how rare it was for someone as green as I was to receive anything but a form rejection slip. I also didn’t realize how many years of sending additional stories to Analog I’d have ahead of me before I’d receive a second personal response.

But even if I’d known, that wouldn’t have stopped me.

I’ve lost track of how many submissions I made to Analog during the intervening years, first to Ben Bova, then Stan Schmidt (for more than three decades!), and now Trevor Quachri. Were there 25 short stories? Fifty? It’s probably been more than that, but I don’t know for sure. And it doesn’t really matter.

What matters is—in the face of rejection, I kept writing.

What matters is—in the face of rejection, I kept submitting.

What matters is—I never took it personally. I knew that I wasn’t the one being rejected—it was only the words on the page that weren’t the right match.

What matters is—this is proof that what I’ve always believed, what I’ve continually said in panels and workshops—is true. It’s the tale, not he or she who tells it.

What matters is—if we find joy in our work, if we let the work be its own reward, if we worry more about our next story than our last one, eventually the walls will fall.

Even ones which have remained standing for 44 years.

And not just for me.

During the San Jose Nebula Awards weekend a few years back, Sheila Williams mentioned that she’d just purchased a story from someone for whom it was their 72nd submission to Asimov’s. I loved hearing that! It reminded me of the truth embodied in a Samuel Beckett passage I’ve always held close to my heart—

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.

But it also strengthened my belief in that great quote from Galaxy Quest. You know the one—

Never give up! Never surrender!

I didn’t. And I won’t. And 44 years later, I’ve sold an 11,600-word story to Analog as a result.

One final thought: Don’t worry … even if you should come to a different decision in your writing career, should decide you need to step back from the struggle, whether for a short break or for a lifetime … I won’t judge you. And I’ll still love you. I just want to support your dreams, whatever they are, in any way I can.

Now you’ll have to excuse me. I’ve got some celebrating to do.

23 Comments for Never give up, never surrender: My 44-year quest to sell a short story to Analog

Eric James Stone

Welcome to the club. 🙂

Scott

Thanks!

Walter Rhein

Nice! I hope you’ll have a follow up article with the story link (if there is an online version). My writing career has been the same way, although I’ve submitted things to many different magazines. Usually if they are rejected, I just send them off to the next magazine in line. Ralan.com has some great suggestions for markets.

For a long time, placing articles and short stories was part of how I provided for myself while I lived in Lima, Peru. These days I’m back in the US. I’ve had some luck and had a couple novels published. The last one was with Janet Morris of Perseid Press. Janet is famous for having written the Thieves’ World books.

If you’re interested in a review copy, let me know. I’m becoming more and more convinced that the standard media is pretty much stacked against the little guy. If I can help you out in some way, I’d be happy to do so as well.

Best, and congratulations!

Scott

Unfortunately, I’m not working in an editorial capacity these days, only writing, so I can’t get the book reviewed. But good luck with it.

And I love Lima. Wish I could visit there again!

Michael A. Burstein

Wow! Congratulations and welcome!

Scott

Thanks!

Chris East

Wow, that is truly awesome, Scott! Way to go!

Scott

And congrats on YOUR inspiring success!

Dean K Miller

I’ve been eyeballing a publication for almost two years now. Still working on that first submission. Lord knows, if I have the same success as you, I’ll be 98 when that happens, and yes, I will celebrate like you.

Scott

Keep it up!

Guy Stewart

I REMEMBER my first sale to ANALOG…I think I made my first submission around the same time you did — congratulations, MAN!!! (PS — I STILL speak Captain Peter Quincy Taggart’s words to myself…like, you know…today, when I got a 15 hour “no” from a mag I’ve been published in! So have a good time!

Scott

Thanks! And believe me — I’ve gotten rejections from editors after I’ve made them sales. There are no guarantees in this world. It’s all about the story.

David Lubkin

I like how Jane Yolen, with 280 books sold, still gets rejected. Every day. And posts about it. Never give up.

So, congratulations. For not giving up. For the sale. Now sell them another one….

Sean Monaghan

Well done. And yes, the joy is in the writing. I think I submitted to Asimov’s on and off for around 30 years before making a sale. Still waiting to make one to Analog, though Trevor has sent some encouraging personal rejections. Not quite so wonderful as Mr Bova’s. Perhaps next time. And, yeah, congratulations.

Scott

I had a sonnet published in Asimov’s back in 1989, but no fiction sale yet, though I’ve been trying since the magazine began. But I shall not cease from submitting!

Claire

Every aspiring writer should read this. Every person who thinks, ‘If he/she can publish X, then so can I!’ should read this. Everyone who’s ever said, ‘Damn, if that’s what you get paid for writing a short story then I should do that!’ should read this.

Everyone should read this post, and a post about how long the waiting game is, especially for short stories. Anyone have a post like that?

A huge congratulations to you. Analog is a fantastic magazine and your story must be amazing!

Scott

Thanks so much!

Sanford Zane Meschkow

Hey, folks, I sold one of the first stories I ever submitted to Ted White’s AMAZING in 1974 and haven’t hit the target since. But a while ago I cleaned out my files and came up with a pile of hand-signed rejection letters from John W. Campbell, Ben Bova, and others. I showed them to a friend who deals in autographs and he auctioned them on eBay and I made back enough to have paid me back for all the postage I spent over the years, plus having the fun of writing the stories. So– DON’T give up! Your rejection slips MIGHT become collectible!

Brad R. Torgersen

Scott,

From 1992 to 2010, I submitted a great many stories to Analog, and received a great many rejections. After I finally cracked the ice—with a novelette—I went back through those rejections, and noted the one or two times (early on) that Stan gave me some very generous advice. Especially considering the beginner quality of the work, from ’93 through about ’98.

Closing escrow—with this particular magazine—was the culmination of twenty years of dreaming. So I know if what you speak. It is to this day the most venerable English-language SF publication in the world. Some of the greats have built their names in it, and still grace its pages. Getting to be in Analog—and especially getting an AnLab with that very first novelette—was (and still is) supremely satisfying.

Heartiest congratulations, Scott! It’s not how many times you get knocked down, but how many times you stand back up, that counts.

(raises a glass)

John Adkins

Congrats! I look forward to reading the story!