feuervogel | Rejected.

I got the rejection email from Viable Paradise. The letter said they received way more applications than they could accept and they could not accept me. (Though I think there's a typo, because they couldn't have accepted 28 people...) It's also "not an indicator that your work was subpar in any way" and the instructors "strongly suggest that you apply to VP 16 next year."

Do I read that as "yes, please, you should apply next year" or "we're just saying that, because everybody we reject gets the same letter"? (Hello, ~~little~~ insecurities.) I mean, I can't imagine anyone who's not serious about writing would go to the trouble of sending in the application form (and $25 fee) for something that'll cost them $2000 all told (tuition, hotel for a week, travel).

Argh.

So I guess I'll revise the story I applied with, especially the parts I've been told were too infodump-y (I still have NO IDEA where else I can work them in), and send it out to other places. Starting with Lightspeed, because they give lightspeed rejections and I can send it out elsewhere within 48 hours. (When I met the assistant editor at ReaderCon last year, she said, "try us first!" because they won't hold on to the story forever unless they want it.)

But for today, the plan is this:
- hem the other edge of this pretty remnant and finish making it a wrap/shawl thing. Sadly, the first hemmed edge is kind of rough-looking, because the second fold was bigger than I wanted it to be. (I have to French seam it, because it's likely to fray.)
- play more Dynasty Warriors Gundam 3.
- if I need to give my wrists a break, watch more Gundam Wing.