When you send off a short story, it sits on the editor's…
“When you send off a short story, it sits on the editor's desk in the same pile with stories by the most famous and honored names in present-day writing-and it's not going to be accepted unless it's as good as theirs. (And it'll probably have to be better.)”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Success in publishing requires meeting or exceeding the standards of established authors, often demanding superior quality.
In simple terms: You must match or surpass top writers to be accepted.
Key Takeaway
Aim for excellence beyond the norm.
Themes
writing
competition
excellence
Mood
determined
anxious
Type
advice
motivational
When to use this quote
- submitting manuscripts
- seeking agents
- literary contests
Key Concepts
literary standards
editorial expectations
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you differentiate your voice?
- What defines “better” in literature?
A Different Perspective
Even superior work may still be rejected due to subjective tastes.