You know, you never can tell in this business.

After a series of small successes, I was starting to feel good about my writing again. I had sold two stories--neither of which I considered to be anywhere near my better stories--in the last two months and my best work was still out there waiting for editor responses. I hadn't received a form rejection from an editor in I couldn't remember how long.

Then, today, I received a form rejection on a story that Kris Rusch told me she'd buy were she still editing F&SF, and it wasn't even from one of the top three mags.

Sigh.

Oh well, back out it goes. (Okay, I edited a few flaws I had since discovered before I resent it.)

Man can this game be tough on the soul.

Joseph Haines, signing off from The Edge of the Abyss.