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In a Dilemma - What would you do?
I'm really annoyed with myself. I stupidly sent a story to a woman's mag, having cut the opening paragraph to reduce the word count to their preferred length, and now realise that this leaves the ending very weak. In the original version the ending reflected the beginning which has now gone. The weakness of the ending spoils the story. Do I:
a) e-mail the mag, explain and send the original version (making me look totally unprofessional)
b) Wait until the story is rejected, then re-send with the original opening in the hope that it will make it somehow acceptable (though they might still reject it and I'll look totally unprofessional) or
c) Wait for the rejection and send the original somewhere else.
Of course there is the faint possibility they might accept it, then I'd have the problem of whether to go with their acceptance or again admit that I thought the story much better with a different opening. I feel really stupid and have resolved never to send anything again without first leaving it a couple of days then reading it OUT LOUD which is how I discovered my mistake.
What would you do?
Comments
But consider the editor might like the story and want changes so you could then send the correct version.
I've often sent poems to comps too soon, you live and learn.
If so, I would send the amended version with an apology.
If not, and it will be in the story 'slush pile', then I would wait to see what happens - I think it may just get confused, and possibly irritating for the editor, if there are different versions floating around. If they do buy it anyway, I would leave it as it is, unless they ask for changes. Who knows, they may prefer the version you sent!
If it comes back you can try it elsewhere, then maybe resub to the original mag in a year or two.
Surely spotting and correcting mistakes makes you look professional?
After all, everybody makes them!
PS did I see Kay Seeley in a writing magazine letters column this month?