True story -- I recently received an anthology invite from an editor I like, but had a little trouble coming up with a story for the theme. I eventually decided to go in a strange direction, and started writing a story I wasn't sure I could pull off. It was different, it was outside of my comfort zone, and I kept asking "But what if it sucks???"
The editor apparently decided it was cool, and just asked me to do what should be a pretty quick rewrite.
If the story had sucked? Well, I'm guessing and assuming I would have gotten a rejection. That would have sucked too, but it happens. I've gotten rejected from these invite-only projects before, and it hurts, but it's not the end of the career. It wasn't even the end of my relationship with the editors in question.
Not entirely sure what my point was here, except that I think what you're describing is absolutely normal, no matter where you are on the food chain.
And I think the fact that you worry is also something that will push you to make the story even better.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-12-02 08:10 pm (UTC)The editor apparently decided it was cool, and just asked me to do what should be a pretty quick rewrite.
If the story had sucked? Well, I'm guessing and assuming I would have gotten a rejection. That would have sucked too, but it happens. I've gotten rejected from these invite-only projects before, and it hurts, but it's not the end of the career. It wasn't even the end of my relationship with the editors in question.
Not entirely sure what my point was here, except that I think what you're describing is absolutely normal, no matter where you are on the food chain.
And I think the fact that you worry is also something that will push you to make the story even better.
Good luck!