Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry January 30, 2012 - 12:01pm

Wanted to share this with all of you, primarily because when I am dumb I immediately feel better if I can share it.  Sort of as if the stupid is being diluted with the attention.

So I just submitted a story to a couple of magazines.  Very excited.  Stock cover letter to Dark Discoveries.  Attach document to email.  And away.  To Nameless Magazine, same.  A bit of copying, a bit of pasting, and away.  For those of you who don't see where this is going:  when I was doing all that copying and pasting and awaying, I neglected to change the info from that of the first magazine to that of the second.  So the second magazine has a cover letter that is actually addressed to the first.

*le sigh*

I am an idiot.

avery of the dead's picture
avery of the dead from Kentucky is reading Cipher Sisters January 30, 2012 - 12:13pm

Awww.  You just went too fast.  Slow down, silly! 

PopeyeDoyle's picture
PopeyeDoyle January 30, 2012 - 12:30pm

Your writing career is now over.
 

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry January 30, 2012 - 12:31pm

I'll have to make a Mickey Rourke-esque comeback.

R.Moon's picture
R.Moon from The City of Champions is reading The Last Thing He Wanted by Joan Didion; Story Structure Architect by Victoria Lynn Schimdt PH.D; Creating Characters by the editors of Writer's Digest January 30, 2012 - 12:41pm

What's great about mistakes is that you can learn from them. I wouldn't worry too much about it. I read somewhere that all those editors and agents know each other. They may laugh at your expense, but it's not the end of the world. Hell, it may work in your favor. The next time they see a story from you, they might be more inclined to open the email because they may think they'll get another laugh.

When I send a story out, I send it to one place at a time. This way I avoid making the mistake of changing the names, and if that one picks it up, then I don't have to send out emails or letters telling the editor that my story has already been picked up. 

Besides, I, and a lot of others here, have read your work. I'm sure if they read it, the work will speak for itself and they'll past your faux pas...

Fritz's picture
Fritz February 6, 2012 - 11:31pm

As a long time reader of your work - good luck.

Utah's picture
Moderator
Utah from Fort Worth, TX is reading Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry February 7, 2012 - 6:15am

@Fritz:  word.

postpomo's picture
postpomo from Canada is reading words words words February 7, 2012 - 6:50am

I hear you - I sent my resume with an 8-digit phone number once...