It might come as a surprise to you, but the majority of
stories rejected by literary magazines are good. At least, there is nothing
wrong with them. They have a fine plot, developed characters and accomplished
language. Why are they rejected, then? Because writing a good story is not
enough. Your competition—and that’s what the other writers are—crafts well. You
are not competing with half-wits amateurs. Your story has to stand out. It has
to be best of the best. As simple as that.
