Top 10 Reasons a Story gets Rejected at AlienSkin Magazine
The story:
- Has guidelines issues: It has a word count above or below our stated word count maximum or minimum; or, It doesn’t fit the genres we publish.
- Doesn’t contain a speculative element.
- Contains stereotypical characters or too much generic detail.
- Has a plotline is an overused one, offering nothing new to other such tales. (such as, werewolves on the prowl, psycho killers, humans become part of an alien zoo, etc.)
- Contains a character, plot or science that does not come across as credible/believable.
- Contains lame dialogue, weak central character, or story revolves around a week plot twist a the end.
- Conatins little drama, or the main character is so unlikable, we lose interest.
- Is all ‘tell’ and no ‘show’, thus, it is told to us verbatim by the narrator and we never become privy to the thoughts of the story characters.
- Contains too many technical errors; such, as improper Point of View/POV or tense switches.
- Is a sluggish read. Prose is too wordy an needs tightened or there is too much extraneous narration or description. Story takes too long to get to anything significant. The narration rambles on.
