This is one of the best rejection letters I've ever received from a literary journal. I don't know if this is standard fair, but they do a pretty good job of making a writer feel better about their rejected work.
Dear Steve,
Thank you so much for your submission to the Brain Mill Press 2015 Driftless Unsolicited Novella Contest.
We received a highly competitive cohort of entries to this year's contest. Your submission compelled and interested us, and we were honored to read your novella. Every novella was read in its entirety, more than once, and it was enjoyable and humbling work.
We're honored you submitted your work, and though The Adamantine River Passage will not be included in the 2015 Driftless Series, we'd encourage you to submit to the series again, or to another Brain Mill Press call in the future.
Thank you again, and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us. Your entry fee will be applied to membership to the press, so you will continue to receive newsletters, announcements, and press discounts on titles. We have a mission at Brain Mill to build community, and we hope you'll continue to consider us for your work and to find good reads.
Respectfully,
Brain Mill Press Editors
