Active vs. Passive
I got me some cover flats for Snow Queen on Saturday. So naturally, much of that day was spent scanning and uploading to my various sites … turns out I have a lot of ’em. Go figure. Anyway, click the thumbnail for a larger version.
Speaking of things princess, stormsdotter sent me pics of the sweet Talia costume she made. Not only that, but she immediately went out and kicked Batman’s ass, because that’s what you do when you have a Talia costume. Check ’em out!
And now, on to today’s grammar lesson. I’m sure someone, somewhere, has made this joke before, but I couldn’t find it anywhere. (I assume I don’t need to tell people not to do the last one?)
ACTIVE VOICE:
Jim submitted his manuscript to the editor.
PASSIVE VOICE:
The manuscript was rejected.
PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE VOICE:
Dear editor,
I know you’re too busy with your bestsellers to actually read submissions from new writers. I appreciate that your unpaid intern was able to take thirty seconds to glance at the first page of my manuscript. Thanks for getting back to me after only three queries. A friend of mine didn’t hear back on his story at all, so I appreciate you responding in only two and a half years.
Thanks,
Jim
D. Moonfire
February 7, 2011 @ 10:14 am
Think there was an Aggressive Voice response to that? 🙂
Jim C. Hines
February 7, 2011 @ 10:33 am
Ha! Very likely, yes 🙂
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February 7, 2011 @ 11:27 am
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zollmaniac
February 7, 2011 @ 2:46 pm
So far, my luck with rejections has varied greatly. I got a 3 week turn around from one editor and then a two year turn around from another.
zollmaniac
February 7, 2011 @ 2:47 pm
You’ll just have to wait 2 and a half more years to get it… amirite?
Jim C. Hines
February 7, 2011 @ 5:49 pm
I think my quickest were a few same-day rejections on short stories, but I’d have to dig up my old records to be sure. Longest … a few stretched into years, and then there were those stories that simply disappeared and were never heard from again.
King Rat
February 8, 2011 @ 3:03 am
You know how some people can’t rest if people are wrong on the internet?
I am mentally incapable* of not commenting when people use the term “passive aggressive” incorrectly on the internet. Even when they are joking.
Damn you internet!
Passive aggressive does not mean sarcastic. It does not mean passive. It does not mean assholish. It does not mean anonymous (particularly anonymous notes).
*Probably actually capable.
zollmaniac
February 8, 2011 @ 8:50 am
Don’t give up hope… you never know when the phantom rejection letter will strike!
Jim C. Hines
February 8, 2011 @ 8:52 am
I actually submitted a short story to an anthology yesterday. There’s a project deadline though, so I imagine it will be a month or two at most before I get rejected 🙂