What they are saying about my writing
Your stories are fantastic. You have a style which really draws the reader in, well it drew me in anyway! Thank you so much for sending them in.
I'd be delighted to publish both of them.
- a female editor
By the way, I really liked your last story.
- well-known short story writer
You write beautifully and I have no doubt that you're going to do very well but I'm afraid that I just didn't quite connect with it enough to feel in a position to offer representation. The market for debut fiction is at an all time low in the UK.
- an agent who deals primarily with celebrities
You write well. I spent a good bit of time reading both of your stories, and there is no question in my mind that they are worthy of publication.
- the good editor
We are happy to inform you and honoured ... to publish your two stories in the next issue.
- two stories accepted in one shot. As Wilde says, to get one in is fortunate, but to get both in looks like someone likes my work.
Unfortunately on this occasion we are unable to publish your work. As you can imagine, we are inundated with stories and poems . . .
- the bad editor (this stock reply is sent whatever is submitted)
We like it a lot, particularly its voice and its original take on contemporary Dublin.
- a well-known film critic
anyway, i am so happy that you've made a break. keep it going. you're fucking amazing! i love your writing.
- an American writer who earns a decent amount from her erotica
Just wanted to say that I really liked your **** **** piece. It's very well-written and looked at an interesting subject with a personal, humorous angle.
- there is reason to believe this female was once a biblio-femme
Eventually you'll wear the bastards down. Your stuff is excellent, so all you have to do is keep marketing it.
- an American writer, well established, but not a household name
It's just like a real book.
- a friend who knows famous people
He read it all, and he almost never finishes a book
- girlfriend of a university professor of English
I read the letter with interest and the stories with even more. I'll come to the point and tell you that I'm interested in accepting "******* ******" for publication. I'd ask you to confirm that the story is unpublished
- an editor
I suppose I felt,
reading them, as though I were standing outside a
circle chalked around them, if that makes any sense.
reading them, as though I were standing outside a
circle chalked around them, if that makes any sense.
- a more important editor
In Words Spoken Aiden O'Reilly brilliantly offers the reader a story of contemporary Dublin and the ordinary choices made in order to simply get by and survive.
- a reputable daily newspaper in Ireland
It reminded me of Ian McEwan's stuff
- college teacher of English
The truth is painful.
- the real-life person behind one of my characters
Just wanted to say I enjoyed your story "Iris Lady..." at 3AM Magazine today. The wide-eyed-ness of the prose was refreshing.
- email from a reader
Many thanks for sending me this material, which I read with interest.
Although it's highly inventive I'm afraid it just doesn't quite grab my
imagination in the way that it must for me to offer to represent it. So I
shall have to follow my gut instinct and pass on this occasion.
- yet another agent
I loved Aiden O'Reilly's short story Three Friends.
- Doreen Desserau of Cave Creek, Arizona. (comment found on a literary discussion board)