Getting published in the world of literary journals can be a tough nut to crack. Even a publication as open-minded as our friends over at McSweeney’s can be incredibly selective of what they choose to include. As a writer, it can be frustrating to know that your work is too weird or not relatable enough to find its way onto the printed page.

Luckily for those of us that can’t help but write strange (and sometimes incomplete) stories, the Orphan exists. The Orphan is a “non-profit, biannual, web-only entity devoted to demolishing literary preconceptions.” Inspired in part by the webzine Flurb, the Orphan gives writers a place to share pieces that otherwise might have never seen the light of day. Issue 1 includes, among other bizarre and wonderful pieces of writing, the following story:

Stalk by Tommy Wallach

The author composed this piece quite some time ago as a kind of fictional love letter to a girl whom he probably would’ve stalked, were he a stalker. When it was finished, it was sent to her. Unsurprisingly, this resulted in one of his most straightforward literary rejections ever.

Photo by Jordana Zeldin, used with permission.

Tags: literary journal, mcsweeney's, rejected stories, the orphan