The joys of the R word

One of my New Years resolutions for 2012 is to enter as many short story competitions as possible. Now, given my full time job and everything else this doesn't lead to many short stories but I'm still writing 1 or 2 a month.

A while ago I got my first rejection letter. I knew that story would be rejected, it was appalling. 

Today I got a letter in the post.  I didn't look like a bank statement or anything else boring so I got excited.
'Look piggys,' I said to the three eager balls of fluff beside me.  'Another rejection letter.  Yay.'

I meant this with sincerity.  I was excited about another rejection letter!  Rejections letters mean that I'm a writer, I'm writing and sending my writing out there into the world and someone I don't know is reading it and one day, maybe one day, it won't be a rejection letter.  It'll be an acceptance and I'll have made it.

I tore open the letter with vigour.  It was a spam letter from Very.co.uk offering me 10% off...