It helps fuel ideas, keeping block at bay.
Have a dictionary, spelling to be fine.
If your writing is faulty, you can’t whine
When only form rejections head your way.
I read history (British), humorous novels (Wodehouse - there’s no way I’ll write like him so I indulge happily and adore his use of language), “entertainment” books (usually with links to radio shows like I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue). I read some crime and thrillers. Would like to read more fantasy short stories and more science fiction. Like the Doctor Who hardback novels the BBC issue every so often.
There’s no such thing as a wasted idea.
If it fails somewhere, press on, have no fear.
Almost anything can be reworked and then
Sent out to an appropriate market when
Hopefully an acceptance is all you’ll hear
I often send out stories that didn’t get anywhere with the Writing Magazine and/or Writers’ News monthly competitions out to other outlets, including various writing festivals. So far no joy there but it’s good to feel you’ve got work out there. I look forward to the day when, hopefully, I might get one or two honourable mentions here, all stuff to add to the CV. But the general sentiment expressed above is correct. Your story may fail for “good” reasons (like grammar, spelling, didn’t follow rules and so on) or for “arbitrary” ones (story fine but didn’t meet that judge’s taste. So therefore it is worth checking a tale to see it is okay and if so to get it out there again. You might then find a judge who likes it).