Thanks Olive, it was an upsetting experience. Yes, I do question what 'qualifications' such people have to be so dismissive and critical, especially when it's not constructive or helpful. Everyone has the right to tell their story and publication owners and editors don't have a right to control the narrative like that, and diminish someone's story. I'm always open to genuine helpful feedback and appreciative, but didn't feel it was the case in this situation.

Initially I felt there was a bias over what I was writing about. Specifically asking, why would a mother put her children into care, unless she was mentally ill. Even in these times, to say that was terrible. When I read that 'note', I was just going to cancel the submission and publish elsewhere. But something made me stay with it, to make sure I wasn't being unfair.

So I rewrote the entire story, making it clear the historical content and harsh reality at that time women faced. I wanted to make it clear that such women weren't 'mentally ill'. Initially the editor seems pleased with my re-written story, and said she would look at it in the morning, citing how open I was being and a pleasure to work with. So I was happy I made the effort to rewrite it. However, about an hour later, I got lots of private notes. Some were valid, such as an error I made with the protagonist's names.

But other comments seemed more nit-picking and three comments were very unconstructive and negative. I felt upset having to justify what I knew myself about the circumstances of my birth and how the women were treated, etc. But it was a waste of time sadly. I wasn't willing to justify my birth or be made to feel I was to blame and bad, which I was starting to feel. So I think my initial response before re-writing the story was right, and I shouldn't have rewritten it to please the editor.