Today's thoughts on writing are about things I can't control: not getting rejection letters. To be fair I started running into this 20 years ago with Academia. Getting that first interview and then...nothing. And academia is very slow so it's nothing to wait 6 weeks and you're there thinking do I do this other one when I REALLY want this place.
I see it all the time in publishing now. A friend just found out he didn't win an award to an award he was nominated for by seeing an award list somewhere. No one had even bothered to send the nominees the list first. I'm sitting around with my files because I've gotten serious enough about short story writing that I have spreadsheets of dates submitted and when I see it's been 6-8 weeks or after they said they'd notify us I go looking. How many times have I been there (all of us been there) sitting around in hope eternal thinking oooo it's been a long time I must be in the top 10! Only to find out the book's been out 2 weeks and no one bothered to reject me.
It's actually pretty dehumanizing. It's enough to make you want to toss in the towel (especially giving the pay scale or worst when it's an actual teaching job) Sometimes you're warned about it. 'we don't have time to reject you.' Fair, it's on me then if I submit and often I do not unless it's a very cool theme or the pay is great. I DO keep score on the ones that don't tell you they're not going to be telling you and just ghost you.
On the other hand right now the two upcoming anthologies the editors are in contact often and that is so reassuring and wonderful and I would write for them again.
So how do you deal with this side of publishing? Any insights? Just roll with it? Grumble a bit (My choice)
OPEN CALLS
Flashpoint Science Fiction 2024 Open Window #2 Terrific Tomorrows Offshoots: Humanity Twigged great pay but I wish it was a bigger word count
A Killing at the Copa: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Barry Manilow Okay this isn't great pay but what a fun theme
Impressions Volume 1 Check this one out. It's amazing in scope and pay
5 Paying Literary Magazines to Submit to in April 2024 38 Themed Submission Calls and Contests for April 2024From around the web
3 Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Stakes in Your Story A Grumpy Millenial’s New Guide to Social Media Imposter Syndrome: Am I a REAL Writer? The Delights and Dangers of First-Person Narration How Self-Published Authors Can Sell Books (and make money doing it)Book Launch Ideas for a Successful EventFrom Betty
Five Ways to Make a Selfish Character LikableReconciling Character Choices With Your Plot Five Plot Questions for Revising Your Manuscript How Do Cannons Affect Your Naval Combat? Finding Your Story’s Throughline 5 Simple Ways to Create High Stakes in Your Story What is Your Writing Barrier? Ways to Know Your Characters, Part 4- Strengths First Page Critiques: A Look At The Best Novel Edgar Nominees Why Writers Should Use Psychology In Their Storytelling How to Combine Myth with History to Create Historical Fantasy Character Type & Trope Thesaurus: Psychopath I write enough of them...
Sharing with Purpose: Lessons from Mister Rogers Deciding between projects? Put your horses in a race GENRE EXPECTATIONS: WRITING STEAMPUNK AND GASLAMP one of these days I'll finish ANY of my stuff in these genres as I love them but...yeah I don't know what my problem is.
UNEXPECTED TIPS ABOUT WRITING THE LAST CHAPTER OF YOUR BOOK always a challenge
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