So far so good for the October Submission Game (title pending)!
On October 1 I submitted a story to Strange Horizons. They're following me on Twitter now, and I can only assume it's because I have, in my Twitter history, shared stories from their site, retweeted some things, and mentioned how I always love their stories which is why I sub to them. But it's hard not to read into, y'know? I tried to tell myself I wasn't that kind of writer. But we all are, if even a little. Ugh.
On October 2 I submitted a story to the Apex magazine Stealing the Spotlight microfiction contest (you have 'til the 15 to submit, in fact). 250 words or less, on five beasties they don't feel get enough spotlight. Super cool! I wrote a hellhound story. I feel like they fit into my Urban Fantasy "mythos" pretty well, and I can revisit the notions.
On October 3 (today!) I submitted a story to One Story magazine. I've gotten personalized rejections from them in the past, so maybe this one's the one! (heh, get it? The one? One story? I'll just let myself out....)
I also still have two pending submissions from prior to the game's start. I daresay if I get an acceptance (!) on one of them, I'll give myself a day of grace. Time to get some more pieces ready to submit, as right now it looks like I've got thirteen or fourteen or fifteen I'm "sure" of (sure is an iffy state of mind), and obviously that's just about half. I could write four more stories for the Apex thing (you can enter up to five, one for each beastie) and that could be fun.
I thought I was brave. Sheesh. I spend so much time on one project, I can't imagine having multiples in the queue. Are you attempting to submit one story per day for Oct? Short stories haven't been something I've done a lot of...hardly any. Very impressed!
ReplyDeleteI don't know if I'll have 31 things I can submit, but I am going to try, yes.
DeleteSome of these are stories which have been "finished" for a LONG time, which I've got polished to some degree of public acceptability. I used to write far more short stories....other than my Bad Fantasy Novel (written during high school), the noveling has been in more recent years.
Good luck on making your entries - but even if you don't...STILL,such an accomplishment.
ReplyDeletePrediction: If you don't win the flash tomorrow, you should at LEAST get an honorable mention. When I read yours, I was like "whoa, good one!"
Wow, thank you! I saw a lot of good pieces, like yours as a for-instance. It's tough competition over there!
Delete31 things subbed, even if rejected, is 31 things which can go someplace else afterwards. It's a win-win, really.
You hit the 31? Holy cow. Agree - lots of other places to land'em if they are rej'ed. I wish there were someplace to see a list of all online pubs accepting. Is there such a thing? If so, I'd have to think it's a monster of a list. I'm constantly discovering new places other authors I know are submitting their stuff to. Mind boggling, but nice to know the door doesn't shut so quick, right?
ReplyDeleteNo, not quite at the 31. I meant IF I get there (I am trying...one "complete" story I liked when I wrote in high school...well, it doesn't quite work and I'm unsure how to fix it. The delete button is getting its use.)
DeleteThe Submission Grinder does let you search places which only take electronic submissions, whether they pay, what they pay, genre, etc. It IS a monster list and I can't claim to be familiar with all of it.
Of course, there's also the detail that some places open to online subs have a "processing fee" (like Ploughshares and the Illinois Review)