September 2008 Archives

Sent "The Other Side" out to Realms of Fantasy.

Form from Ballista for "Tiffany and the Unicorns."

Got a personal rejection from Beneath Ceaseless Skies for "Fox-Woman"

Clarkesworld reopened to submissions this weekend, so I started reading slush.  So far, it's going pretty well.  My only complaint is that I feel pretty isolated from the other readers.  I have never met any of them--I've never even emailed them.  And when one of them claims a story it vanishes completely from my account, so I can't see what kind of things that they are saying about the stories they are reading.  It makes me really miss sitting around the table at Pete's house with him, Bill, and Joseph reading things and talking about them.  I am so thankful for all of the experience I have with Triangulation and with Write or Die, because it's boosted my confidence in myself to the point where I can actually go through a story and decide to reject or reccomend it. 

Also, the Drabblecast discussion forum isn't terribly active, but most of the responses to my story have been positive.  Only one person really didn't like it.  Of course, that one is the respoinse that sticks with me, which is completely stupid and I'm trying not to let it bother me. 

I sent my story to The Drabblecast last Wednesday.  Today, it is up. 

Check it out!  I'm very pleased with how it turned out.  Norm Sherman's reading is superb, the sound effects and music are fun, and it's just awesome.  It's the perfect venue for my over-the-top story. 

I just got an acceptance from The Drabblecast.  They're hoping to run "Snuffles" this week!  

I just sent "Seasons of Friendships" to Fantasy Magazine. 

You know what I hate?  I hate when editors use the word "alas" in my rejection slip.  It just irritates the crap out of me.  It's not necessary, and it's not true.  Skip it.  If I ever use the word "alas" in a rejection slip, I hope someone calls me on it because it's bullshit. 

I wrote another drabble and sent it in to the Sam's Dot Drabble Contest run by The Drabbler.  I also found a contest from Hightlight's for Children (which I read as a child) that will be open during January 2009.  I've requested a sample copy of the magazine to see how much has changed since I read it as a kid, and I'm hoping that I can write a few stories for them, and then send something in for the contest.  They do buy all rights, but they also pay $150+ for 500-800 word stories. 

Today I got word back from both Realms of Fantasy and Fantasy and Science Fiction.  Both sent me personal rejections.  This is the first time I've had a personal rejection from either, though I did get the hopeful yellow rejection slip from RoF the last time I sent them something.  This time, Douglas Cohen wrote me a note on the bottom, which is very cool of him.  My Fantasy and Science Fiction rejection was actually signed by Gordon Van Gelder, which is new.  Overall, while I'd of course be happier with acceptances, these are the best sort of rejections.  

Sent "Snuffles" to The Drabblecast.  I also finally managed to write a drabble (a 100 word story) that I will probably send to them after I get a response to this submission.  

I'm going to be a slush reader for Clarkesworld! 

Can you believe it???  I'm not sure I can. 

Woot!

Got a rejection for "Fox-Woman" from Fantasy Magazine, sent it back out to Beneath Ceaseless Skies. 

I worry that my stuff isn't weird enough, because I have been reading a lot lately, and most of it is pretty out there.  I like most of it, but it's really nothing like what I write.  People apparently don't publish stuff like the stuff I write. 

I'm scared that I'll never make it.  I work so hard, I send stories out over and over again...sometimes it feels like it's really for nothing.  I'm scared that it's for nothing.  I really want it to not be for nothing, and that's what makes it so scary.  But I have to keep trying.  It's all I can do.

Sent "The Other Side" out to Fantasy and Science Fiction.

I'm skipping my writers meeting tonight for chocolate covered strawberries.  I love chocolate covered strawberries.