Tag: writing tips

2020 Writing Review Part 1: Submissions

This year, I’m going to break up my year-end review into three or four posts so I can do a deeper dive into the data. I’m starting off with the raw submission numbers, and I’ll cover rejections and acceptances in their own posts, as… Continue Reading “2020 Writing Review Part 1: Submissions”

A Week of Writing: 12/14/20 to 12/20/20

One more week of writerly endeavors. Here’s how I did. Words to Write By Here’s a great quote from novelist Nora Roberts “[As a writer] you have to have the three D’s: drive, discipline and desire. If you’re missing any one of those three,… Continue Reading “A Week of Writing: 12/14/20 to 12/20/20”

Close Calls: The Shortlist Rejection

I’ve discussed the shortlist rejection a few times on the blog, but it’s worth revisiting, mostly because I’ve gotten a bunch this year. 🙂 First, a definition. A shortlist rejection is when the publisher sends you notification they’re holding your story for further consideration,… Continue Reading “Close Calls: The Shortlist Rejection”

A Week of Writing: 12/7/20 to 12/13/20

Another week down. Here’s how I did. Words to Write By Here’s a classic quote from William Faulkner. “In writing, you must kill all your darlings.” ― William Faulkner We’ve all heard this one before, and it’s been repeated by a lot of authors. What… Continue Reading “A Week of Writing: 12/7/20 to 12/13/20”

A Week of Writing: 11/30/20 to 12/6/20

Here’s my past week of writerly endeavors. Normally, I’d try and play catch-up and cover multiple weeks since I haven’t posted one of these in a while, but the last month and change have been pretty hectic, so I’m just gonna start over. 🙂… Continue Reading “A Week of Writing: 11/30/20 to 12/6/20”

Submission Protocol: Ask the Editor

As I’ve stated many, many times on this blog, you should always read submission guidelines carefully and completely. Nine times out of ten, all the information you need to successfully submit a story will be there in black and white. But every once in… Continue Reading “Submission Protocol: Ask the Editor”

Good as New: Evaluating Fledgling Publishers

I covered this topic back in 2016, and I think it’s due for an update. In the last four years, I’ve seen a lot of genre markets come and go (one that showed up and disappeared almost overnight), and there are some things I… Continue Reading “Good as New: Evaluating Fledgling Publishers”

Story Acceptances: 2020 vs 2019

Yesterday, I received my 15th story acceptance for 2020, which is one more than I received in 2019. That’s pretty cool, and I thought it might be fun (and even informative) to take a look at this year’s acceptances, compare them to last year’s,… Continue Reading “Story Acceptances: 2020 vs 2019”

Six Speeds of Submission Response

How long does a short story market take to respond to a submission? Does the response time differ with rejections and acceptances? These are questions every author, new and old, needs to know in order to strategize where to send a new story. In… Continue Reading “Six Speeds of Submission Response”

Submission Statement: October 2020

A little late with the October tally, but here’s how I did. October 2020 Report Card Submissions Sent: 10 Rejections: 5 Acceptances: 2 Publications: 2 Further Consideration: 0 October was a legitimately good month submission-wise, and I managed a respectable number of subs plus… Continue Reading “Submission Statement: October 2020”