It's IWSG time! Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh.
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a dozen new people each time. Be sure to link to this page and display the badge in your post.
My insecurity is the same as usual. Rejection after rejection received.
My numbers for 2014 stand at:
16 rejections
4 still out on sub
7 stories to re-sub
3 stories that have been through critique group and need a final edit before sub
The kids start back to school in 1 1/2 weeks, though, and I'll be throwing myself into editing and writing during the day again. Here's hoping I get some acceptances.
Now for some links.
Accepting Submissions:
Eldritch Press is accepting submissions for their steampunk anthology The Lost Worlds. Up to 20,000 words. Pays $.08/word.
Shades of Romance Magazine is open for articles with the theme "children's books." Deadline September 1. Query before submitting. Also taking short stories, devotionals, and fillers. Pays $10-$25, depending upon type of submission.
Ginosko Literary Journal is accepting short fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, interviews, social justice concerns, and spiritual insights. I'm unsure of payment details.
Max Avalon is accepting short stories. Speculative fiction. 5000-20,000 words. Pay unknown.
Perihelion is looking for science fiction short stories (not spec. fic., ONLY hard sci-fi). 400-1600 words or 2000-8000 words. Pays a maximum of $75 for longer works, a minimum of $12 for the shorter works.
Daily Science Fiction is accepting speculative fiction stories of 100-1500 words. Pays $.08/word. They would love to see a flash series of three or more.
Freelance Job Available:
Good Catch Publishing, a Christian publisher, is looking for freelance writers to conduct interviews and write pieces on inspirational true life stories of overcoming. Stories average 3500-7000 words. Pays $175 per story. A friend works there and says they're great employers.
Contest/Award:
The Sustainable Arts Foundation is offering a Visual Arts Award and a Written Arts Award. This is for those with a child of under 18. $6000, with multiple awards being given. Deadline for application is September 8.
Blog Stuff:
Kyra Lennon is hosting the Charity Cat Anthology Hop, to be held September 5. You can write a story of up to 2500 words. This is for a charity anthology.
Of Interest:
The Noteboard is an interesting little deal for writers. It's index card sized, but unfolds into a much larger board. Dry erase and comes in a pouch.
What are your insecurities? Any of these links of interest to you? Anything to say about any of them? Have you got any submissions out? Anything to share?
May you find your Muse.
22 comments:
The fact that you're getting rejections means you're sending your stories out into the world and that is HUGE. Think about how many people never even take that chance....
Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Sorry to hear about the rejections. Hope you get some good news soon! :)
Keep at it! You're one step closer to an acceptance.
Life seems to go in phases. You'll hit the acceptance cycle soon! Thanks for the links - I'm particularly interested in Good Catch Publishing. Thanks!
It gets to the point that one wonders if there's anything but rejections out there. But hold on. The acceptance will come when the time is right. I never kept count of all the rejections/stats simply because receiving them is depressing enough.
Thanks for the listings. The Eldritch Press thing looks interesting.
It gets to the point that one wonders if there's anything but rejections out there. But hold on. The acceptance will come when the time is right. I never kept count of all the rejections/stats simply because receiving them is depressing enough.
Thanks for the listings. The Eldritch Press thing looks interesting.
Oddly enough, I have never been rejected. My 1st book went right to the publisher, who was then clamoring for the 2nd. But.....this does not mean I took a quick trip to paradise. Publisher isn't doing anything to market book 1. I did virtually all, and am a stopping point. It was there I got rejections from radio and newspaper outlets. Book 2 has been done for 2 months and is sitting with my publisher as we battle over a cover design. I liked the 1st one very well. He didn't. So, the point is, getting published simply isn't the end of the line. It is, however, nice to be a 'published author.'
Pete Klismet, author "FBI Diary: Profiles of Evil" and "FBI Animal House" - the latter of which 'should be' out soon! "FBI Diary: Home Grown Terror" is nearly done. Guess what. I have another publisher who'se seen the 1st book and wants the 3rd one. For the neophyte writer, this is a very confusing business!!!
I have two books out on submission and that fear or rejection never goes away.
Fingers crossed those acceptances start coming in soon. :)
I started a story for the steampunk. Hope I can finish it and do it justice.
Keep at it. This is not an easy business.
Keeping my fingers crossed for you!
Rejections suck. Big time. Opened letter after letter, then email after email for YEARS before finally getting a flash piece into an ezine.
Keep at it!!
"There's an English word for a beginning writer who never gives up. Published." - J. Konrath
Don't be discouraged. It just takes one yes to make your dream come true. You can do it!
There are ways around the rejections...
Good post, Shannon--great idea! I got 60 rejections before I decided to go it alone..just sayin...
I feel like I am FOREVER away from being ready to submit my WiP to anyone. It was a very real accomplishment to finish the rough draft, then edit it to a place where I liked it a little. And now I read it, revise, but think... some of this is FANTASTIC. Now, I just need to peel away the less than fantastic.
All that said... hang in there! When the right fit comes along... kaboom!
Rejection is a real parasite. It can suck you dry if you let it. Unfortunately, in this business, you get rejected more than accepted even after you acquire an agent or a book deal. That's what I'm learning. I'm getting a little better at picking myself up after I'm knocked down without lying on the ground in a sad heap too long!
It's only a matter of time before somebody sees what you have. My mom once told me, "It doesn't always matter how talented you are. Sometimes, they're just looking for a different talent. It doesn't mean that you're any less talented than they are or even that they liked the other person more. It justs means that you haven't found what suits you yet."
Dang, I need to get submitting so I can get some rejections :)
Your numbers say you're a hard working writer. Here's to back to school. I can't believe it's here already.
Madeline, that's true! I keep going, because eventually it will be an acceptance.
Emma, thanks!
Alex, I'm trying!
Jenna, I like that thought! I did hit a nice acceptance cycle for a little while, and now the void, so it will come back around. Good luck with Good Catch!
T. Drecker, sure feels like that's all there is sometimes, but I just need to keep working and improving. Good luck with Eldritch Press!
Pete, nice to have avoided the rejection portion of the biz, but sounds like you've had an uphill battle elsewhere. Hopefully you can switch to a different publisher who helps out.
Susan, I'm sure it doesn't! Good luck to you on your subs.
Julie, thanks!
Mary, good luck with the steampunk story!
Lara, thank you!
Terri, love the quote!
Murees, that one yes will definitely trump all the noes.
Andrew, of course! But this is a path I want to take and try for now.
Nikki, it will take me awhile to hit 60. Continued good luck with your path!
Robin, I'm there on my first ms. Took a break over summer to focus on short stories, but kids are going back to school next week and I can buckle back down again.
Dianne, rejection as a parasite is a good comparison. It really does suck the energy right out of me, but then the hope fills back in.
Rachel, your mom sounds like a smart lady. Thanks for passing along her knowledge!
Donna, yes you do! Join me in the Land of Rejection (and then Acceptance)!
Lee, I can't believe it's here already, either. I always get stuck on thinking school should start in September, after Labor Day.
Henry Rollins said, "We all learn lessons in life. Some stick, some don't. I have always learned more from rejection and failure than from acceptance and success." I tend to agree Shannone.
Post a Comment