Wednesday, November 4, 2015

IWSG - Anthology Release, October Stats & Links

Today is the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. 


The Insecure Writer's Support Group was created as an outlet for us insecure writers, our doubts and fears. Share your insecurities or some inspiration for those feeling insecure. 

A thank you out to our esteemed co-hosts this month:  Stephen Tremp, Karen Walker, Denise Covey, and Tyrean Martinson. Stop by and visit them to say thanks!

I'm actually excited this month, because an anthology I'm in came out yesterday! It's only in e-book form for the moment, but other versions are coming out soon. The Deep Dark Woods is an anthology of horror involving...the woods, edited by Christina Escamilla.


Fear abounds. It may be creatures that only you can see, or the fevered imaginations of your nightmares. Perhaps these monsters are the ones that bite and claw, or the ones that come out of the grave. No matter what, when you go walking in the woods at night...you may not make it back out.

15 Short stories from some of the best horror writers around!

My short story, The Blue Mist, is in this collection. It can be purchased for $2.99 on Kindle currently. I'll post the other options on my publications tab when they're available.

Even with this good news having come out just in time for Insecure Writer's Support Group, I'm currently worrying about a magazine I have a story coming out in. All I know is that it's due out in November, but here we are in November, and I haven't heard a peep since the acceptance last winter. Did my return email with the contract not get received? Or does my story not need edits? So far, I've not had any stories returned for editing (remember, I AM the grammar nazi), but the acceptance on this one specifically said there were some editing suggestions they'd have. Maybe there was a change of mind? I have no idea. I guess I'll know if/when it releases, at this point. I'm trying not to stress about it. 

And, of course, by this time next week I'll probably be back in a slump, feeling like I'm a failure and a pretender to the title of author. Ups and downs, that's the roller coaster of being an author.

I do my submission stats each month with my insecurity post to keep myself honest. In October, these were my stats:

I submitted 6 stories.
I got 8 rejections.
I got great feedback on 1 of those rejections.
I got 1 magazine acceptance for a short story.
I have 4 publications pending. Only 1 has an official release date announced (~gnaws fingernails down to stubs~).
I currently have 8 stories on submission.
I have 3 stories I need to turn around and get re-submitted, but I'm holding one for a specific publication that isn't open to submissions currently, and the other two were just rejected this week, so I haven't turned them back around yet.

I also post markets taking submissions each Wednesday, so without further ado:

Please bear in mind that I'm not endorsing any of these markets, merely passing them along. Always do your own due diligence when researching markets.

Accepting Submissions:

Black Denim Lit is accepting submissions of genre fiction. They prefer literary style. Under 7500 words. Pays $.01/word. 

Mslexia is accepting submissions for their 69th issue, with the theme Monster. Stories up to 2200 words or poems up to 40 lines. This is a paying market, but specific pay is not mentioned. Deadline December 7.

Shenandoah is accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Nonfiction must be related to Shakespeare. I'm unsure of pay, but it is supposed to be a paying market. Submissions close in December.

Scary Mommy is looking for amusing essays and lists. Under 900 words. Pays $100. 

Highlights is accepting submissions of work for kids. They also take submissions from kids! Up to 500 or 800 words, depending upon age group you're aiming for. Pays $150. (Does not pay writers under 16.) 

Inkubus Publishing is accepting submissions for The Supornatural Collection, Volume 1. Male on male erotica involving supernatural creatures. 500-10,000 words. Pays $10 and a contributor copy. Deadline December 4.

Contests:

Colorado Mountain College is holding the Common Reader Program Art & Creative Writing Contest. Creative writing of no more than 1500 words. Cash prizes. Deadline November 20.

How are you doing with submissions? Writing? What are your insecurities? How do you overcome them? Any good news to share?

May you find your Muse.

44 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congrats on The Deep Dark Woods! The cover looks awesome! I'll have to add it to my TBR list :)

That magazine thing sounds a little fishy to me :/ But I guess there's nothing you can do (besides harass them, which I guess isn't a good thing) so chill? It'll be ok :)

Computer Tutor said...

Congrats on your success! I can't imagine having that many balls in the air. Good luck!

Loni Townsend said...

That looks like a creepy compilation! Good luck with your submissions, and yay for the four pending ones!

Debra Renée Byrd said...

Have you tried giving them a nudge about the edits? That might help. I'm in revision mode for my works, but I need to get to them. lol Maybe after I finish this book I'm reading, I'll take a break from reading for the rest of the year. I've gone past my Goodreads goal anyway.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Congrats on that anthology! The cover is so awesomely creepy. :)

Yolanda Renée said...

I'm concentrating on writing, well I was until today. Hmm... anyway, as far as insecurities, I've simply pushed them aside. I'm busy! :)
Thanks for the links!
Happy IWSG Day!

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
I really enjoy coming by your blog every month that we blog hop on IWSG. I hope you hear about your short story soon, and congratulations on having one of your stories published in a horror anthology.
Shalom,
Patricia

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations on the anthology!
Sorry you haven't heard back from the magazine. That is cutting it close.

Angela Wooldridge said...

Wow, great post - you are SO organised! I am watching and learning :)

Crystal Collier said...

Ooh! I love that cover, and the blurb. I'm going to have to grab myself a copy methinks.

Arlee Bird said...

You are so ambitious. You put so many of us truly insecure writers to shame.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

klahanie said...

Hi Shannon,

All the very best with that anthology and hearty congrats, Shannon. Your writing resilience and determination is most admirable.

I have no writing insecurities. As for the rest of my life, um...

Take good care,

Gary

Stephen Tremp said...

Shannon, best wishes with everything! Sounds like you're staging marketing events rather than going for that one big promotion. I'm sure things will go great!

Stephen Tremp
November 2015 IWSG Co-host

dolorah said...

Congrats all around Shannon.

TBM said...

Congrats on the compilation. Sounds creepy and what wonderful timing for it. Weird about the magazine story. I hope you hear from them soon.

Roland D. Yeomans said...

The Deep Dark Woods does have a great cover. I hope the sales are high. I put in a story for the Insecure Anthology, but the odds are against me there. But impossible just gives rise to legends, right? Thank you for all the links.

Diane Burton said...

Fantastic cover! As creepy as the blurb. One of the things I admire about your posts each month is your list of accomplishments. Congrats on the "good" rejection. An editor took the time to give you feedback. Best wishes for a great November.

Olga Godim said...

Congrats on your story in the anthology. Submissions are a sore topic for me, because I have so many rejections, and acceptances are so rare. But you keep submitting regardless. Kudos to you! I hope your courage in doing so is contagious. Maybe it'll rub off on me, and I'll start submitting again.

Juneta key said...

You are always so inspiring and prolific. Wishing you much success for all your submissions. I also enjoy your posts.
Juneta Writer's Gambit

Traci Kenworth said...

Still working on my 2nd draft--I write slow and the first draft only came in at 30k so I'm having to triple that amount in this version to bring it up to what I need. I'm only at 30k right now.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Yeah, I considered sending an email, but I think that's not the best idea. Chill, I will!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I wouldn't have it any other way!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Thanks!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I've gone back and forth on whether that's a good idea. I actually have an email ready to go that I just haven't sent. I did go to the website and saw that they're running behind, so...well, it doesn't help much knowing that.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I do love the cover!

Shannon Lawrence said...

You can be forgiven for lapsing from writing on IWSG day. ;)

Shannon Lawrence said...

Thank you, Pat!

Shannon Lawrence said...

It is, but I've since found they're running a bit behind (I looked at the website.)

Shannon Lawrence said...

I imagine I look more organized than I am.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I hope you like it!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm someone who either does something right away or procrastinates, so I try to stay on top of things.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Hey, we all need to be confident about something!

Shannon Lawrence said...

That about sums it up. Multiple reasonable goals instead of the one I know I can't accomplish right now.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Yes, a Halloween release for a horror anthology. Perfect!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Good luck on the anthology!

Shannon Lawrence said...

It's always great to get feedback on a rejection. Have a great November!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I hope you do, Olga! As of last week, I have 81 rejections under my belt, and many more to come.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Thank you, Juneta!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Ugh. My WIP is too short, too. Happily, I knew some things I needed to wind throughout, but it is a lot of work. I write fast, but I revise slow.

Christine Rains said...

Congrats! You're doing fantastically. I'm waiting on a few submissions too, and I got two acceptances this past week. Now I need to catch up on things after my mom's visit! Have a wonderful weekend. :)

DMS said...

Congrats on the release of the anthology! How exciting! Looks like you are working hard. Keep it up! :)
~Jess

Shannon Lawrence said...

Congratulations on those acceptances! I hope you catch up quickly.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I need to be working harder, but I'm trying. Thanks!

J.H. Moncrieff said...

Those are great submission numbers! And the anthology looks amazing - love the cover.

As for the magazine editors, have you given them a nudge? Can't hurt.