Wednesday, June 4, 2014

[Mostly] Wordless Wednesday - The Difference a Year Can Make, IWSG & Links

As many probably already know, we here in Colorado have been in a drought for quite some time (we are high desert, so it comes with the territory), though not as bad as California. This has caused the awful fires the last couple years. But last year, while we still had drought and fires for part of the year, rain came. If you've taken a geology class, you know that getting a solid amount of rain when the earth is parched isn't actually helpful, and can, in fact, be harmful, because the dry earth cannot suck up that moisture. Thus, you get flash floods and mudslides.

Last year, we had plenty of flooding, but one place that flooded was Cheyenne Canyon, which tore apart Seven Falls, a local landmark with...seven waterfalls. It actually ripped up chunks of roadway and destroyed the visitor center, and probably much more, but it's closed still, and I have no idea the extent of the damage.

Close to Seven Falls is Helen Hunt Falls. I believe there was damage to the road going up to those falls last year, as well, but the road was open when we went up there yesterday, so I'm not sure. I did want to go up to see it, as last year Helen Hunt Falls was a trickle compared to what it had been a few years before. I figured with the excess of water it saw last year, it would be fuller, so we went to visit. Below, you'll see a photo from yesterday compared to a photo from last year (below that). The angles are different (the falls was so pitiful last year, I really didn't take many photos), but I think the difference is clear.

Helen Hunt Falls 2014

Helen Hunt Falls 2013
Now it's time for IWSG - The Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by the one and only Ninja Captain Alex J. Cavanaugh. To join and share your own writer insecurities, click here and add your name to the list. All are welcome! Talk about whatever you want, whether it's something beating you down right now or something you feel will inspire others. 



I set a goal at the beginning of 2014 that I would be submitting to magazines regularly. I've done it! That's for sure. Thanks to the bloggy inspiration from a local friend, DeAnna Knippling, I'm trying to grow how many things I have out on submission at any given time. (This is an example of her attitude toward rejections.) This year, I've made a total of 18 submissions. I've gotten 11 rejections. I have 7 currently out on submission, with hopefully another joining within the week.  

You know those 11 rejections? I got 4 of them in the same week. That week was already an incredibly rough one for several reasons, so every rejection was an extra slap in the face, and I hit a major slump. BUT I got those stories back out the next week when I pulled myself up out of my wallowing.

So I survived those rejections. I survive each time. And while it doesn't get easier to see that rejection, while my stomach sinks just as low every single time, it does get easier to submit the stories in the first place. What's the worst that can happen? A rejection? Even a nasty rejection? So what??

My challenge to you is to submit, submit, submit! Write, polish, submit. Get a rejection? Send that bad boy back out to someone else. Write, polish, submit, get rejection, wallow, polish, submit, rinse and repeat. Whatever works. And each time you submit one piece? Polish another! Then submit it! Get out there, folks. It's the only way to ever make anything happen.

Now please, please, bring on the acceptances. Sob.

Now for some links!

Accepting Submissions:

Steampunk Trails is looking for steampunk stories of all kinds (Victorian to weird western). Deadline June 31. Payment is a flat fee of $20 and contributor copies.

Perspective Magazine wants short stories based on today's events for their debut issue. Deadline June 22. Payment is a share in ad revenue, as this is a free online publication.

Chicken Soup for the Soul is seeking your personal essays about The Power of Forgiveness. Deadline June 30. They pay $200, plus 10 contributor copies.

Inkstained Succubus Press has an anthology call out for Taking Flight, an erotic anthology of erotic fiction with wings. Deadline June 15. Pays in royalties. 

Rosarium Publishing is looking for "seapunk" stories set in Southeast Asia for the anthology The Sea is Ours: Tales of Steampunk Southeast Asia. Deadline is June 30. Pays $.05/word.

Kill Your Darlings takes submissions of original writing in June, deadline June 30. Pays $200 to columnists. They take pitches at any time. 

Visionary Press Collaborative has a call out for short stories for their anthology Alternate Worlds: Evil Genius Anthology. They want you to take a genius and ponder what he or she might have done if they had chosen to go evil. Deadline June 30. Pays in royalties. 

DieGo Comics Publishing is seeking your short stories about witches for their anthology. Deadline June 30. Pays royalties and a contributor copy. They are also seeking short sci-fi and fantasy for their newsletter. Pay not detailed.

Contests:

Baen Books is holding the 2014 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award. Short story up to 8000 words. Contest closes June 30. Winner will be published on the website and paid industry standard.

The University of Pittsburgh Press is holding their 2015 Drue Heinz Literature Prize for collections of short fiction. Deadline June 30. They require that those submitting have been published before. Cash prize of $15,000 and publication

Bonus Contest (Photography):

This one isn't for writing, but for photography. The Gazette (Colorado Springs newspaper) is holding a contest for photos that say "Colorado" to you. Deadline June 30. Two $500 prizes being offered (in the form of a GC to a photography store.)

Any of these of interest to you? Know of any other upcoming deadlines? Photo contests? What's making you insecure right now? Do you live in an area with too little rain, too much, or just right?

May you find your Muse.

28 comments:

Julie Flanders said...

Kudos to you for getting so many submissions out!! I had a similar goal at the start of the year and my number of submissions stands at exactly one. I am ashamed of myself but there's always the second half of the year, right?
Lovely pic of the falls and the difference from last year is amazing. Looks like such a beautiful place.

Kimberly said...

That's awesome that you keep writing, polishing, and putting your work out there! It's hard to get the rejections but soon they'll turn into acceptances and probably when you least expect it! :)

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

You are due for an acceptance soon - hang in there! But you're already successful in your attitude and getting your work out there. Great job! :)

Madeline @ The Shellshank Redemption

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's right - what's the worst that can happen? And each rejection is a step closer to an acceptance.
Looks like the falls have a lot more water now.

cleemckenzie said...

While you were having floods, we were having a drought. Wish we could balance out the water a bit.

Submitting is a hard job, waiting is harder and getting the "no" the hardest. But your attitude is positive and that will get you through to publication.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I was worried about my son during that flooding last summer. He's back at the Broadmoor enjoying the weather again this summer.
Good for you for having all those things on submission.

Andrew Leon said...

Although I wish you the best of luck with your submissions, that's just not a game I'm willing to play.

Maurice Mitchell said...

Wow Shannon. Four in the same week would be tough, but like you said, we just "keep swimming."

Laura Clipson said...

That's great advice, and I really need to start following it. I don't submit nearly enough of my work.

Arlee Bird said...

I should take you up on your challenge. I really should.

Too bad about that Seven Falls area. Sure is pretty in those parts.

Lee
Tossing It Out

Diane Burton said...

Sure wish we could have sent some of our snow this winter your way. Good for you sending out all those submissions. Sorry to hear about those rejections. Hang in there.

Anne Higa said...

You are doing a great job! Your day is coming. I need to submit more too. Thanks for all the links!

Christine Rains said...

Great post and attitude! I've been submitting lately too. I've got four short stories, a novella, and a novel out there. Plenty of rejections have already come in this year. We keep on keeping on.

Love those photos! This year we're getting lots of rain in Indiana. We had three years of drought ending two years ago. It was horrible. Crops suffered big time. The warm weather came late this year, but it's been lush and green since.

shelly said...

Beautiful pics. And thank you for the links

AJ Lauer said...

Wow, way to get so many submissions out! That's super cool, and not something I've done at all. You're fabulous, so I'm sure some acceptances are coming your way :)

Despite the flooding, it is really nice to have it so green around here (I'm up near Boulder). We'll see if it lasts - it's usually pretty brown by July!
Happy summer :)

SittieCates said...

I know how hard it is. Just keep going. I'm sure your works will be accepted. Good luck! *HUGS*!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

You'll never get a yes if you stop, so keep submitting.

Unknown said...

Good for you for keeping your goals! And I forget who it was who said that you can't be a true writer until you start getting rejections :-)

E. Arroyo said...

Good for you for submitting. You're guaranteed nothing if you don't try. =) Keeping fingers crossed for you and thanks for the links.

Doreen McGettigan said...

I suppose if we were oblivious to the rejections we wouldn't try harder but darn do they sting, every time.
Good for you following through with your submission goals. I need to follow your lead.

Mary Aalgaard said...

I love the rhythm to your mantra. You can get published if you never send anything out. Rejections mean you're trying, and need to keep on doing it!
I'm going to share that photography one to a friend who just came back from a trip to CO.

Anonymous said...

Good for you for all your submissions, even if you did some rejections. It's all part of the game. If you don't submit then you will fail, so even if you get a rejection, you have succeeded in a way.

J.H. Moncrieff said...

I'm in the same boat with submitting right now, and my experience mirrors your own--the rejections are never easier to take, but submitting my work HAS gotten easier. Whenever I get a rejection, I send the query to someone else the same day. Sometimes it's hard to even get ANY answer back--those are the worst!

Thanks for the links. There's definitely a couple that interest me. It's great that you shared them.

Tanya Miranda said...

Great post! I just started submitting to magazines this past month, and have not received a single word. It's nerve-wrecking whenever I think about the submissions. I try not to think about it too much.

Thanks for the links to the calls for entries. Good to meet you in IWSG!

Mina Lobo said...

Those pictures definitely needed some words to accompany them. I hope y'all enjoy more moderate climate conditions this year!

Congrats on pushing on with submissions! Though I really can't understand what's not to like about your writing; I love it, and I ain't just blowin' smoke up your skirt. (Mostly 'cause I don't smoke anymore, but really, 'cause I think you have a wonderful way with words.)

Michelle Wallace said...

Shannon, you're doing well!
Way to go!
Thanks for sharing these links.

emaginette said...

Rejections are badges of honor. They say: I believe in what I'm doing, I have faith I'll succeed, and the best one, I'm a writer, :-)

Anna from Shout with Emaginette

A Beer for the Shower said...

I had no idea Seven Falls was closed. Went to their homepage and they have some pictures of the damage. That's heartbreaking. I love that place.

And yes, submit, submit, submit! Just don't ever submit (yield). Har har.