Wednesday, November 5, 2014

IWSG, Fishy Post & Links

New Month + First Wednesday = Insecure Writer's Support Group!



Insecurity, shcminsecurity. Not to say I haven't been insecure this month, but I ended up so busy that there wasn't much room for more to make me insecure. Plus, I'm riding the high of having finished a story last night, with another ready to be queued up when I'm at a write-in tomorrow. No, I'm not doing NaNo (you can see my current writing goals here), but I do have goals for the month to help me get back into gear and writing, editing, and submitting like a fiend. And my year of focusing on short stories and ignoring my novels has nearly drawn to an end, so I want to get my short story process a little more honed before I add novel work back in.

The good news is that I'm actually sitting on my hands to avoid my WIP, so I'll be more than ready to go once the new year gets here.

The stats for this month are minimal, but here they are:

1 rejection since last month's IWSG post
21 rejections for the year
4 stories out on sub
7 stories needing to be re-submitted
4 critiqued stories needing to be edited and submitted

And one of those critiqued stories is at the top of my list since the market I want to submit to just re-opened. So that's number one on my list for tomorrow night.

I'd love to see a check-in of your goals, whether NaNo related or otherwise!

#

I never finished posting aquarium photos, so thought today was as good a day as any. Here are some of the little fishies that were cool to look at.


This guy's not so remarkable, but he has a really angry face, which amused me.




Every time we go to the aquarium, this octopus is stuck to this corner of the glass. Every time. I think he likes the company (It's where the face painting lady sits.)

Now for some links! I have not personally researched these, so always do your due diligence before submitting.

Accepting Submissions:

Three-Lobed Burning Eye Magazine is seeking dark speculative fiction short stories up to 7000 words and flash up to 1000 words. Pays $.03/word.

One Teen Story is looking for stories on the teen experience. Literary fiction between 2000 and 4500 words. Pays $500 and 25 contributor copies.

T. Gene Davis's Speculative Blog accepts short stories in speculative fiction and magical realism, posting one per week. Pays $50. Must be family friendly content.

Volunted Tales is open for submissions. Up to 7000 words. Short stories, comics, graphic short stories, and artwork in science fiction and fantasy. Also some steampunk. Pays $10.

Buzzy Mag is taking speculative fiction short stories. Up to 10,000 words. Pays $.10/word ($.02/word for reprints).

Fantasy Scroll Magazine is seeking speculative fiction up to 5000 words. Pays $.01/word.

Argosy Magazine is looking for short noir fiction and illustrators. Always open for submissions. Pay unknown.

Despumation is looking for stories based on metal songs. 3000-5000 words. Pays $10 + a contributor copy or 2 contributor copies.

Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly has several anthology calls out. Their Mystical Bites anthology is open for submissions through December 7. 2000-10,000 words. Must contain mystical elements. Pay unknown.

Polychrome Ink is accepting submissions. They're seeking diversity in their writers and content. Reading period ends December 1. Pay unknown.

Any of these interest you? How are you doing on your current writing goals? Anything to share? Publication news? What are your insecurities?

May you find your Muse.


32 comments:

Tanya Miranda said...

The photos are beautiful! I love trips to the aquarium, because all photos have to be up close in order to really get a feel of the animal life. You get a lot of color and detail. I think I'll take a trip this weekend with the kiddos - it's been a while. You've inspired me. :-)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Cool images! Dancing with the jellies.
Congratulations on finishing that story.

Murees Dupè said...

Wow, you are impressively busy and I'm envious of your progress. I need to kick myself to start on my manuscript. Great photos. Best of luck with the next project on your list.

Writer Pat Newcombe said...

Always good to set goals and it looks like you might have met most of yours for the year! Love the fish pics - reminded me of when I used to dive - back in the day of course...

Tonja Drecker said...

Lovely photos. It's been years since we've been to an aquarium, but now, I'm inspired :)
Sounds like you've had a busy month on the writer's front and congrats for getting that draft done!

AJ Lauer said...

Ahh aquariums are so much fun!
Glad to hear you aren't feeling too insecure these days. It's always nice when that happens :)
I'm coming up out of my funk (thank you for your sweet comment last month) just in time for NaNo and it feels so good!

Pat Hatt said...

Being a busy bee sure keeps that crappy insecurity away

F. Stone said...

OMG, where do you get the energy for all those projects. You sound like a woman I once knew. She never failed at anything, super smart, and loved to have fun. That was my mother. Congratulations on all your successes. I love your images. Have you considered placing them on places like istock?

dolorah said...

Congrats on the story finish. I'm hoping to do that soon. You have a lot of goals for this month and I hope you get them all completed. Lots of hard work.

Love those acquarium pics :)

Thanks for all the submission links.

Chrys Fey said...

Those images are awesome!

Congratulations on finishing your story!! And YAY for not being insecure at that moment. That's always something to celebrate. :)

Thanks for the links.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I'm still stumbling along on the same WIP. I'm determined to finish it in November.

Andrew Leon said...

My big, recent goal was to get "What Time Is the Tea Kettle?" out, so that's done.
The next goal is top secret.

shelly said...

Thanks for the links. I'm praying 2015 will be a better year for getting my projects done. 2014 has been a real bummer with my computer. It has crashed every other month.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

You seem to be doing well with your stories. It's important to keep sending them out.

Liza said...

You sound very organized! Your fish pictures are lovely!

Unknown said...

It sounds like you have a good plan for getting your stories finished and ready to submit. Good luck finding them homes.

Diane Burton said...

Congratulations, Shannon. You really are a writing warrior! Love that you have goals and are working hard toward them. Best wishes!

Mary Aalgaard said...

Congratulations on all your hard work and goal setting.
Play off the Page

Cynthia said...

I'm not doing NaNo this year, but I've done it before. I'm still working on a variety of writing projects, just trying to move forward. (key word: trying)

Good luck on your submissions.

Rebecca M. Douglass said...

Thanks for sharing the links each time! I always look at them and think I really need to try submitting some short stories. I am busy this month bringing out one book and editing another, so no NaNo for me. But I'm enjoying the energy floating around this month.

E. Arroyo said...

Love the pictures! Keeping fingers crossed for your submissions. =)

Georgina Morales said...

Beautiful pictures! Good luck on your submissions. =)

Lucinda Whitney, Author said...

Wow, you've been busy! Congrats on finishing the story!
lucindawhitney.com

Unknown said...

Ooh, I love those pictures, so beautiful !! Best of luck on your submissions and resubmissions!!

Michelle Wallace said...

I love your 'fishy' pics!
...and your stats show that you've been very productive overall! Well done!

emaginette said...

I really, really, really love the pics. Good luck with your submissions, fingers crossed for you :-)

Anna from Shout with Emaginette

Shell Flower said...

Congrats on your story. I love aquariums, too. The one in Seattle is awesome. Your photos are amazing. I think that octopus wants some face paint, or maybe thinks it could do a better job :) That teen magazine sounds up my alley. Good luck with your submissions. I'm keeping up with Nano, mostly powering up over the weekends, but so far so good.

mshatch said...

Ooh! Pretty fish! And those are some good links, too :)

Stephanie Faris said...

The way I see it, the more rejections you get, the better. It looks like you've been very active this year! I know you'll get that acceptance you're looking for very, very soon.

Christine Rains said...

Gorgeous photos! I find aquariums so relaxing. I had two short story rejections recently. I wish I kept a tally for the year, but I'm guessing it's about the same as yours. I'm catching up on things after a week long visit with my mom. So lots of writing and revising to do this week.

Anonymous said...

Lovely pics. I enjoy aquariums.

Good luck with your submissions.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Tanya, I do love the rich colors in aquarium photos! I hope you got to go.

Alex, thanks! I always like the jellies.

Murees, I hope you've had the chance to get started!

Pat, I've never been diving, but it seems as if it would be peaceful.

T., it had been several years for us, as well.

AJ, it's great to hear you're coming out of it! Good luck with the rest of NaNo.

Pat, that's certainly true!

Feather, what a wonderful compliment, thank you! I did consider putting photos on iStock (or something similar) at one time, but never looked more fully into it. I should check it out.

Dolorah, still working on them!

Chrys, thank you! It felt good to finish.

Susan, I hope you're making progress on your WIP!

Andrew, how long is it staying top secret for? Congrats on getting your story completed and out!

Shelly, here's hoping 2015 is the Year of the Computer!

Lynda, I try to turn them around as fast as possible upon rejection. Sometimes the blues get the best of me for a little while, though.

Liza, I suspect I sound more organized than I am actually am.

Elizabeth, thank you! I have plans; it's just finding the time and energy, right?

Diane, thank you! It helps me keep going.

Mary, thank you!

Cynthia, keep moving forward!

Rebecca, that's my favorite part of NaNo...the energy. That's why I set my own goals this month, so I can feed off it.

E., thank you! I'd really love to get an acceptance before the year is up.

Georgina, thank you!

Lucinda, thank you!

E.E., thank you! Moving forward.

Michelle, some weeks I'm more productive than others.

Anna, thank you! I appreciate the crossed fingers.

Shell, fantastic! I hope you're still powering through NaNo. I've never been to Seattle, but my cousin lives there, and I hope to check it out in the not too distant future.

Marcy, thank you! They are pretty, aren't they?

Stephanie, I'm going to take your confidence and keep it! I appreciate it.

Christine, I hope you got to all your writing and revising. I keep a spreadsheet so I don't accidentally resubmit the same story, and so I always know what I have out. Otherwise, I think I'd lose track.

Medeia, thank you!