Wednesday, September 2, 2015

IWSG - A Different Sort of Insecurity & Links

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, created by Alex J. Cavanaugh. For more information, or to join (all are welcome!), go HERE.


While I'm still filled with all the usual insecurities, I'm too excited to come up with them right now. This weekend, I got a short story accepted for an anthology I was really hoping to get into. Not only was it a fun (in a horror manner of speaking) collection, but it's also my first pro-pay sale.

Unfortunately, I can't post what it is specifically (or the cover, which I already have), because I'm not sure if the publisher wants us to just yet, but soon! It will appear on my Publications tab as soon as I have more information.

I also got the cover and tentative publication date for a book I placed a flash fiction piece in last month. I love seeing the covers! It's in the Top 3:

1. Getting the acceptance
2. Getting the book/magazine/e-mag/e-book in my grubby little hands
3. Seeing the cover for the first time!

Since I usually do a [Mostly] Wordless Wednesday image post, here's the cover of the acceptance I got last month:


This one is a kid-friendly publication, in case you can't tell from the cover. I'll be in Volume 2, Issue 2, releasing in April 2016. I only know what the cover (and some of the illustrations) look like because of the Indiegogo campaign they're doing to try to get up to a pro-paying market.

Actually, I do have an insecurity to discuss today that has to do with acceptances and publication. Even when I get an acceptance, it doesn't magically stop the insecurity I feel. All of a sudden, my insecurity isn't that an editor won't like my story, but that now that it's published, the people reading it will hate it. What if someone buys that magazine because I'm in (say, my friends and family), and they read my story and think, "How did she get this published?" They'd never tell me, so how do I know if they actually like it? Of course they're going to tell me they like it! (Or just not say anything.)

So, yeah, even acceptances come with their share of insecurity. There's plenty more where that came from, but how about just the one today?

Those of you who have visited before know I do a recap of my submissions each month for the IWSG to keep myself accountable, and to give a look into what it's like to be an author submitting short stories to markets. If it's something you're looking to do, but you have questions, ask away! It gets easier once you jump in.

In August:

I submitted 4 pieces (lower than usual number, because I've got several submissions out to markets that take a longer time to turn them around)
I got 3 rejections (again, lower number than usual)
I got 1 acceptance (aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!)
I got 1 new piece revised and submitted for the first time
I currently have 12 pieces on submission
Since I began submitting a little over a year ago, I have received a total of 68 rejections and 10 acceptances.

Apparently, you're a success once you get to 100 rejections, so I've got a bit longer to go. ;)

I also post publication links each Wednesday. Note: I have not researched these links and do not endorse them. I merely pass them along. Always do your own due diligence before submitting to a publication or contest.

Accepting Submissions:

Weird City is accepting submissions for their inaugural issue. 1500-7500 words. Pays 1.25 cents per word. Deadline September 30.

Imaginate accepts stories based on their photo prompts and themes. Current theme is Weather, for the December issue. Short stories, flash fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. They also take photo submissions for their covers. Pays $.05/word. Length requirements vary per submission type. Current deadline is October 1.

Guardbridge Books is taking submissions for Myriad Lands: An Anthology of Non-Western Fantasy. They want fantasy that is not based on Medieval Europe. 1000-6000 words. Pays approximately $.05/word. Deadline October 1.

Cantina Publishing is taking submissions for Untethered: A Magic iPhone Anthology. 3000-7000 words. Pays $100. Deadline October 1.

The Tishman Review is always open to submissions. Short fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and book reviews. Word limits vary per submissions type. Payment is between $10 and $75.

Manor House is currently open to submissions of dark fantasy and horror. 2000-7000 words. Pays a flat fee of $20.

Tales to Go is seeking travel stories that deal with unfamiliarity and seeing the world from a different view. They prefer 1000-3000 words, but set no hard limits. Pays $50.

Contests:

Brilliant Flash Fiction is holding a Freestyle Writing Competition. No entry fee. 600 word limit. Cash prizes. Deadline September 15.

The Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award is taking entries. 6000 words or less. No entry fee. Cash prize. You have to have had something published in the UK and Ireland, but you do not have to be a resident. Deadline September 24.

Fiction Vortex is holding their Serial Box Contest. This sounds interesting. Grand prize winner gets to control their "serial box," earning royalties from the other pieces allowed in and having control over which ones get in. This should be episodic/serial. Limit 3500 words. Speculative fiction. Grand prize winner also gets a $300 prize. Deadline October 5.

P.S. I'm co-hosting the IWSG next month. See you then!

Any of these of interest? Anything to share? Publication news? Rejection news? What are you insecure about? Do you still feel insecure once you get a piece accepted? What is your Top 3 of the fun parts of getting published?

May you find your Muse.




54 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

It's a never ending string of insecurities, isn't it?
Congratulations on the anthology! Hope you'll submit a story for the IWSG contest.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Congratulations, Shannon! Well done! And what a fun cover!

Oh, yes, I feel your pain about the worrying that comes after the acceptances/publications. We just have to take a deep breath, hope for the best then let it go - it's out of our hands at that point. :)

Stephen Tremp said...

Shannon, good luck with everything! Ember is a very cool cover.

Yolanda Renée said...

How exciting and yes congratulations!
And then I get to your activity for the month, and totally understand the insecurities. Those numbers are scary, but you keep at it and you're succeeding and that's the real secret - don't give up. Those celebrations so outweigh the numbers!!!!
Happy Dance for all your good news!!!!

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

That is a cool cover and congrats on the newest sale. Love hearing good news on IWSG. Do you have a story ready for entry in the contest?

Susan Says

Crystal Collier said...

Woot! Way to go. I'm so excited for you and these acceptances. They say say the difference between a published author and a writer is that an author actually submits for publication.

Chrys Fey said...

Congratulations on your anthology acceptance! And that cover is really cute.

A Beer for the Shower said...

Congrats on all that good magazine stuff you've got going on! We're stoked to see it all in print. And it is a weird thought when a bunch of people read something you've read and don't tell you what they think, isn't it? But I guess you get a small hint if they keep coming back and buying more. Or at least that's what we tell ourselves.

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Congratulations!!!! Happy to hear the good news. Your posts are always so inspiring to me. I will start submitting soon.
Shalom,
Patricia

Michelle Wallace said...

Congrats on the anthology acceptance! You're on a roll!
I really need to submit more FF pieces--------- but I'm also trying to put some work into the longer piece.
Need to find a balance.
Happy IWSG Day!

Arlee Bird said...

Congratulations on the acceptance! A few of those now and then will stave off a lot of writing insecurities.

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out

shelly said...

Thank you for the links.good luck with everythibg.

Julie Flanders said...

Congratulations!!! Love this cover and am anxious to see the next one when you are able to share.

Tyrean Martinson said...

Awesome news! Congratulations! I know that insecurity - it's scary to have people read my work. I mean I promote it and then I sit back and bite my nails over people actually reading it.

Love your links, as always, and I'm looking forward to reading your stories. :)

Sheila Renfro said...

Lot's of great information here and encouragement. Thank you!

Denise Covey said...

Congratulations on getting your story accepted. Relax. Doesn't matter if everyone doesn't like it! Thanks for the encouragement.

Christine Rains said...

Congratulations! I've gotten short-listed for pro venues, but I haven't had an acceptance yet. Still pushing on! Thanks for the links. And yup, those insecurities never seem to go away, do they? They just keep on building.

Murees Dupè said...

Congratulations! You should definitely do your happy dance. This is amazing news. As long as you like your story, that's all that matters. Best of luck!

diedre Knight said...

Wonderful news - yay you! A nice reminder to hang in there :-)

F. Stone said...

Congratulations. So exciting. Looking forward to learning more about the release of your next book. Blessings

mshatch said...

That's awesome news about the anthology :)

Cathy Keaton said...

Congrats on getting accepted into the anthology! You seem to be doing well with your submissions and that's wonderful. Continued success! :D

John Wiswell said...

Nice cover, and congratulations on breaking into Ember!

If people are selling Science Fiction or Fantasy, I also strongly recommend submitting to Interfictions, Uncanny Magazine, and/or Fireside Fiction. All three pay very well and just opened for a brief time.

Samantha Bryant said...

Congratulations! You're really getting your work out there and it's starting to pay off!

Beth Camp said...

Adding my congrats -- for having a piece accepted (Hooray!) and for persisting to get work out there. 68 rejections shows fortitude and tenacity. Thank you also for sharing those links to possible subs. Very generous of you. And, I liked the discussion you shared re insecurities. Do you have a way of getting feedback from readers that might ease the sting? I'm thinking about emails from fans or reader reviews left on Amazon, but I'm not sure how that translates to shorter fiction. All the best on your trek to that magical 100.

Shannon Lawrence said...

It is. And from what I've read and heard, there will always be a new insecurity, no matter where you are in the process.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Good point. It's out of our hands, and you can't worry over the things you can't control.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Thank you!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I've never done the full tally before (I don't think), so I figured it was as good a time as any to take a look.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I don't, but will have to see where the inspiration takes me.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Agreed! You can't get traditionally published without submitting, and you can't get published at all without putting yourself out there in one way or another.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm excited to see the illustrations inside the book, too!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I think that's a valid way to measure it. We wouldn't buy more if we didn't like it.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I hope you do, Patricia!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm working on finding that balance right now. At the very least, I work on revisions for WIP #2 on Mondays. We'll see where that gets me.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Yes, the acceptances go a long way to keeping me going.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Thank you!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm sending the contract back this weekend, so I should be able to share this week!

Shannon Lawrence said...

Isn't that funny? We want people to read it, but then that fear sets in.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I want us all to make it!

Shannon Lawrence said...

You're right. Some will like it and some won't.

Shannon Lawrence said...

I figure if you're getting short listed for them, you're close. There are several markets I want so badly to break into, but the rejections keep rolling in.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Good point! If I didn't like it, I wouldn't submit it.

Shannon Lawrence said...

It is definitely that!

Shannon Lawrence said...

I'm so excited about it!

Shannon Lawrence said...

The odds aren't terrible, even though the numbers are daunting.

Shannon Lawrence said...

Fireside may be a new one to me. Will have to check it out. Thank you for passing along the info!

Shannon Lawrence said...

It seems you really do just have to get it in front of the right person.

Shannon Lawrence said...

You know, there was one story I got no feedback on, but then a friend spoke to me in person about it and asked me questions. That helped a lot. She'd obviously read it and it had made her think.

Nick Wilford said...

Congrats on the pro-pay sale! Even million-selling authors have insecurities, I suppose. We have to just embrace them and use them to spur us on. You've had a great hit rate of acceptances over the past year!

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the good news. It does take many rejections to get those acceptances, and there always seems to be something to worry about. Thank you for the links.

cleemckenzie said...

You've got a lot going on! And I love that kid-friendly magazine. Congratulations on being included in it.

Anonymous said...

Congrats on your latest acceptance! I always find you posting your stats inspiring. Yeah, you get rejections, but also acceptances and that's cool! :)

Shannon Lawrence said...

That's true. Use the insecurities to get going and climb higher.