Wednesday, August 3, 2022

IWSG - Sent to the Corner

 It's August, and time for the Insecure Writer's Support Group!

Created by Alex J. Cavanaugh, the IWSG serves to give writers a forum to both seek and lend support. Anyone can join. Simply click on Alex's name and sign up on the IWSG tab!

This month's co-hosts are:

Tara Tyler

Lisa-Buie Collard

Loni Townsend

Lee Lowery

This month's optional question is: "When you set out to write a story, do you try to be more original or do you try to give readers what they want?"

I typically just write whatever comes into my head, so I'd say I try to be original. It's whatever I want to write about.

On an unrelated note (or maybe not...who knows?) I've had my first book returned. Probably I'm lucky it took this long, especially with the TikTok challenge, but it was disappointing to see in the reports on Amazon. Boooo.

Keeping it short this month. I know some of you are unable to leave a comment since whatever weird update sent my Blogger haywire. I'm trying out a suggestion from C. Lee McKenzie, so hopefully it works. Thank you for the idea either way!

I'm feeling discouraged right now with no new short story sales for a few months. But here are my July stats:

13 submissions

14 rejections

0 acceptances

16 currently on submission

That's all, folks! Hope you're having a good day.

Are you submitting? Any news? What are your insecurities? Do you write to the audience?

May you find your Muse.


13 comments:

Pat Garcia said...

Hi,
Regardless of whether you have received any acceptances, you are still submitting and that means one of your stories will be accepted in the future. When? I don't know, but I do know if you stop writing and stop submitting, you will be defeating yourself. So keep moving forward. The tide will turn.
All the best.

Shalom aleichem,
Pat G @ EverythingMustChange

Liza said...

I am always impressed at how you keep submitting. Hooray for you!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Sorry about the book return. It happens!
You have a popup box, so no issues commenting.

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I sympathize, Shannon. I put submitting on the back burner because all the silence and rejections were overwhelming. It never gets easy. I'm wishing you the very best.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Shannon ... publishing is not easy - but at least your book is now yours ... and you can keep submitting other stories ... enjoy the summer and all the best - Hilary

L. Diane Wolfe said...

It's a rare month that one or more eBooks aren't returned for DLP. Only Amazon - darn them. No other platform allows returned eBooks.

T. Powell Coltrin said...

I love that you're submitting! Don't be discouraged. I'm going to start again, as well, after years of not. You encourage me.

Write for yourself the stories you need to tell. Send and resend!

Teresa

cleemckenzie said...

You have a lot of work out for consideration. That is quite an accomplishment.

Also you've done it! I can comment without any hassles. I'm so glad this worked.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Sorry for the return of your book. It can be discouraging to continue submitting with all the rejections, but I admire how you plod on. Glad you figured out the comment issue.

Tara Tyler said...

ok, I need to hear more about the amazon return and the tik tok challenge????
email me if you like, or I will you—that’s just wild

hope your many submissions bring you success! I love the lists you share with us, so many opportunities and inspiration!
thanks

Tara Tyler Talks

Jemi Fraser said...

Hmm... I thought I commented earlier. Blogger is driving me nuts today.
Earlier I said I'd had a return recently ... today someone returned an entire series - 8 books all at the same time. *sigh*

Erika Beebe said...

I experienced weird commenting problems earlier with blogger and found out I had to turn my cookies back on. How annoying. :) Keep doing what you love and congrats on submitting.

Damyanti Biswas said...

I feel you, Shannon, the publishing world can get overwhelming sometimes and I see that you are already doing a great job and powering through. More power to you.