posted
Another rejection with "good story, but in the end we won't bite". I'll add it to the growing pile of such stuff. Apart from subbing and subbing, is there anything else I can do to improve this situation (granted, I receive nice comments, but I'd like to sell as well )?
Posts: 1075 | Registered: Sep 2004
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1. Are you subbing stories only to pro markets or, after trying a few, do you try the semi-pro and paying markets?
2. Have you tried your best to match the story to the market? A. Have you read the publication you are submitting to? B. Have you read their guidelines carefully?
Other than the answers to those questions, the answer honestly is yes, you must simply keep submitting, writing, submitting, writing, and watching that stack of rejections grow. It's a tough world. I'm with you exactly...I get comments from pro editors saying my stuff is well written but...I got so close with Chizine once I wanted to cry. The editor even said she was sure I'd place the story somewhere else. Not so far...
One of my problems is that I don't read enough short stories. I keep trying to remedy this but honestly, I don't like short stories all that much. Hmmm...could be one of my problems with writnig them. Still, I want to see my name in print and novels will take even longer.
One other thing: at the moment I hae 11 stories making there rounds and will add a 12th soon. I always try to keep my number of active submissions around a dozen or more. One at a time will always be too slow...hit the markets with force and vigor!
posted
1.I do not limit myself to pro markets because I know this is a dead end. I try the semi pros and paying markets after 2-3 rejections. But I have a condition that the market must pay me more than it costs me to send the story, and also that I like what is published: if the mag is rubbish, I'd rather not be paid and stash the story somewhere. 2. I have tried my best to read the pubs and to send what sounds like a nice fit (within reason: I do not write FOR a market, and if I limited myself to a perfect fit that would not leave much room for submissions). A. I tried to read the publications I submit to, and to send them what sounds like a nice fit, but when they are print ones I have a hard time getting hold of them because I am not in the US. And I don't plan on getting 5 suscriptions at the same time B. The guidelines are often not very explicit "all kinds of speculative fiction", or "character-driven stories" doesn't teach me much about what they want.
Posts: 1075 | Registered: Sep 2004
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posted
Well then, I'd say you are doing what you can.
You're right that the guidelines are often not specific, but every so often you find one that hints at what they really want. For example, try reading the guidelines for Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazing (ASIM). They hint that they want light-hearted and humorour speculative fiction. That helps, IMO, although it usually means I don't sent them anything. There are a few others as well, although I've noticed that the semi-pros are much better than the pros.
BTW, I agree with you about not spending more on postage than you get back from the story. In fact, with the exception of pro markets and a few other well-chosen exceptions among higher paying semi-pros, I only send via e=mail. The vast majority of semi-pros and paying markets do this and I have decided it is presumptuous of a small mag which is trying to build its image to impose upon its contributors like that.
posted
It might be worth your while to concentrate on e-submissions when you're submitting outside your own land. I got good comments from ChiZine, which I never submitted to before that story. The reason I picked that over Asimovs, etc? I just didn't have any stamps.
Posts: 2 | Registered: Aug 2010
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posted
Thanks everyone, for the advice. I'll just go and get another story in the mail. :-D (thereby putting my total up to 7 out there). I'm getting better at hitting markets.
[This message has been edited by Silver3 (edited July 08, 2005).]
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Still, I want to see my name in print and novels will take even longer.
