I think making a submission a day makes more sense in the fall when more of the journals and magazines are open to submissions. This time of year it's tough. I make at least one submission a week and find it harder this time of year. Some places are open year round, but there are definitely fewer options. If you get stuck on places to submit, feel free to PM me or leave a message here and I'm sure we'll try to help. The other thing is that submitting takes time. I rather send out several in the same day than one a day. That's what I do, especially in the fall months where I probably average about a submission a day. I also think it's easier to keep up with than sending out one every day. But you'll figure out what works best for you. And maybe it looks like you'll become more of a regular here, no? Best of luck with it all.
a personal response means it wasn’t garbage- I’d take it as a positive. The agent was willing it to be good. If you can, I’d take on board the recommendations. It’s very early on in your submissions so see what happens on your next few and then assess if any changes are needed?
After getting my hopes up due to some good feedback, albeit still rejections, I’ve had a run of standard form rejections and it’s hurting a bit more. That said I’ve identified another 20-30 suitable agents so I can just keep pushing for now.
Good day today. Had 2 standard rejections but then was advised to update all agents that I’ve had a couple of full MS requests. Sent some emails to that effect and had a third request. It’s the waiting that hurts isn’t it?
Just wanted to share with you guys that Gotham is offering free zoom classes. Some involve writing and sharing for feedback and others are more panel-discussion style. I just signed up for one. I have paid (a lot) to take a Gotham course in the past. The one I paid was about 10 weeks or so. Not sure what to expect from the free ones, but the one I paid for was well worth the money. I believe if you subscribe to their emails, you'll get updates on the free stuff. That's how I found out about them. They are offering free zoom classes that focus on different genres, too. You do have to sign up before the class, but it's completely free. I didn't have to put in any credit card info.
Gah.... got some amazing feedback last night and a request for a full MS but today an agent I REALLY wanted rejected after the full MS. Nice comments about the writing but didn’t love it enough. Crap.
Bummer about the agent. Big bummer. But . . . nice comments are good. And amazing feedback is good. And requests for full MS mean your query is working. Seems like you're doing something right. Momentum...
Hi! Thanks for the info. I haven't actually kept up with my daily ritual of submitting. Do you have any places you'd recommend? I mostly write realist stuff. So far I have stuff sent to: the masters review The london magazine craft Boulevard
I was rejected by so many agents that I gave up at certain point. But when you are a very creative person you just can't stop the ideas to come and inspiration to fill you up again with hope and motivation. The difference now is, I don't have the same courage to be bold and original again. It seems as if seeing your "baby" widely rejected made me wanting to follow the rules. But then, as doing so, I am afraid to kill my voice's real essence. I feel I was meant to explore different territories, but being rejected is so bloody painful.
If you want to get published through a traditional publisher, you need to write the kind of stuff they accept. They aren't looking for wildly creative self-expression. For that you probably need to self-publish on Amazon or something. The trad publishers are square holes, they don't accept round pegs or other unusual shapes.
Hi Xoic, Yes I have self-published recently my book, but it is tough. I am in betweens now concerning my next project. Doing something mainstream or not, that's the question. My book was published under the name of Magdalene May, my pen name. Maybe I will use my real name for a mainstream work.
I had the same thing happen to me a long time ago, didn't write again for twenty years. And yes, we creatives can't just stop creating, the mind keeps on churning out ideas no matter what we do with them. I turned my hand to other things to assuage the creative urge. In the end, though, I returned to writing again only this time with more realistic goals. Just to encourage you to find your own reasons and keep writing.
As someone who does sell and publish literary work, I have to disagree. The pieces that sell are often pieces of wildly crafted self-expression . Trade publishers want good writing and their standards are very high, but there is no formula for literary works. This isn't a matter of holes and pegs. Great writing and good stories get noticed and published. The only hard part is being brilliant.
You're not going to lose your voice. If anything it will strengthen. And best not to think of our stories as "babies." They're more like lessons we had to go through to be able to do the next thing. Rejection is hard, but most stories get rejected most of the time. I'm rejected every few days usually. Sure, I know that sting. I don't know if it gets easier. I'm not used to it. I'm like, damn! every time I get one. But at the same time the rational part of my brain knows to expect that. Then when you sell something it can seem surreal. It's worth it. I think it's important to strive to be prolific. Our writing improves as we work it. Don't shut down. Most aspiring writers shut down. The ones who make it, make it work. You can do this! And we've got a little rejection support group going on here. Welcome.
I'm sure glad you came back to writing. I think the world's been waiting for your stuff, and it's just a matter of time before your stories are picked up. I'm so sorry for flaking on you. I'll send you an email, but I did really enjoy the last thing from you I read.
That's ok, glad you liked it. I'm now back to working on that particular story, just a few things and I'll start thinking about sending it out. You mentioned being prolific but I don't think I'm ever going to be one of those people, certainly my experiences when writing seem to back that up. We are different, our writing is different, but as long as we aim to be the best we can be, regardless of what society deems success, then I don't think we will go too far wrong; it's certainly all we can do.
I'm only prolific because I have to be. For me, I have to write way more than I feel like I should to get to the right things.
A week since the previous rejection but one today. An agency I wanted but it wasn’t the agent I was keen on. Chalking it off the list but not too upset. I’ve followed the agent on twitter and I suggest it wasn’t right all round
