Ah you’ll get there. It took me just over a year of regular submissions and constant rejections before I had my first acceptance for a story. I felt very much like you, I thought I would feel much better when I got my first one. And I did, for a while. I still tell myself I must be a rubbish writer every time I get a rejection, though.
Yeah, I have not been super regular in my submissions. More just random impulsive bursts of submissions and then months of working on stuff. I don't see that it would do all that much really, except maybe be a nice rush. The harder thing is creating a way to monetize your writing so it's more like a side job. I guess the main way to do that is get a fan base. But I feel like some kind of domain success is needed for validation first.
I don't think you need a fan base. I don't believe I have one and writing is my job. I try to make at least one submission a week. And a lot of the time it's been the places I didn't think I had much of a chance or just needed to send something out that worked in my favor. It still took years of rejection before I sold my first story. But it happened. I'm not so sure it would have happened for me if I didn't submit at the level I do. It also helps me write new stories. I like to have something out at The New Yorker at all times. It usually takes them three months to reject a story. I need to have a new one by then. And a better one by then. Most places really don't care about any sort of fan base. A good story gets noticed, and it only takes one editor to buy it. Having a lot of stories and submissions out at once makes me feel like I have more chances, more pending success. It also does make me treat everything more like a job.
Rejection from The Georgia Review - a story I sent December 26th 2019. Longest I've ever waited to be rejected.
Got an update email from a place I really want to get into. They've already had my story much longer than they usually take. They're still deciding. I'm guessing it will be up for discussion at some sort of editorial meeting. These updates are pretty rare for me, and they can take all the time they need. Here's hoping this one works out. I really want this!!!! Please, writing Gods, help me make a sale...
Do you make enough to live off selling short stories? Considering most pay around 100 or less, I'd think you'd need to be having around 6 stories published per month to make rent even. Considering how insanely long it takes to even get a rejection for a story, it does not seem a viable source of regular income.
@Zeppo595 -- I never really have enough money, but I do like my life for the most part. A lot of places pay a lot more than $100. The most I've made off a story is $1k. I also write essays which do sell regularly. Before the corona virus I did some paid talks at universities. Grants and fellowships are out there, but they can be as hard to get as selling a story. Still, one of those can set you up for a year or so as long as you don't mind a modest or poor lifestyle. I want to read and write and the time to do so, also making it a priority in my life. Before writing fiction, I made a living off my writing for magazines and newspapers, but that was more journalism. Now, I want to be a creative writer. And, yes, I get by with a little help, but not much and I'm still poor. But, really, all I've done professionally is writing. A book advance would really help. I'm working on it. But I really feel like the short form -- both fiction and creative nonfiction -- is what I'm supposed to be doing. This feels right even if I have struggle. And living on the cusp of survival often breeds good stories.
Hmm I'd find that to be unbearably stressful and I can't be creative in that mind set. I've been close to the bread line before and literally all I thought about was how to get out of that situation. But everyone is different.
I wish you all the luck in the world my friend. Writing is what I should have done 20 years ago, but I never found the time and don’t think I’d have been mature enough. I’m lucky, I’ve a good job but getting aware that it’s got a limited shelf life now as costs are cut etc. The dream is to get an agent, sell some books for a modest income and quit the rat race for a 20 year writing career! One can dream...
You would be surprised what you can achieve if you set aside even 30 minutes a day or if you prefer make it a weekend thing and do longer stints. Many succesful writers held full time jobs.
I hope so. It’s currently 8am and I’ll do 45 mins now before work, perhaps 20 mins or so at lunch and tonight depending on the rubbish my wife picks on telly I might get the iPad out and do a bit more. It does add up.
Im pretty sure im going to get a rejection from this one magazine. I seemed to have missed the very last line that said "strong female lead, or from the POV of a female character." ......its from the POV of a boy..... I set myself up for failure by being overly eager...
You won’t do that again! It’s all a learning experience. I cringe at my first few submissions where I just got things horribly wrong
They are known for taking a long time, but there are many that take even longer. I've waited over a year for quite a few form rejections. I actually think some of those could be in the works now. Speaking of places that take a long time, American Short Fiction recently reopened for submissions. As a reader, I really love the stories they publish. This one is worth subscribing to, IMO. Of course, aren't they all? I would send them your absolute best. And then prepare for a super long wait. But good luck if you give them a try.
Woohoo, congratulations! It must have been amazing to have been accepted despite not fulfilling the requirements.
Btw, a link to my 3rd published short story in case anyone is interested https://flashfictionmagazine.com/blog/2020/08/13/shopping-basket/
There’s a danger this thread will get too optimistic but how cool is this... Rejected a couple of days back an Uber agent, a really big one. Within 24 hours get an email saying it was a mistake, can they read the full MS and is the project still available. I’m day dreaming about this now, just waiting for it to come crashing down
I would be day dreaming, too! Seems like a promising development, even if it doesn't work out (but I sure hope it does). I got three form rejections since my last response. More of the same (interesting concept but not right fit at this time; can only rep things they 'fall head over heels for' and this isn't it, etc., etc.). I'm taking a querying pause. Something is nagging me saying the timing is wrong for this kind of project right now. Also nagging me is a short creative nonfiction piece I've been noodling for a while, but essentially wrote in my head while driving home from a beach respite. @deadrats - I might pester you for ideas on finding good places to submit creative nonfiction once I get it down and polished. Once I get that finished/submitted, I plan to work on novel #2, which I've also been outlining in my head. I'll continue to monitor agent chatter on Twitter for opportunities for novel #1.