The only insight on offer is the suggestion that there were wisdom in your past practice of not checking the status. Nothing means anything, in my experience. I've a bunch in progress for what feels like forever, but, clearly, this does not mean they've moved an inch up the "accepted" ladder. I know submittable isn't exactly time sensitive but I had one sequence a few months ago: status changed to in progress "a few moments ago", then: status changed to declined "a few moments ago". Not sure if it's a welcome thing having the bandaid ripped quite that quickly. Only thing is, you'll know when you know about Clarkesworld and all the others, what happened yesterday bears no influence on what might happen tomorrow and, if declined, maybe you will find a better fit for it somewhere else. Otherwise, best of luck.
Any rejection-thread regulars up for doing a story swap? I'm talking about fully polished pieces that aren't selling or something newly ready to submit that could use a final set of eyes. I've got both.
I'd certainly be interested. I've got a few candidates that I'd love to get another opinion on - and I'd love to read your work! I'll hit you up tonight after I get off work.
I'd be interested. Not sure what I could offer you in terms of help with yours but can give feedback based on criteria you set out. I have a few things pending decisions, but may well be revisiting them at a future date, depending on outcome. Let me know by pm if you want to give it a go.
@AntPoems and @B.E. Nugent -- I interested in swapping stories with both of you. We'll work out the detail through messenger. I'll send you both my email. And thank you!
A 58-day form rejection from 100 Word Story. Anyone else here write microfiction? What are your favorite markets? I'm especially interested in places that like pieces that are exactly 100 words (drabbles).
I like them too. I have a couple of drabbles out soon in anthologies and have also been published in The Drabble.
14-day form rejection (I think? They did give a small comment on my piece) from a Taylor Swift anthology called ‘Kiss My Darlings’. Yes, really. This is the reason I have a higher acceptance rate than a lot of you. I seem to have a lot of luck with anthologies. I’ve found something that works for me. I know most of you are a lot more choosy about where you submit. The thing is, I think I’m a good writer (and hopefully my acceptances- over 25 now- show that; 1 or 2 could just be a fluke but over 25 must mean I have some talent, hopefully!), but I don’t think I’m a great writer. If I submitted to the places you guys submit to, my acceptance rate would probably be a big fat zero. I’m happy with my achievements. Do I wish I was at the standard of you guys? Yes, but I’m just not.
And I thought we were supposed to kill our darlings! Were expletives allowed? Not really. Send me a list. Like you say, you don't get accepted 25 times without writing with talent. Well done to you. Back to normal programming, 2 rejections in the last week, Split Lip and an anthology. At least they were relatively prompt.
12 hour rejection from agent Kim Lionetti. If that's not a record, it's close. I decided this morning that I hate my query letter despite being satisfied with it yesterday, but the fact is, I just hate query letters. Oh, well. I don't like root canals, either, but but somethings simply can't be avoided.
Hey, you're a working author getting your stories out there in the world. That's great. The approach of waiting for a big fish to bite has its advantages but leads to a lot of hungry days.
I'm only trying with three stories out of many, many. And I'm not even confident in any of the submissions I have out there. I sat down to send something out, and if anything, I felt more bored than discouraged. Just didn't really feel like it. Maybe some sort of weird phase?
Given what you're going through, I would suggest don't be so hard on yourself. Your writing, from what I've seen, is very very good and that won't change. Life and loss will supersede at times for all of us. Mind yourself.
