And then when you do you'll wonder if it was a fluke or if you can do it again cause you didn't even really like the piece you published and the better ones keep getting rejected and you're like, why?
I was rejected more than 400 times before I sold a story and then I sold a story to one of the top places. It will happen. Just keep writing more stories and submitting more. It's harder than it should be, but if you don't give up, it really will happen. And @John Calligan is right. The fist story I sold was not the first story I thought I would still. Then I got a bunch more rejections before it happened again. It's all about persistence. Be resilient. Be prepared for most things to get rejected. People sell fiction all the time. And people get rejected all the time. But you're in the game now, and that's what counts. Seriously, submit and write more and submit and write more. That's all there is to it. You've just got to keep at it. It's way harder than we think it should be, but you can do this and we're cheering you on.
Plus I also think it's easy to think that getting published is the only reason to write. You write because you love the art of it, the story unfolding, the drama in your own hands. Your primary concern, as a writer, is to tell a story; bring something to life, something no one else sees. Only you have this vision. You write because you love writing. Coming from that bedrock it's easier to find the resilience deadrats speaks of in order to pursue your publishing dream.
It's either 'until you get published' or 'until you give up.' We all have to choose which 'until' to go for.
...saying that although I like this there might be a third version where you just enjoy writing and don't bother to get published. I know I was in this third camp for some time.
All the journals like to say to read a few issues before submitting. I know how hard that can seem with so much out there, but things like this do improve your chances. It helps me think about what to send where. Sometimes I do write with a specific publication in mind. It's not about trying to produce a cookie-cutter story, but understanding their taste and preferences. Some places like more traditional stories. Others are willing to take bigger risks. Everything has to be good. But I'm at a point where I can read a story and have an idea of where it would fit. This is more of an advantage than you think. It does take time to build up this sort of knowledge, but it really is extremely helpful. Even with my friends here and in RL if I read something that's ready or close to ready for publication, I would like to believe my recommendations are pretty spot on. It doesn't mean there work will be accepted, but it does line up with what each of these publications tend to publish. And I can say the publications I know well often send personal rejections (though not always, not even close to always), but it does give you an edge. I went through years when I would subscribe to and read a handful of publications for a year and then switch it up and subscribe to another group of them the next year. Doing this homework of sorts helps and shows when it comes to whoever is reading your work on the other side. I've been reading short stories in The New Yorker forever. And while I've never sold a story there I have gotten some personal rejections where they mention specifics from my story. All it means is that I probably made it through the first round. There is more to this than just sending your best work to the best places. It's got to fit. Still, I probably read The Paris Review more than any other journal because I love their stuff. They are often edgy (maybe a pit provocative in a literary way). Their stories feel fresh and current. All I've ever gotten from them are form rejections. Still, I love their stuff and I'm not done trying. This approach of understanding who publishes what trickles all the way down to the small places. Editors have preferences and know what they're looking for. I know you're not supposed to send the same story to the same publication, but there are often shifts in the editorial staff. Same story third try I got in. I did some major rewrites and it was probably over the course of five years when I sent my story in three times. Also, a lot of places will have guest editors. If you are familiar with the writing of a guest editor, this too can give you an edge. Reading is just as important as writing when it comes to submitting to these places. I'm not afraid to say it and I've said it before, I got hundreds of rejections before I sold any fiction. That was years of reading, writing and trying. But it happened and it's happened a few times. Still, it's really hard. But if I hadn't put in all that work my writing wouldn't be where it is today. And still I am rejected probably more than 100 times a year. I know I write better. I get a little bummed with some of them, but I also get more confident about newer works. I think this will be a life-long pursuit for me. I like to frame the covers of places that have published my work along with a few hand written notes of encouragement. I'm a long way from being anyone really successful, but I'm also a long way from where I started. And agents and other editors read these places. One little story in the right place can lead to other opportunities. After publishing someplace big, I was paid to speak at a university about short story writing. And from there I've got this other thing going on. Also, twice I've been asked if I've got something longer like a novel ready. I don't at this point, but I am working on it. Still, short stories are what I enjoy writing most. If I can publish two a year, I think it's a good thing. I write far more than that, but that's kind of what it takes. At least for me that's what it takes. The competition is crazy, but good stories get noticed and it doesn't matter too much if you don't have publishing credits. I still have very few, but I'm super happy about the ones I do have. I've traded stories with many of you on this thread. I'm not amazing or anything like that. I'm not even the best writer on this thread. I think I am the one who submits the most. Some people might get lucky quicker than I did. I always tell be it takes years to become an overnight success. Most people give up. The ones that stick with it get better. What we will write is always going to be better than what we have written. I know that's another thing I've said before, but it's true. You've just got to keep at it. And I'm super grateful for this thread. It's a place where we all know just submitting is an accomplishment. Trying and failure are also accomplishments. It means you're in the game. Play hard and then get ready for the next match.
Thanks for everyone’s words of advice! I will keep going. It’s just a bit soul-destroying when everything you write gets rejected. But maybe one day I’ll be here saying I’ve got my first acceptance. I can only hope!
45 likes so far on my bus story. Kind of a record. Otherwise, major strike/word boycott continues through til tomorrow. Reduced to contronyms/noms in 'domestic conversation/pillow.'
Where are you getting these likes from? Is it here on this site or somewhere on social media? Getting likes is almost as hard as getting likes on twitter seems to be just as hard as getting published. I think I suck at social media, but it seems to be a bigger part of writing and publishing than I thought.
Pfff, it's just nothing. I sent a story to a 'site/blog.' My daily routine involves counting any extra likes on his site - a winwin for us both. ... Obviously I understand that whilst some of us enter golden age/period of mass appreciation in print, others now tread that railway tunnel following the light ending era.
Imagine I edited the second paragraph. Condition has dogged me the entire Spring thru to Summer, very sick. READ IT
I'm sure you're fine. You got the Facebook...and Twitter? ... I had to leave Facebook in the olden days. More recently I divorced Twitter, and twice now. Mainly after micro mind-rages at other 'writers' in, well...yawn. ... Now only my single lump of Wordpress is left to smoke. [Although dabbled in r/reddit today; the early stages of the r/porn...r/naked...r/soles. Thinking Quora for me mebbe?]
Facebook seems okay. However, I recently was a bit harassed by someone on there. I blocked the guy. He got a new account changing a letter or two in his name and started posting on my stuff. Blocked him again. Then for a good 24 hours received a bunch of friend requests from strangers that I believe were all him because I never get that many requests. It didn't start off being about writing. He sent very inappropriate and sexual private messages. After he was blocked (and I blocked every account I believed to be this guy) he was still able to post things where I have the links to some of my writing. I deleted all of his comments. Some were a bit threatening. It was pretty messed up. I have like 20 followers on twitter. It seems harder than it should be to get a following there. Not even my friends in real life are following me. I'm new at it, but I will say I don't much care for it. Instagram would be my favorite. People love pictures of rejection letters and selfies with animal ears. I got that down.
CRAP POST 1. Jeez, I'm sorry about that @DR....the completely intolerable and grim person, creepy. ... 2. Thing is - [as ever] it's the writing that gives you, and the reader, pleasure [and is the priority] hence 'literary scene.' However, I always vouched there were 50 other Robert Zimmerframes/Bob Zimm/Rob Dolan - but yet only one Dylan possessed the marketing ego condition to lead the pack to his victory. And their songs were even better, nobody cares. 3, Twitter. I'd sit on Twitter angsting about why 'such n such' wasn't giving me 'literary attention' after I had 'liked' his novella promo...and life's too short for that nonsense. 4. I thought you were on track with the magazine correspondent...please tell me it's going well, all I've seen of late has been your success. I thought you were one way traffic and away. That's why I was so depressed - in the main.. )
@matwoolf -- Things are going well with my steady gig and I have sold another story or two that will come out in journals this fall. It's just hard. Life is hard. Twitter is stupid. I feel like I should just be able to write and try to publish, but when you do publish it seems like you have to get people to notice you in other ways than they just read that journal. I don't come with a fan club. And as much as it is about the writing, places do have their regulars. I have no idea how many clicks it takes to get your editor to think you're doing a good job. I've been told that one of my recent published pieces got a lot of web attention, but I still have no idea what that really means or how to do it again and keep doing it. I'm in a way better place than when I started this thread. I couldn't even imagine things would get to this level back then, but it's a lot of work. I'm giving it everything I have. Where are my all my twitter fans?
I will, I will, I promise, just give me a moment... I'm sorry to hear about your problems with FB, never had anything like that, although my page is pretty much art related, as you've probably noticed. Maybe it's a writing thing. The whole clicks thing is so difficult to judge, you can link a web site that collects your traffic stats but I think you have to pay for that and I'm not sure how informed you would be after knowing all that anyway. I think you have to trust your employers know what's going on and concentrate on just writing. I can't figure why your friends wouldn't follow you on twitter if they have twitter also...
