Archive | October, 2020

On my 1st Revise & Resubmit

4 Oct

So on October 1st 2020 I received my 1st ever revise & resubmit request, from Every Day Fiction. It went like this:- Your story “The Suicide Drive” was very close to an acceptance, but there were some slight problems, so we’d like to invite you to take this opportunity to revise and resubmit it. We are attaching a file with some feedback from our editorial team for your consideration.

Here’s the feedback. I skipped the specifics related to the story:- I think our readers would be interested in this story and it’s almost publishable as-is, but addressing those confusion points should take it to the next level.

The main issue was they weren’t sure who was speaking (although the reader had correctly guessed & no clarification was needed) but they also felt it’d work as a single person narrative. To make it clearer who was speaking, I set the piece up as 1 man’s log of events. I also altered the end so the same person was telling us the outcome. I added 1 line to increase the horror element.

Apparently these changes made the 2nd reader not like it at all.
His comments:- The other problem is that we’re told this story through a log entry. This has been done before but it seriously impact the ability for the piece do demonstrate any sort of change in the main character and that sort of change is what we like to see drive stories published at EDF. The evolution creates its own story arc and gives a sense of a whole story being told rather than a scene or a vignette.

So I did everything I was asked, then because someone different read it, they hated it. Did he not read the original? “So this is my first look at this one.” That’s a no then. So how did he know what I’d done to it, and why?

I had literally added 2 lines, and altered one. Having not read the original draft or seen the 1st readers comments (by the sound of it) he had no clue what I’d changed or why. He’d seen my comments as to why I’d changed stuff.

So because 2 different people read the story & the 2nd didn’t read the original, this was rejected, despite the 1st reader saying, and I quote “it’s almost publishable as-is, but addressing those confusion points should take it to the next level.”

I addressed those points, and IT STILL GOT REJECTED.

In future, if I’m ever asked to revise & resub, I’ll politely say no.

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September 2020 Submission Challenge Summary

1 Oct

1 September
Todays Admin:- Dear Transnational Death Tank Company to F&SF.
No=205, Yes=11, Sub=232, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=0, Yes=0, Sub=1.

I had Uncanny & Cosmic Roots listed for today, had to bump F&SF up as they both still have pieces & don’t allow multiple subs there. Fortunately I just spotted Podcastle are open all month as a fall back market.

A new story live today!

2 September
Todays Admin:- The Adventures Of The Amazing Jill, And Otter Bob to Clarkesworld.
No=205, Yes=11, Sub=233, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=0, Yes=0, Sub=2.

Sale! 12th acceptance of the year. Details who & what when I’m allowed.

3 September
Todays Admin:- The Dive to Interzone.
No=205, Yes=11, Sub=234, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=0, Yes=0, Sub=3.

More Admin:- No from Interzone on The Dive.
No=206, Yes=11, Sub=234, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=1, Yes=0, Sub=3.

More Admin:- No from Clarkesworld on The Adventures Of The Amazing Jill, And Otter Bob.
No=207, Yes=11, Sub=234, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=2, Yes=0, Sub=3.

4 September
Todays Admin:- No from F&SF on Dear Transnational Death Tank Company. Assessment to Three Crows.
No=208, Yes=11, Sub=235, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=3, Yes=0, Sub=4.

5 September
Todays Admin:-The Dive to F&SF.
No=208, Yes=11, Sub=236, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=3, Yes=0, Sub=5.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Best-Caf%C3%A9Lit-9-Multiple-eb…/…/
The Best of CaféLit 9

6 September
Todays Admin:- This Reality Is Collapsing to Asimov’s.
No=208, Yes=11, Sub=237, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=3, Yes=0, Sub=6.

7 September
Todays Admin:- No from F&SF on The Dive. The Dive to Apex Magazine.
No=209, Yes=11, Sub=238, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=4, Yes=0, Sub=7.

8 September
Todays Admin:- Hyperboy; Trinity to Strange Horizons.
No=209, Yes=11, Sub=239, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=4, Yes=0, Sub=8.

More Admin:- No from Uncanny on I Hide Behind Cardboard Cliffs And Polystyrene Rocks.
No=210, Yes=11, Sub=239, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=5, Yes=0, Sub=8.

This does mean I can sub once more tomorrow, before they close again.

9 September
Todays Admin:- Exactly The Wrong Shade Of Green to Uncanny.
No=210, Yes=11, Sub=240, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=5, Yes=0, Sub=9.

10 September
Todays Admin:- War Driver to Clarkesworld.
No=210, Yes=11, Sub=241, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=5, Yes=0, Sub=10.

11 September
Todays Admin:- No from Clarkesworld on War Driver. Playing The System to Metaphorosis.
No=211, Yes=11, Sub=242, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=6, Yes=0, Sub=11.

More Admin:- No from Metaphorosis on Playing The System.
No=212, Yes=11, Sub=242, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=7, Yes=0, Sub=11.

12 September
Todays Admin:- Stray Kids Come Back to F&SF.
No=212, Yes=11, Sub=243, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=7, Yes=0, Sub=12.

13 September
Todays Admin:- I Hide Behind Cardboard Cliffs And Polystyrene Rocks to Fusion Fragment.
No=212, Yes=11, Sub=244, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=7, Yes=0, Sub=13.

I didn’t use todays scheduled market (Bourbon Penn) because I was told these folks were closing today so I wanted to get something in before they shut. It also leaves me another open market for emergencies.

14 September
Todays Admin:- No from Baffling Magazine on Transistional Period. Hot Dust to Speculative North.
No=213, Yes=11, Sub=245, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=8, Yes=0, Sub=14.

15 September
Todays Admin:- Pen Pals From The Abyss to Nightmare Magazine.
No=213, Yes=11, Sub=246, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=8, Yes=0, Sub=15.

16 September
Todays Admin:- Farmer Tom, Are You Breathing to LampLight.
No=213, Yes=11, Sub=247, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=8, Yes=0, Sub=16.

More Admin:- No from F&SF on Stray Kids Come Back.
No=214, Yes=11, Sub=247, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=9, Yes=0, Sub=16.

Just received a contract to sign from Daily Science Fiction. I’ll do that when I’ve completed my admin on this rejection.

SALE! Another sale! More details when I’ve been given permission to announce.

More Admin:- And The Lord Taketh Away sold to The Colored Lens.
No=214, Yes=12, Sub=247, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=9, Yes=1, Sub=16.

More Admin:- Grandmother’s Shoes was withdrawn from Blue Light Special. Grandmother’s Shoes was sold to Bards and Sages Quarterly.
No=214, Yes=13, Sub=247, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=9, Yes=2, Sub=16.

More Admin:- No from Mythic on Clip Clop, And The Kid.
No=215, Yes=13, Sub=247, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=10, Yes=2, Sub=16.

17 September
Todays Admin:- A 1 Star Review Of The 200th Annual Worst Monster Pageant to Nightmare Magazine.
No=215, Yes=13, Sub=248, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=10, Yes=2, Sub=17.

So it was released a week ago, but Ghostlight Magazine (issue 6) is now out, containing my story Summer At Camp Long Drop. I’ve now updated my bibliography & awards eligible posts.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ghostlight-Magazine-Terror-Fall…/…/
Ghostlight, The Magazine of Terror: Fall 2020 (#6)

18 September
Todays Admin:- Pick A Witch to Clarkesworld.
No=215, Yes=13, Sub=249, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=10, Yes=2, Sub=18.

Todays market wasn’t open, but I had back-ups. Also, i already had a piece there anyway.

19 September
Todays Admin:- Top Field Tanks to Translunar Travelers Lounge.
No=215, Yes=13, Sub=250, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=10, Yes=2, Sub=19.

I bumped FFO as TTL aren’t open very long.

More Admin:- No from Fusion Fragment on I Hide Behind Cardboard Cliffs And Polystyrene Rocks.
No=216, Yes=13, Sub=250, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=11, Yes=2, Sub=19.

More Admin:- No from Addition Magazine on A Trip To The Mall, no from The Centropic Oracle on I’ve Fallen In Love With A Hologram, Again.
No=218, Yes=13, Sub=250, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=13, Yes=2, Sub=19.

20 September
Todays Admin:- The Concentration Camp to Hexagon.
No=218, Yes=13, Sub=251, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=13, Yes=2, Sub=20.

More Admin:- No from Hexagon on The Concentration Camp.
No=219, Yes=13, Sub=251, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=14, Yes=2, Sub=20.

21 September
Todays Admin:- Dear Toaster to F&SF.
No=219, Yes=13, Sub=252, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=14, Yes=2, Sub=21.

More Admin:- No from Clarkesworld on Pick A Witch.
No=220, Yes=13, Sub=252, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=15, Yes=2, Sub=21.

More Admin:- No from Apex Magazine on The Dive & from Uncanny on Exactly The Wrong Shade Of Green.
No=222, Yes=13, Sub=252, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=17, Yes=2, Sub=21.

22 September
Todays Admin:- No from James Gunn’s Ad Astra on The Bivouac. Stray Kids Come Back to Interzone.
No=223, Yes=13, Sub=253, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=18, Yes=2, Sub=22.

More Admin:- No from Translunar Travelers Lounge on Top Field Tanks.
No=224, Yes=13, Sub=253, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=19, Yes=2, Sub=22.

More Admin:- No from Interzone on Stray Kids Come Back.
No=225, Yes=13, Sub=253, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=20, Yes=2, Sub=22.

23 September
Todays Admin:- No from Nightmare on Penpals From The Abyss. My Kingdom to PodCastle.
No=226, Yes=13, Sub=254, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=21, Yes=2, Sub=23.

More Admin:- No from F&SF on Dear Toaster.
No=227, Yes=13, Sub=254, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=22, Yes=2, Sub=23.

24 September
Todays Admin:- Madam Midnight Fucks Shit Up to Andromeda Spaceways.
No=227, Yes=13, Sub=255, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=22, Yes=2, Sub=24.

25 September
Todays Admin:- A God’s Day Off to Nature; Futures.
No=227, Yes=13, Sub=256, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=22, Yes=2, Sub=25.

26 September
Todays Admin:- …Made For Two to Analog.
No=227, Yes=13, Sub=257, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=22, Yes=2, Sub=26.

27 September
Todays Admin:-Top Field Tanks to MetaStellar.
No=227, Yes=13, Sub=258, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=22, Yes=2, Sub=27.

More Admin:- No from Metastellar on Top Field Tanks.
No=228, Yes=13, Sub=258, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=23, Yes=2, Sub=27.
Nothing wrong with the story, they only want flash stuff right now so my story was too long.

28 September
Todays Admin:- No from Podcastle on My Kingdom. Idiots Of The Underworld to Dream of Shadows
No=229, Yes=13, Sub=259, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=24, Yes=2, Sub=28.

More Admin:- No from Dream of Shadows on Idiots Of The Underworld.
No=230, Yes=13, Sub=259, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=25, Yes=2, Sub=28.

29 September
Todays Admin:- Egg Witch to Apex Magazine.
No=230, Yes=13, Sub=260, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=25, Yes=2, Sub=29.

30 September
Todays Admin:- A Selection Of Fools Grails to Underland Arcana.
No=230, Yes=13, Sub=261, Withdrawn=3, Not Received=0.
365 Event:-No=25, Yes=2, Sub=30.

25 rejections. 2 acceptances. 30 submissions. 1 withdrawn.

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So this was September 2020

1 Oct

I’ve made 261 new submissions. 230 rejections. 13 acceptances. 2 withdrawn, 0 not received.

SALES & ACCEPTANCES:-

36 Hours In The Space Force sold to B Cubed Press, Jan 20th 2020.
My Summer Holiday, By Billy Mesner (Aged 5) sold to Trouble Among the Stars, Jan 20th 2020.
Fillers accepted by Again, Hazardous Imaginings, Feb 20th, 2020.
Mushnik’s Guitar sold to Aphotic Realm, Feb 21st, 2020.
The Shaming sold to Tell-Tale Press; Nebu Carnvale, 28th Feb, 2020.
For The Duty sold to Space Force; Building A Legacy, 22nd Mar, 2020.
The Scars Of War sold to Chrome Baby, 13th Apr, 2020.
The Dionesian Wave (reprint) sold to Tell-Tale Press, 24th Apr, 2020.
The Passing Of Witchcraft sold to Satyr Central, 21st July, 2020.
Electric Feet, Manual Street sold to Kasma SF, 26th July, 2020.
Lost Souls sold to Daily Science Fiction, 30th August, 2020. (1st Pro Sale!)
And The Lord Taketh Away sold to The Colored Lens, 2nd September, 2020.
Grandmothers Shoes sold to Bards And Sages Quarterly, 16th September, 2020.

There are currently 32 stories out in submission:-

PUBLISHED THIS YEAR:-

A Tooth Fairy Dreams… Aether And Ichor issue 5. Jan 1st, 2020.
It Takes A Dragon. Flash Fiction Magazine. Jan 12th, 2020.
My Summer Holiday, By Billy Mesner (Aged 5). Trouble Among The Stars issue 5. February 5th, 2020.
Super Fake. Future Syndicate II. February 6th, 2020.
Bastard Space. Wordland 8, Time We Left. March 1st, 2020.
Mushnik’s Guitar. Aphotic Realm Magazine #9, Interstellar. March 26th, 2020
(REPRINT) The Dionesian Wave. Tell-Tale Press. May 4th, 2020.
For The Duty. Space Force: Building The Legacy. May 19th, 2020.
The Shaming. The Starship Logs Vol 3: Nabu Carnevale. Tell-Tale Press. 1st June, 2020.
The Scars Of War. Chrome Baby (Bairn 93). 30th June, 2020.
The Passing Of Witchcraft. The Angry Noodle (formerly Satyr Central). August 12th, 2020.
Electric Feet, Manual Street. Kasma Magazine. September 1st, 2020.
Summer At Camp Long Drop. Ghostlight, The Magazine of Terror: Fall 2020 (#6). September 10th, 2020.
Detecting Rogue Time Travellers (Practical Exam), On Time, September 30th, 2020.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!

36 Hours In The Space Force will be released in Tales From The Space Force, 2020. (DTBC)
Lost Souls will be released in Daily Science Fiction. (DTBC)
And The Lord Taketh Away will be released in The Colored Lens. (DTBC)
Grandmothers Shoes will be released in Bards And Sages Quarterly, April, 2021. (DTBC)

When I get more solid dates on the date to be confirmeds, I’ll announce them.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-

2 stories out from the January Submission Challenge are still out. There are also still 3 stories outstanding from the original September Challenge! One of those is going to be on hold a while longer, thanks to COVID issues.

Tuck & Roll in Automobilia is still on-going, at this point, I expect death before publication.

Fillers won’t be appearing in Again, Hazardous Imaginings. I was asked to do a full rewrite which I wasn’t prepared to do, especially after being told “yours is the best thus far and the most fitting for the anthology’s theme.

The 1st month of the year long subs challenge is now over. Only 11 more to go.

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