So This Was April 2023

I’ve made 84 submissions.75 rejections. 6 acceptances.

SALES & ACCEPTANCES:-The Stiff In Pod G was sold to Medusa Tales, Jul 23rd ’22.
Four Women With Swords was sold to The Lorelei Signal, Dec 11th 22.

These were the final 2 unannounced sales from last year. I did have permission from Lorelei Signal, I just forgot to announce.

A Tollbooth On Mars was sold to Amazing Stories, Jan 1st, ’23.
The Boxing Men was sold to Dark Matter Magazine, Jan 24th, ’23. [REPRINT]
Empty Chest was sold to Spring Into SciFi Anthology Series, Jan 29th ’23.
My House Is Haunted, Ask Me Everything was sold to Eidetic, Mar 2nd ’23.
Hot Dust was sold to Galactic Treks, Apr 19th ’23.
John Lennon Is Feeding Me Instructions Across Time was sold to Eidetic, Apr 26th, 23.


CAVEAT:-Be aware, I am now adding stubs for titles which have sold, but I’ve not yet received official permission to announce as sold yet.

There are currently 29 stories out in submission:-

PUBLISHED THIS YEAR:
I Made A New Friend Today was released at Eidolotry Digital #2. PsychoToxin Press. Jan 1st ’23.
A Monster Under Every Bed was released at It Came From Under The Bed, 13th Jan ’23
A Tollbooth On Mars was released at Amazing Stories, Feb 6th, ’23.
Sidekicks was released in A Hero Of A Different Stripe, Feb 16th ’23.
The Boxing Men was released in Dark Matter Magazine, Mar 1st, ’23
Empty Chest was released in Spring Into SciFi 2023 collection, Mar 21st, ’23.
Total Immersion was released in Bards And Sages Quarterly, Vol XV, Issue II, Apr 2023, Apr 1st, 23.
The War Machines was released at Utopia Science Fiction Magazine April/May 2023, Apr 30th ’23.
Tuck & Roll was released at Automobilia, Omicronworld, Apr 30th 2023. (DTBC)

LESSONS LEARNED:-(This is a new segment, I’ll be adding tips for myself for future blogs.)
Add sales as stubs as soon as those are received. Temp entries until announced then replace with official info.
Add releases when info is received to Shape Of Things To Come, so I don’t forget.
Add stubs to Shape Of Things To Come for unannounced sales.
Create entries for the Submission Challenge each day, as they come in or go out.
I removed the Stories On Hold section as I didn’t want any markets to feel pressure to buy stuff.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!
Spun Yarn will be released in Bullet Points, Jul 2023. (DTBC)
The Dragon Readers will be released in 99 Fleeting Fantasies, winter 2023. (DTBC).
Madam Midnight Fucks Shit Up will be released in Synthetic Reality Magazine, Issue 9. (DTBC)
The Stiff In Pod G will be released in Medusa Tales (DTBC)
Unannounced sale to market (not listed in sales yet). (DTBC)
You Have Summoned A Demon will be released at 34 Orchard, 2024. (DTBC)
Hot Dust will be released at Galactic Treks, (DTBC)
John Lennon Is Feeding Me Instructions Across Time will be released at Eidetic, (DTBC)


There’s some other stuff coming, I can’t officially talk about it yet. Just know it IS coming.
When I get more solid dates on the date to be confirmeds, I’ll announce them.
Publication of Madam Midnight was pushed back due to illness of the Synthetic Reality Mag editor. That may be delayed by at least 2 months.
The Stiff In Pod G is also in a void right now, I know as much as you do there.
A few publications have been pushed back. Some stuff I can’t talk about because they aren’t announced yet.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-I’m not setting any resolutions for 2023. I just want to write, submit, and hopefully sell stuff.
I wrote 2 stories this month, 4454 words in total. Banged out over 4200 words in a single dead under a deadline crunch. Scary to see I can still do that when push comes to shove. With nothing else coming out now until July, I expect the next few months to be fairly quiet. I’ve got the prep for the newly rearranged June Submission Challenge which will be the last one this year. I closed out a bunch of long outstanding submissions as never replied. Several more still need to be closed as well.

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So This Was March 2023

I’ve made 67 submissions.63 rejections. 4 acceptances.1 story being held.

SALES & ACCEPTANCES:-The Stiff In Pod G was sold to Medusa Tales, Jul 23rd ’22.
Four Women With Swords was sold to The Lorelei Signal, Dec 11th 22.

These were the final 2 unannounced sales from last year. I did have permission from Lorelei Signal, I just forgot to announce.

A Tollbooth On Mars was sold to Amazing Stories, Jan 1st, ’23.
The Boxing Men was sold to Dark Matter Magazine, Jan 24th, ’23. [REPRINT]
Empty Chest was sold to Spring Into SciFi Anthology Series, Jan 29th ’23.
My House Is Haunted, Ask Me Everything wass sold to Eidetic, Mae 2nd ’23.


CAVEAT:-Be aware, I am now adding stubs for titles which have sold, but I’ve not yet received official permission to announce as sold yet.

There are currently 32 stories out in submission:-

PUBLISHED THIS YEAR:
I Made A New Friend Today was released at Eidolotry Digital #2. PsychoToxin Press. 1st Jan ’23.
A Monster Under Every Bed was released at It Came From Under The Bed, Jan 13th Jan ’23
A Tollbooth On Mars was released at Amazing Stories, Feb 6th, ’23.
Sidekicks was released in A Hero Of A Different Stripe, Feb 16th ’23.
The Boxing Men was released in Dark Matter Magazine, Mar 1st, ’23
Empty Chest was released in Spring Into SciFi 2023 collection, Mar 21st, ’23.

LESSONS LEARNED:-(This is a new segment, I’ll be adding tips for myself for future blogs.)
Add sales as stubs as soon as those are received. Temp entries until announced then replace with official info.
Add releases when info is received to Shape Of Things To Come, so I don’t forget.
Add stubs to Shape Of Things To Come for unannounced sales.
Create entries for the Submission Challenge each day, as they come in or go out.
I removed the Stories On Hold section as I didn’t want any markets to feel pressure to buy stuff.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!
Total Immersion will be released in The Bards and Sages Quarterly, Apr 2023. (DTBC)
The War Machines will be released at Utopia Science Fiction, Apr 2023. (DTBC)
Tuck & Roll will be released at Omicronworld, Apr 2023. (DTBC).
Spun Yarn will be released in Bullet Points, Jul 2023. (DTBC).
The Dragon Readers will be released in 99 Fleeting Fantasies, winter 2023. (DTBC).
Madam Midnight Fucks Shit Up will be released in Synthetic Reality Magazine, Issue 9. (DTBC)
The Stiff In Pod G will be released in Medusa Tales (DTBC)
Unannounced sale to market (not listed in sales yet). (DTBC)
You Have Summoned A Demon will be released at 34 Orchard, 2024. (DTBC).

There’s some other stuff coming, I can’t officially talk about it yet. Just know it IS coming.
When I get more solid dates on the date to be confirmeds, I’ll announce them.
Publication of Madam Midnight was pushed back due to illness of the Synthetic Reality Mag editor. That may be delayed by at least 2 months.
The Stiff In Pod G is also in a void right now, I know as much as you do there.
A few publications have been pushed back. Some stuff I can’t talk about because they aren’t announced yet.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-I’m not setting any resolutions for 2023. I just want to write, submit, and hopefully sell stuff.
I wrote 2 stories this month, 2626 words in total. I’ve really been struggling to get anything done so I’m happy for some small wins.
It’s been a difficult time, mentally, recently. I’m trying my best. Bear with me, okay?

So This Was October 2022

I’ve made 297 submissions. 284 rejections. 17 acceptances. 1 story being held.

SALES & ACCEPTANCES:-Sidekicks was accepted by A Hero Of A Different Stripe, Oct 6th ’21. (Not included in the above total)
Bag Of Bones was accepted by 206 Word Stories, Feb 12th ’22
Madam Midnight Fucks Shit Up was sold to Synthetic Reality Magazine, Feb 15th ’22
PROVISIONAL SALE IF MARKET GOES AHEAD, TO BE LOGGED.
Father, Are You Sleeping? was sold to Dark Recesses Press, Mar 5th ’22.
Dragon Bait was sold to Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, Mar 20th ’22.
I Hide Behind Cardboard Cliffs And Polystyrene Rocks was sold to Fission, Apr 3rd ’22.
Dawn of Time Episode 1, Time Flies With Time Pies (Co-Author) was sold to Stupefying Stories, Apr 8th ’22.
Dawn of Time Episode 8, When things look dark…. was sold to Stupefying Stories, Apr 8th ’22.
A Fine Body was sold to The Lorelei Signal, May 9th ’22.
Ask For Slim was sold to HyphenPunk, May 17th ’22.
Total Immersion was sold to The Society of Misfit Stories, Jun 22nd ’22.
A Monster Under Every Bed was sold to It Came From Under The Bed, Jul 15th ’22.
The Age Of Chivalry was sold to The Lorelei Signal, Jul 17th ’22.
Unannounced sale to redacted market, Jul 23rd ’22.
Spun Yarn was sold to Bullet Points, Aug 8th ’22.
The Man Who Borrowed My Clock has been sold to The Colored Lens, Aug 24th ’22.
Breaking Down A Cursed Sandwich has been sold to Never Cheat a Witch, Aug 29th ’22.
The Dragon Readers has been sold to 99 Fleeting Fantasies, Sept 5th 22.
Unannounced sale to redacted market, Sept 16th 22.
Unannounced sale to redacted market, Oct 4th 22.
Idiots Of The Underworld was sold to Tales From The Moonlit Path, Oct 6th 22.

CAVEAT:-Be aware, I am now adding stubs for titles which have sold, but I’ve not yet received official permission to announce as sold yet. These are just an aide memoire for me, and my increasingly terrible short-term memory.

There are currently 35 stories out in submission:-

PUBLISHED THIS YEAR:-

Stranding Room Only was released at Abyss & Apex, Jan 1st ’22.
Bag Of Bones was released at Bag of Bones – 206 Word Stories: A Horror Anthology, 26th Feb ’22. (POEM)
Father, Are You Sleeping? was released at Dark Recesses Press, 16th Mar ’22.
Dawn of Time Episode 1, Time Flies With Time Pies was released at Stupefying Stories, 8th April ’22. (Co-Author)
Call Back, Any Time! was released at Grandpa’s Deep-Space Diner, 20th Apr ’22.
Dragon Bait was released at Heroic Fantasy Quarterly, May 2nd ’22.
Dawn of Time Episode 8, When things look dark… was released at Stupefying Stories, May 27th ’22.
Ask For Slim was released at HyphenPunk, Jun 15th ’22.
A Fine Body was released at The Lorelei Signal, Jul 3rd ’22.
The Age Of Chivalry was released at The Lorelei Signal, Oct 2nd ’22.
The Man Who Borrowed My Clock was released in The Colored Lens, Oct 8th ’22.
Breaking Down A Cursed Sandwich was released in Never Cheat a Witch, Oct 10th ’22.

LESSONS LEARNED:-(This is a new segment, I’ll be adding tips for myself for future blogs.)
Add sales as stubs as soon as those are received. Temp entries until announced then replace with official info.
Add releases when info is received to Shape Of Things To Come, so I don’t forget.
Add stubs to Shape Of Things To Come for unannounced sales.
Create entries for the Submission Challenge each day, as they come in or go out.
I removed the Stories On Hold section as I didn’t want any markets to feel pressure to buy stuff.
I moved the entry for Tuck & Roll because I’m tired of working around its constant delays.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!
Where They Fear To Tread will be released in Jersey Pine Ink’s Trees Anthology, Summer 2022. (DTBC)
I Hide Behind Cardboard Cliffs And Polystyrene Rocks will be released in Fission Vol #2, Nov ’22. (DTBC)
Madam Midnight Fucks Shit Up will be released in Synthetic Reality Magazine, Issue 9, Late ’22. (DTBC)
Unannounced sale to market, possibly late 2022. (DTBC)
Unannounced sale to market (not listed in sales yet, possibly late 2022. (DTBC)
A Monster Under Every Bed will be released in It Came From Under The Bed, Jan 1st 2023. (DTBC)
Sidekicks will be released in A Hero Of A Different Stripe, Feb 2023. (DTBC)
Total Immersion will be released in The Society of Misfit Stories, June 2023. (DTBC)
Spun Yarn will be released in Bullet Points, 2023. (DTBC).
The Dragon Readers will be released in 99 Fleeting Fantasies, (DTBC).
Tuck & Roll will be released. (DTBC).

There’s some other stuff coming, I can’t officially talk about it yet. Just know it IS coming.
When I get more solid dates on the date to be confirmeds, I’ll announce them.
Publication of Madam Midnight was pushed back due to illness of the Synthetic Reality Mag editor. That may be delayed by at least 2 months.
A few publications have been pushed back. Some stuff I can’t talk about because they aren’t announced yet.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-Just 1 story finished this month, 2638 words. Stuff has to be finished to count, so there were other things started but WIP. No plans for NaNoWriMo at all.

May 2022 Submission Challenge

Listed below are the markets. Those labelled as such haven’t been confirmed as open, so are subject to change. As always, these markets may close for any reason between now and the end of May, so you’ll need to check they are still open BEFORE submitting there. I’ve provided the main list, and a bunch of spares who are know paying genre markets but who aren’t confirmed as open during May. Use those at your own risk or discretion!

Those new to the challenge, the rules are simple. Submit at least 1 story every day to a paying market for a month. This is my challenge. You can interpret the challenge however you wish. Do the whole month, do a few dozen, do it for a week, only sub to 1. Do sub to at least 1, otherwise it’s not much of a challenge, is it?

The idea is to get you used to submitting a lot, on a regular basis. You learn how to deal with pressure, unexpected challenges and lots of rejection. Trust me, there’ll be plenty, but we have had lots of success too! I’ve made at least 1 pro sale from this event & plenty of semi-pro sales too. Pretty much everyone who ever took part has reported at least 1 sale from these markets.

All I ask is you tweet the link to these markets (or put them on other social media) crediting me as the source. I put a lot of hard work into selecting & checking these links, getting 31+ markets for a month doesn’t happen overnight!

You can keep in touch with me @RayDaleyWriter & I’d love to hear how your month goes if you decide to blog or vlog about it in the future. Feel free to drop me a link in the comments when we’re done. You can also join our private Facebook groups where I sometimes share the latest links I haven’t put here for various reasons. You too could be enjoying links the regular humans don’t have access too, hit me up!

______________________________________________________

01 Planet Scumm https://www.planetscumm.space/submit OR Galaxy’s Edge http://www.galaxysedge.com/submissions/
02 Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores https://cosmicrootsandeldritchshores.com/submissions/ OR Enchanted Conversation (weather theme) https://www.fairytalemagazine.com/p/submissions.html?m=1
03 Clarkesworld http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/
04 Interzone Digital https://interzone.digital/submissions/
05 Andromeda Spaceways https://andromedaspaceways.com/submissions-manager/#fiction
06 Allegory https://www.allegoryezine.com/submissions
07 Factor Four Magazine https://factorfourmag.com/submissionsinfo/ (not confirmed open) or Nature: Futures http://blogs.nature.com/futureconditional/2015/04/19/how-to-write-for-nature-futures/
08 Ring Of Fire (Wolfsinger) https://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/ring-of-fire-guidelines
09 Asimov’s https://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
10 Dark Void Mag https://darkvoidmagazine.com/submissionguidelines
11 Electric Spec https://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
12 The Future Fire http://futurefire.net/guidelines/fiction.html OR Page & Spine https://pagespineficshowcase.com/submissions–supporters.html
13 Three-lobed Burning Eye https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html
14 The Arcanist https://thearcanist.io/tag/submission-guidelines/ OR World Unknown Review https://lsengler.wordpress.com/submissions/
15 The Lorelei Signal https://www.loreleisignal.com/Guidelines.html OR Ring Of Fire Anthology (Wolfsinger) https://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/ring-of-fire-guidelines
16 Metaphorosis https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/guidelines/
17 Flash Point SF https://flashpointsf.com/submissions/
18 Fractured Lit (Flash/Micro) https://fracturedlit.com/submit/
19 Bourbon Penn https://www.bourbonpenn.com/submissions
20 Flash Fiction Online http://flashfictiononline.com/main/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/
21 F&SF https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.htm
22 Apex Magazine https://apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines/
23 Orion’s Belt https://www.orions-belt.net/submissions
24 Escape Pod https://escapepod.org/guidelines/short-fiction/
25 Starship Sofa http://www.starshipsofa.com/submissions/ OR Archive Of The Odd https://archiveoftheodd.wordpress.com/submissions/
26 The Colored Lens http://thecoloredlens.com/?page_id=8/ OR Etherea Mag https://ethereamagazine.com/submissions/
27 Analog https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
28 Utopia SF https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/submit
29 Freeze Frame Fiction https://freezeframefiction.com/write/submission-guidelines-faq/
30 Bards & Sages Quarterly https://www.bardsandsages.com/contact_us/fiction_submission_guidelines
31 The No Sleep Podcast https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/submissions OR Pseudopod (Reprints Only!) http://pseudopod.org/submissions/

NOT CONFIRMED OPEN. MERELY ALTERNATE MARKETS WHICH MAY BE OPEN & DO PAY.

34 Orchard https://34orchard.com/guidelines/
Allegory https://www.allegoryezine.com/submissions
Amazing Stories https://submission.amazingstoriesmag.com/guidelines/
Anotherealm http://anotherealm.com/faq/submit.php
Apparition Lit https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/
Centropic Oracle http://www.centropicoracle.com/mainpages/subguide.php
Chrome Baby http://robindunn.com/chrome-submit.html
Compelling Science Fiction http://compellingsciencefiction.com/guidelines.html
Cosmic Horror Monthly https://www.cosmichorrormonthly.com/submissions/
Cossmass Infinities https://www.cossmass.com/submit/
Dark Recesses https://darkrecessespress.com/?page_id=29
Dose Of Dread 1k flash, horror https://dreadstonepress.com/submissions/#dose-jump
Dread Machine https://www.thedreadmachine.com/submit/
Dream Of Shadows https://www.dreamofshadows.co.uk/submission-guidelines
Giganotosaurus http://giganotosaurus.org/submission-guidelines/
Hexagon Magazine https://hexagonmagazine.ca/submit/
Infinite Worlds https://www.infiniteworldsmagazine.com/submissions
Mithila Review https://mithilareview.com/submission-guidelines/
Mythaxis https://mythaxis.co.uk/submissions.html
Mythic Magazine https://www.mythicmag.com/p/submissions.html
Newmyths https://sites.google.com/a/newmyths.com/nmwebsite/submissions/sub-2
Not One Of Us https://not-one-of-us.pub/about/guidelines/
No Sleep Podcast https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/submissions
Penumbric https://www.penumbric.com/subs.html
Sci Phi Journal or Daily Science Fiction https://dailysciencefiction.com/submit
Strange Horizons http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/
Tales from the Moonlit Path http://talesmoonlitpath.com/submissions/
The Dark Magazine http://thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/
The Mesozoic Reader https://farthertrees.wordpress.com/mesozoic-reader/
The Other Stories https://theotherstories.net/submissions
The Periodical, Forlorn https://www.periodicalforlorn.com/submission-guidelines
The Weird And Whatnot https://www.theweirdandwhatnot.com/submit
Translunar Travelers Lounge https://translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions/

So this was October 2020

I’ve made 293 new submissions. 249 rejections. 14 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.
Stranding Room Only sold to Abyss & Apex, 3rd October, 2020.

There are currently 42 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.
And The Lord Taketh Away. The Colored Lens #37 Autumn 2020, October 15th, 2020.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!

36 Hours In The Space Force will be released in Tales From The Space Force – the expected release for this is before Xmas 2020. (DTBC)
Lost Souls will be released in Daily Science Fiction, currently no date known on this, sorry. (DTBC)
Grandmothers Shoes will be released in Bards And Sages Quarterly, April, 2021. (DTBC)
Stranding Room Only will be released in Abyss & Apex, 1st January, 2022.

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 2nd month of the year long subs challenge is now over. Only 10 more to go.

On my 1st Revise & Resubmit

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.

September 2020 Submission Challenge Summary

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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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)

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

So this was September 2020

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.

So this was August 2020

I’ve made 231 new submissions. 205 rejections. 11 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!)

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. June 1st, 2020.
The Scars Of War. Chrome Baby (Bairn 93). June 30th, 2020.
The Passing Of Witchcraft. The Angry Noodle (formerly Satyr Central). August 12th, 2020.

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!

Electric Feet, Manual Street will be released at Kasma SF in September 1st or 2nd, 2020. (DTBC)
Summer At Camp Long Drop will be released in Ghostlight, 2020. (DTBC)
Detecting Rogue Time Travellers (Practical Exam) will be released in On Time, 2020. (DTBC)
36 Hours In The Space Force will be released in Tales From The Space Force, 2020. (DTBC)
Lost Souls will be released by Daily Science Fiction. (DTBC)

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

Still hoping for another sale soon. Some things are on hold at places. I can’t talk about them yet.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-

I finally made my first pro-rate sale, Lost Souls to Daily Science Fiction. There’s no date on when that will be published, we still have contracts to exchange & sign, as well as edits & proofing. I’m looking forward to working with them. I don’t know if it’ll appear this year, I hope to find out soon.

All the other dates I had for publication have passed. Due to the pandemic, people have other priorities. Ghostlight were hoping to go to print before the end of August.

The release date for On Time also passed. The Kickstarter was fully backed, so it will come out, not sure when?

The dead tree version of Time We Left (Wordland 8) is now out, I have my contributor copy.

The last 2 stories out from the January Submission Challenge were withdrawn. There are also still 2 stories outstanding from the original September Challenge! One of those is going to be on hold a while longer, thanks to COVID issues. There are also 7 stories still outstanding from the May Challenge to hear back from yet too.

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.”

By the time you read this, I will have already started my year long challenge. Can I do it?

An Open Letter To Paying Short Form SF & Fantasy Markets

Hello, good people. Most of you are very good people. Some of you are a touch misguided.

I’m sure when you first opened, you had grand and lofty ideas, dreams of what you wanted your market to be. Then you met your submitters, and they overwhelmed you. Perhaps not immediately, but eventually.

That is why I’ve brought you here today.

Your submission wait times are too long. Some of you (I’m not going to point fingers or name & shame) have wait times over 100 days. That’s far too damn long. Here’s how you’re going to fix that.

CLOSE TO GENERAL SUBMISSIONS RIGHT NOW.

Seriously, I mean it. Close. Now! Don’t even stop to read the rest of this article, come back when you’ve closed.

I’ll wait. On you go. No, I REALLY mean it!

I’ll be here when you get back.

__________________________________________________________

Okay. Closed to subs now? We’ll continue then. It’s time to dig yourself out of the hole you made for yourselves. The first step was putting down the shovel, closing to subs.

Stay closed, read your slush queue, and clear it, completely.

However many stories you had to read to clear the queue, divide that number by four. That’s your new cut-off point. In future, when you reopen to subs, accept no more than that amount, by plus or minus 10%.

Don’t ever get overwhelmed again.

I’m one of the hundreds or possibly thousands of people sending you stories to read, and hopefully buy. We don’t mind a short wait, in fact, we expect one. What we don’t expect is a wait of anything up to half a year. If you’re one of those markets who says not to query until six months has passed, the swearword hasn’t yet been invented to describe you.

You’ve only got that amount of time factored in because, shock – horror, you’re overwhelmed. That’s because you don’t know when to close submissions. Some of you (according to SFWA) are professional markets, yet you still don’t know to close when you’ve got too much to read. If this is the case, kindly question your life choices.

A lot of you are guilty, don’t shrug and say “Well, we’re not!”

Some markets get rejections out in DAYS. ACTUAL DAYS. I’m not talking a week either, one, two or maybe three days. Anything up to two weeks is decent, a month is just about acceptable. Beyond that, your turnaround time needs work. Almost certainly because you’ve taken too many stories.

Now, I realise this means a lot of markets are suddenly going to be closed for quite some time while they clear the decks. 2020 has been a shit year for everyone. Why don’t we end it by making long market wait times a thing of the past? If you’re a pro-rate market, maybe you should also have more professional reply times too?

I don’t want to see any cheating. Stories are still to be read & judged the same way you always have. If Neil Clarke can politely tell me no in two days, there’s no reason why everywhere can’t meet his incredibly high and excellent standards. Clarkesworld has a fast turnaround which I respect.

Thanks for your attention.

NOW GO CLEAR YOUR SLUSH PILES, AND DON’T REOPEN TO SUBS UNTIL YOU HAVE.

SO ENDETH THE LESSON.