Well, since I’ve written so much about short stories on this blog I decided it was time to submit them. Over the course of a year while revising the novel, I wrote 3 short stories and 2 novelettes. A decent amount of writing I suppose. I’ve also started a few other short stories and wrote a fair amount of a science fiction novel. I decided to put the science fiction novel on hold and just finish the fantasy novel.

Since the short stories/novelettes are complete I recently started to submit them. So, right now I have stories submitted to: Asimov’s, Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, Clarkesworld, and Writers of the Future. The fifth story will soon be submitted as well, I’m just not sure yet. But if/when the others come back accepted or rejected I’ll just shoot them out to another publication.

An acceptance, of course, would be great. However, rejection is something I’m not afraid to receive and I know I can learn something. Now, if I just get straight rejections with zero feedback I know I have some serious work to do. Will I revise those stories? I’m not sure. Maybe after letting them sit a while I’ll see obvious reasons for the rejections. What I’d hope for in a rejection would be just a hint of what didn’t work. A personal note in a rejection letter is something to celebrate I think, as it is a step in the right direction. I viewed my Honorable Mention in Writers of the Future in this way–a step in the process, but a good step.

So, at least getting rejection letters means I’ve been submitting, and the only way to get published is to submit. I could mess around with the stories endlessly and never submit, and then of course I’d never get rejected or published. Do I feel like I need to be published? No, I still enjoy writing and it’s a major part of my life, however, it’d be nice to be published. And I’m in no hurry really, I have a lot of patience and tenacity. Perhaps one day my understanding and execution of the craft will be enough to break through.

Yes, I’ve been writing and editing a few short stories again. I’ve been trying to piece together the novel and get it to a point where I think I can pitch it to agents and editors at World Fantasy this year, but I needed a break. And what do I do when I need a break? I write and edit short stories.

I was very happy to receive an Honorable Mention for the 2nd quarter of the Writers of the Future contest. Honorable Mention may not seem like much, but considering the amount of entries they receive, it’s affirmation that I’m heading in the right direction. I think the story I submitted for the 3rd quarter is stronger, and I’ll be surprised if I don’t get at least Honorable Mention for that one. Then again, it’s hard to judge your own work. I mean, without actually getting professional feedback in the form of red marks or comments on your manuscript, the only way to learn is to read and write. And keep repeating the process.

So, the story I received an Honorable Mention got revised and submitted to Asimov’s. I probably won’t revise the story anymore, but keep submitting to other magazines, that is, unless I get feedback of some sort. I also submitted a different story to Fantasy & Science Fiction. And tonight I finished revising another short story. It’s science fiction, but more Bradbury like. Now, I’m not saying I write like Bradbury–no one does. It’s reminiscent of Bradbury.

I have a couple of other short stories that are ready for revision, but I think I need to get back to revising the novel–World Fantasy is right around the corner!