Ray Daley's Blog, page 11

So this was May 2020

I’ve made 176 new submissions. 139 rejections. 8 acceptances. 2 withdrawn, 0 not received.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.

There are currently 46 stories out in submission:-

[image error]

Due to the fact screengrabs off the laptop are clearly crap, I probably won’t keep doing them.

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.

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 SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!

The Scars Of War will be published at Chrome Baby, 2020. (DTBC)

Summer At Camp Long Drop will be released in Ghostlight, 2020. (DTBC)

Bastard Space will be released in Wordland 8 2020. (DTBC)

The Shaming will be released in Tell-Tale Press; Nebu Carnvale, June 1st, 2020.

Detecting Rogue Time Travellers (Practical Exam) will be released in On Time, June 27th, 2020. (TBC)

36 Hours In The Space Force will be released in Tales From The Space Force 2020. (DTBC)

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

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-

Some of the dates I had for publication have now passed. Due to the pandemic, people have other priorities. Ghostlight did send me an email, but I stupidly deleted it before I had a chance to take the updated info off it. If I get any specific updates, I’ll announce them here & on my Twitter feed.

I haven’t got an exact date on Scars Of War but Chrome Baby were hopeful it’d be during May. It looks like that now got bumped to June.

I’ve still got 3 stories left to hear back from the January Submission Challenge. There are also still 3 stories outstanding from the original September Challenge!

Tuck & Roll in Automobilia is still on-going.

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.”

Sadly I can’t check any of my email archives because the PC they were on has died, so until I can get data off that drive, it’s anyone’s guess when the TBC’s come out.

May Submission Challenge Stats post

Hello writer friends! As I have just sent out the last sub for this month, I thought I’d get on with updating you what went where and how the month went in general.

May 1st, todays market – Kanstellation (themed)

The Haunting Of An Occult Detective to Occult Detective Magazine,

The Lanyards to Weird Tales,

Major McCain to F&SF

& Spirit Animal to Nature; Futures.

No=108, Yes=8, Sub=135, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

No, I did NOT sub to todays market, as I had nothing on the theme. Yes, I did sub to Nature early, I’ve got a horror market lined up for myself on that day. Yes, I have also subbed to F&SF early. I know how fast they turn around & will subbing numerous pieces to them across this month.

May 2nd, todays market – Abyss & Apex

A couple of apologies first. Compelling & Andromeda Spaceways aren’t open. I thought they were. Sorry about that. Effected me too as it brought me down from 3 subs to 2.

The Healer to Abyss & Apex, Egg Witch to Women of the Woods.

No=108, Yes=8, Sub=137, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 3rd, todays market – F&SF

As I’ve not had a rejection back from F&SF yet, I couldn’t sub there today.

Some publishing news from me. I’m going to be in The Best of CafeLit 9 anthology with my story 2 Tickets To The End Of The World. I’m not sure exactly when this will be coming out, but I’ll make sure a link is available when I get one.

Shake-down to Clarkesworld,

Top Field Tanks to Shoreline of Infinity

& The War Machines to Cossmass Infinities.

No=108, Yes=8, Sub=140, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 4th, todays market – Clarkesworld

No from Space & Time on Hyperboy; Trinity &

No from Midnight In The Pentagram on You Have Summoned a Demon.

The Children’s Waterfall to Interzone.

No from Clarkesworld on Shake-down.

No=111, Yes=8, Sub=141, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

Just the 1 story going out today, and not todays market either, because I didn’t want to be waiting until 4pm to sub. I’ll sub to SH tomorrow, as I can do it right away.

May 5th, todays market – Strange Horizons

My 1st publication of this month, which was also the sale of my 1st reprint! The Dionesian Wave.

Please Hold to Strange Horizons &

Stray Kids Come Back to The Centropic Oracle.

No from Bards & Sages Quarterly on My Kingdom,

& from The Society of Misfit Stories on Death In Tunnel 3.

No=113, Yes=8, Sub=143, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 6th, todays market – Interzone

I guess I am going to have to own my mistake. I haven’t got a market to sub to today, it’s my own fault for trying to get so much out on days 1 and 2. While I could have pulled another of the markets from later down the challenge it’s only fair I admit I fucked up & overdid it it at the start.

It’s been a day of no subs for this guy. No rejections either, but I’ll confirm my stats at or after midnight my time.

No subs, no rejections.

No=113, Yes=8, Sub=143, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 7th, todays market – Daily Science Fiction

Nobody is perfect, not even the creator of the challenge themself! After my epic screw up yesterday leaving me no market to sub to, I got back on the horse, which ran off when I fell from it so I had to chase the little shit.

The Angels Kiss to Daily Science Fiction.

No=113, Yes=8, Sub=144, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 8th, todays market – 3 Lobed Burning Eye

Overground to 3 Lobed Burning Eye.

No=113, Yes=8, Sub=145, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 9th, todays market – Vestal Review

Todays market (Vestal Review) is not open for general subs.

At this point, I’m guessing Charlie Finlay is busier than normal. Would normally have heard back from him by now.

A Day For Flying to Allegory.

No=113, Yes=8, Sub=146, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 10th, todays market – The Arcanist

No from Escape Pod Flash Contest on Cinema Show.

The Next Best King to The Arcanist.

No=114, Yes=8, Sub=147, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 11th, todays market – Asimov’s

No from Interzone on The Children’s Waterfall.

The Assistance Centre to Asimov’s

& The Ripples Of Time to Interzone.

No=115, Yes=8, Sub=149, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 12th, todays market – Every Day Fiction

No from Fireside on Mission 334; Mannequin World.

The Suicide Drive to Every Day Fiction

& I Hide Behind Cardboard Cliffs And Polystyrene Rocks to We’re the Weird Aliens.

No=116, Yes=8, Sub=151, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

When/if we run next time (I’m not sure either way right now), Every Day Fiction WILL NOT be used as a market by me. Their contract is incredibly shitty & I hadn’t noticed until I actually read the damn thing. If you personally wish to sub there, I won’t stop you, but I’d advise otherwise after this time around. $3 for a story & nothing for a possible anthology later royally sucks a donkey cock thru several straws.

May 13th, todays market – AGNI

Shoulder Surfers to AGNI.

No=116, Yes=8, Sub=152, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 14th, todays market – Beneath Ceaseless Skies

A Selection Of Fools Grails to Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

No from Hypnos Magazine on The Border.

No from F&SF on Major McCain.

No=118, Yes=8, Sub=153, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

I’ve got quite a lot due back any day now, hopeful some of those will be sales. I’m still not sure about the fate of the next possible challenge. Recently I’ve been looking into trying a writing course so it MIGHT get put off to allow me time to do that. I’ll keep you in the loop, obviously.

May 15th, todays market – Cast Of Wonders (Banned books week)

Hot Dust to F&SF,

What You Can Do With A Non-trademarked Nut-spread to Clarkesworld.

No=118, Yes=8, Sub=155, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

Still no sales for me yet, but I live in hope. And a house, because hope don’t keep you warm & dry.

May 16th, todays market – Sirius Science Fiction

Empty Chest to Drabblecast.

No from Clarkesworld on What You Can Do With A Non-trademarked Nut-spread.

No=119, Yes=8, Sub=156, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

I had to skip todays market as I still have a story outstanding there right now, couldn’t jump to tomorrows market either as that doesn’t open until then, hence going to Drabblecast today.

May 17th, todays market – Ordinary Mortals Anthology

Hyperboy; Trinity to Rogue Blades Ordinary Mortals Anthology.

No from The Centropic Oracle on Stray Kids Come Back,

from Interzone on The Ripples Of Time

& from Augur on Fair King, Fell Low.

No=122, Yes=8, Sub=157, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 18th, todays market – The Drabblecast

Playing For Time to Interzone.

No=122, Yes=8, Sub=158, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

Subbing here because I can, & I’d already done Drabblecast a few days ago. I’m getting a bit nervous waiting on Sirius SF to get back to me. If I’ve heard nothing by the end of the week, I’ll have to risk a simultaneous sub to them. If could do with Abyss & Apex giving me an update too, TBH.

May 19th, todays market – Electric Spec

Into The Labyrinth to Electric Spec.

No from Dark Moon Digest on Ghost Tour.

No=123, Yes=8, Sub=159, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

Space Force: Building The Legacy (Featuring my story “For The Duty”) released today.

I’ve got an idea I’m fairly enthused to write about today (for a change), something which kept me awake for several hours, tossing the scenarios over in my mind.

May 20th, todays market – Metaphorosis

Pen Pals From The Abyss to Metaphorosis.

No from Three-Lobed Burning Eye on Overground.

No=124, Yes=8, Sub=160, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

I’ve got a couple of outlines I’ve plotted out for stories I’m going to write. I’ve already started one but now I’ve got all my ideas out of my head & in some sort of order down on paper, it looks way more viable.

Fairly quick rejection here, only 8 days. I’m pleased to report I wrote my first good story in almost a month today, 2600(ish) words for a sub tomorrow. It felt fairly easy.

May 21st, todays market – Flash Fiction Online

We Lived In OmniPark! to Tales From OmniPark

& Remembering Little Betty to Flash Fiction Online.

No from F&SF on Hot Dust.

No=125, Yes=8, Sub=162, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0

May 22nd, todays market – (Hybrid Ink) Future//Tense: Sex

The Sex Lives Of Robots to Future//Tense: Sex

& The Magician to F&SF.

No from Interzone on Playing For Time

& No from Metaphorosis on Pen Pals From The Abyss.

No from Tales From OmniPark on We Lived In OmniPark!

No=128, Yes=8, Sub=164, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0

May 23rd, todays market – The Future Fire

Hot Dust to Clarkesworld

& The Sleeping Season to The Future Fire.

No from Sci Phi Journal on And The Lord taketh Away.

No from Daily Science Fiction on The Angels Kiss.

No=130, Yes=8, Sub=166, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 24th, todays market – Not One Of Us

No from The Overcast on The Passing Of Witchcraft.

Nightwing Fucks Shit Up to Not One of Us.

No from Clarkesworld on Hot Dust.

No=132, Yes=8, Sub=167, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 25th, todays market – Chrome Baby

I’ve lost track of what day it is.

No from Rogue Blades Entertainment on Hyperboy; Trinity.

They Who Dare to Chrome Baby

& Lost Souls to Daily Science Fiction.

No from F&SF on The Magician.

No=133, Yes=8, Sub=169, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 26th, todays market – Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores

At this point, I am resigned to no sales this month. I suppose 3 for 3 was too much to ask for.

Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores is closed.

The Man Who Looked After The Sea to Mythaxis

& Fairytales, And Lies to F&SF.

No=134, Yes=8, Sub=171, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 27th, todays market – Nature; Futures

Got a contributor copy of my latest anthology appearance in the post today. FREE BOOKS ROCK!

Running With Scissors to The No Sleep Podcast.

No=134, Yes=8, Sub=172, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

26 pieces currently still out in this event.

3 from January. 3 from last September.

Total of 47 pieces still out in subs.

May 28th, todays market – Amazing Stories

No from Beneath Ceaseless Skies on A Selection Of Fools Grails.

And The Lord Taketh Away to Amazing Stories.

No=135, Yes=8, Sub=173, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

May 29th, todays market – Bards & Sages Quarterly

Grandmothers Shoes to Bards & Sages Quarterly.

No=135, Yes=8, Sub=174, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

I also got a hold from Mythaxis. It’s nice they are so quick, certainly feels good to have another story beyond 1st readers. I don’t want to speak too soon but it looks like my story won’t appear at Chrome Baby this month after all. I’d expected it to go up today, but there’s a poem up instead.

As I’ve already had something out this month, I’m fine with it getting bumped.

May 30th, todays market – The Dark Magazine

Jesus, that was a task and a half! I got everything working then the laptop reset for an update which took 2 fucking hrs to do, then I couldn’t get it to load back up, some issue with the settings. Anyway, that took another hour (mail won’t load or work now) so I’ve had to sub through Hotmail. I now can’t check my regular email.

No from F&SF on Fairytales, And Lies.

Just A Small Slice Of Life to The Dark Magazine.

No from Mythaxis on The Man Who Looked After The Sea

& from Heroic Fantasy Quarterly on Exactly The Wrong Shade Of Green.

No=138, Yes=8, Sub=175, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

After another hour tinkering, I’ve got Thunderbird installed, I now have email.

May 31st, todays market – Shoreline of Infinity

Hot Dust to Interzone.

No from The Dark Magazine on Just A Small Slice Of Life.

No=139, Yes=8, Sub=176, Withdrawn=2, Not Received=0.

I wanted to sub to Clarkesworld today, but I royally screwed up & somehow managed to send them the last story they’d rejected. There’s no way to remove a story from subs on their system, so I’ll have to wait for that to be rejected again.

I’ll list this as my last sub for the month, there’s still what’s left of today for an acceptance to arrive.

41 submissions made.

31 rejections received.

0 acceptances.

27 May challenge pieces still out.

1 dead PC.

I’ll be honest, this hasn’t been a great month, even with new stories coming out. I thought I might make at least 1 sale before the month ended, but it appears that isn’t going to happen. I got nice comments from Mythaxis who I’ll be subbing to again.

I don’t know when or if this challenge will run again. If it does, possibly July, but that’s subject to change.

Normally by the end of each challenge I know for sure when I want to go again, right now I feel a bit defeated. That might change if some sales start coming in.

We’ll see, I guess?

Just a quick update

My PC finally died, after 14 years. Fotrunately I invested in a laptop last year, so I’m still online.

Obviously it’ll take me time to migrate fully onto this sytem, please bear with me while that takes place.

So this was April 2020

I’ve made 131 new submissions. 108 rejections. 8 acceptances. 1 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.

There are currently 32 stories out in submission:-

[image error]

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.
Mushnik’s Guitar. Aphotic Realm Magazine #9, Interstellar. March 26th, 2020

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!

For The Duty will be released in Space Force; Building A Legacy, May 25th, 2020.
The Scars Of War will be published at Chrome Baby, May, 2020. (TBC)
Summer At Camp Long Drop will be released in Ghostlight, 2020. (DTBC)
Bastard Space will be released in Wordland 8 2020. (DTBC)
The Dionesian Wave will be published at Tell-Tale Press 2020. (DTBC)
The Shaming will be released in Tell-Tale Press; Nebu Carnvale, June 1st, 2020.
Detecting Rogue Time Travellers (Practical Exam) will be released in On Time, June 27th, 2020. (TBC)
36 Hours In The Space Force will be released in Tales From The Space Force 2020. (DTBC)

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

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-

As you can see, some of the dates I had for publication have now passed. Due to the pandemic, people have other priorities. Ghostlight did send me an email, but I stupidly deleted it before I had a chance to take the updated info off it. If I get any specific updates, I’ll announce them here & on my Twitter feed.

I haven’t got an exact date on Scars Of War but Chrome Baby were hopefully it’d be during May.

I’ve still got 4 stories left to hear back from the January Submission Challenge. There are also still 3 stories outstanding from the original September Challenge!
Tuck & Roll in Automobilia is still on-going.
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.”

Setting goals & keeping focussed

Today I’m happy to have finished all my prep work for the May challenge.

That’s 31 stories & 2 spares to sub out. Spellchecked, a grammar pass, audioproofed (with a listen along, doing any edits) & layout.

It took about 5 days in total, including the time it took me to select all 33 of those stories. A lot of it is what I’d class as “invisible work”, or stuff the end reader will never know happened to the piece unless they follow this blog or my twitter feed.

I’m trying my to lift the curtain back on what I do “behind the scenes”, to bring a story to being able to submit it. The story needs to be absolutely the best condition, in terms of readability, grammar, no mistakes, consistancy and layout.

I want the editors where I’m sending these stories to have the best possible reading experience I as a writer can give them. Sure, it helps if the story is solid and enjoyable too, but all the niggly small things an editor might potentially reject your work for needs to be removed.

Then you’ve got a fighting chance at a sale.

The main problem with going through all these steps with so many different stories is it really takes it out of you, mentally and physically. It’s even tougher with being in lockdown, to the point where the last time I did this it took 3 days in total to do 38 stories. This time around it took almost a week, and I’m not in a hurry to be doing it again any time soon.

The main thing I found which helped me was to set a daily goal, to get a specific amount of stories done. I didn’t always achieve that goal, but I knew that with each piece I did, it was making my workload lighter for the next day.

It has been quite difficult to maintain focus on the stages of getting these stories fully polished and submission ready. Again, the daily goals have helped there, but I didn’t get to all of them. I don’t see that as a failure, more I over estimated my own ability or mental state at the time.

Never set yourself stupid targets you can’t possible reach. Goals should be sensible, reasonable, and within your grasp. Even if you fail to reach those goals, it’s still a helpful process as you’ve learned something about how you work as a writer, which will shape your future experiences.

I now have time to cooldown, to get myself and my mind ready for the challenge.

Challenge update

I’m pleased to say I have chosen my core 31 stories. I’ve picked 1 spare, so far, and I’m fairly sure I’ll be able to find at least 5 more as my extras.

EXTRAS:- Stories I’ll be submitting as additional pieces on days where I already have a piece selected. I don’t want to just send out 31 stories. 31 is a bare minimum. I managed over 60 last time, but a shit ton of markets were open at the time.

Markets have been tough to find, I want people to know that. I worked HARD. I mean crazy fucking hard sourcing places who paid & were open. I’ve done a lot of advertising, to entice other writers into joining in. I’ve no clue how many new people are going to join us this time around.

I’ll make a start on my prep tomorrow. Thanks to everyone who is and will be supporting me now & next month. It really means a lot to me.

So this was March 2020

I’ve made 120 new submissions. 95 rejections. 6 acceptances. 1 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 was 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.

A story was sold to a market on 22nd Mar, 2020. I can’t say any more yet.

There are currently 37 stories out in submission:-

Normally there would be a screengrab showing what’s out in submission here. Due to circumstances beyond my control, that won’t be happening this month. I actually wasn’t going to release an update blog at all this month because of that, but decided it wasn’t fair on my followers. My advice, also follow me on Twitter @RayDaleyWriter & you’ll always get the details of what has been rejected & when. I’m not saying you could use that info to work out which story I sold & where to, but you totally could.

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.

Mushnik’s Guitar. Aphotic Realm Magazine #9, Interstellar. March 26th, 2020

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME!

Summer At Camp Long Drop will be released in Ghostlight, April 2020. (TBC)

Bastard Space will be released in Wordland 8 possibly around Easter/April 2020. (TBC)

The Shaming will be released in Tell-Tale Press; Nebu Carnvale, May 1st 2020.

Detecting Rogue Time Travellers (Practical Exam) will be released in Transmundane Press On Time anthology June 27th, 2020. (TBC)

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

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-

I’ve still got 9 stories left to hear back from the January Submission Challenge. There are also still 4 stories outstanding from the original September Challenge!

Tuck & Roll in Automobilia is still on-going.

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.”

As you can see, I did make a sale recently. I haven’t been given permission to announce it yet, this is why there’s no “out in submission” screenshot. Sorry about that. As I say, beyond my control. I have to respect the publishers wishes.

The State Of My Writing Address

COVID 19 exists. I do not believe I have it. I’ve had several different colds & flu strains. Yes, I am dying, but that is from a condition commonly known as LIFE. Perhaps you’ve heard of it, or are also a sufferer?

Nothing has changed for me. I was a shut-in before and I still am, going out when I absolutely have to, or I need chocolate. When writing calls open, I will respond if I have work which fits the market. I’ll continue to monitor & advertise up-coming calls. I’ll read/edit/proof my work & write when the muse takes me, which currently isn’t often.

If people want to interact with me, hey, the internet exists. Drop me a tweet @RayDaleyWriter

or leave a comment on my Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/raymond.daley.10

I’m happy to share my writing knowledge & experience, if you want to know about being rejected, I’m a fucking expert there. I can talk about acceptances, failed projects, publishing & what happens between being told yes & your story appearing online or in an anthology.

If for some crazy reason you want to know what it’s like to be a transvestite whilst actively serving in the UK military, I can talk about that too.

Those of us who are getting to get through this thing are the ones who make the most of the time & opportunities we’ve got between now & whatever normality is coming in the near to distant future. Right now, that shit is science fiction, so speak to a published science fiction writer.

I’m going to carry on with my life. Pretty much nothing has changed for me. If you need me, my markets, my experience or anything else, get in touch.

Strange Times, Indeed!

This month is shaping up to be an odd one, for sure.

There’s a ton of crazy shit going on around the world, most of the globe is gripped in the panic over the corona virus. Somehow though, my month is going well.

I’ve done final proofing for 3 stories due to be released.

Today I did proofs on Mushnik’s Guitar for Aphotic Realm’s Interstellar special. That has some nice art to go with my story.

Yesterday I proofed Bastard Space for Wordland 8; Time We Left. I’d forgotten a lot about that story, so it was nice to be reminded of it all again. I also sent Clarkesworld a pitch for a non-fiction article, I’ll let you know how that went if or when I hear back.

Signed contracts for The Shaming, due to appear in The Starship Logs, Volume 3: Nabu Carnevale.

I’ve written a new story, which went straight out to F&SF. I had to sub it fast, I wanted it to remain current and get that idea in before anyone else thought to try it.

I also got a like for my novel during #PitMad, so the first 50 pages of that has gone off to a publisher. They cover the region my story is aimed at so I really hope they like it and want to read the whole thing. Again, I’ll let you know if or when anything happens.

It’s a whole lot of stuff happening in a short amount of time, so I haven’t got time to worry about my future – it’s literally stacking up right in front of me.

I just wanted to have a quick catch-up, just to let folks know things are still going on. Currently it’s mostly prep for the May Submission Challenge, trying to find those last few markets & staking out spares as well.

Sure, I have a minor case of the sniffles but it’s no biggy.

The next thing due out is Mushnik’s Guitar, which will be released in Aphotic Realm’s Interstellar, mid March 2020.

Now you know as much as I do.

May 2020 Submission Challenge update

Please note, this list is currently a work in progress. I’m posting it here in an “as is” state, which means none of the links have been checked by me yet. The required checks are:-

1) Is it a paying market (includes token pay)?

2) Is the market open at some point during the challenge?

These are the only requirements the markets need to fulfil to qualify for the challenge. As you can see below, the whole month hasn’t been filled yet, but this is easy to fix. All the markets have links, all the spares have links.

I’m fairly sure that all the markets I’ve listed are paying & the ones which have been numbered are open during May. It’s just a matter of doing my checks to make sure.

Once I’ve done those checks, this text will no longer be here.

I’ve left this here so you’ve got a rough idea which markets we’ll be submitting to. This allows you make your story selections well in advance & have them all proofed & ready send once we’re underway.

Feel free to get in touch with me on twitter @RayDaleyWriter if you are interested in taking part!

01 – Cast Of Wonders (Banned books week) https://www.castofwonders.org/submissions/

02 – Abyss & Apex https://www.abyssapexzine.com/submissions/

03 – F&SF https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.htm

04 – Clarkesworld http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/

05 – Strange Horizons http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/

06 – Interzone http://ttapress.com/interzone/guidelines/

07 – Daily Science Fiction https://dailysciencefiction.com/submit

08 – 3 Lobed Burning Eye https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html

09 – Vestal Review http://www.vestalreview.org/guidelines/

10 – The Arcanist https://thearcanist.io/tag/submission-guidelines/

11 – Asimov’s https://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/

12 – Every Day Fiction https://everydayfiction.com/submit-story/

13 – AGNI https://agnionline.bu.edu/submit

14 – Beneath Ceaseless Skies http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/submissions/

15 – Nature; Futures http://blogs.nature.com/futureconditional/2015/04/19/how-to-write-for-nature-futures/

16 – Sirius Science Fiction https://siriussciencefiction.blogspot.com/

17 – Ordinary Mortals Anthology https://www.rogue-blades.com/RBE-Submissions

18 – The Drabblecast https://www.drabblecast.org/submissions/

19 – Electric Spec https://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html

20 – Metaphorosis https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/guidelines/

21 – Flash Fiction Online http://flashfictiononline.com/main/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/

22 –

23 –

24 –

25 –

26 –

27 –

28 –

29 –

30 –

31 – Hypnos magazine http://radiumtownpress.com/guidelines.html

SPARES:- Trouble Among The Stars https://troubleamongthestars.com/submit/

Liquid Imagination http://liquidimagination.silverpen.org/submissions/

The Future Fire http://futurefire.net/guidelines/fiction.html

Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores https://cosmicrootsandeldritchshores.com/submissions/

Strange Fictions http://strangefictionszine.com/submissions/

NewMyths https://sites.google.com/a/newmyths.com/nmwebsite/submissions/sub-2

Mithila Review https://mithilareview.com/submission-guidelines/

Not One Of Us https://not-one-of-us.pub/about/guidelines/

Bards & Sages Quarterly https://www.bardsandsages.com/contact_us/fiction_submission_guidelines

The Overcast http://theovercast.libsyn.com/submissions-guidelines

Black Static http://ttapress.com/blackstatic/guidelines/

The Dark Magazine http://thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/

No Sleep Podcast https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/submissions

Three Crows Magazine http://threecrowsmagazine.com/submissions/

Chrome Baby http://robindunn.com/chrome-submit.html

Anotherealm http://anotherealm.com/faq/submit.php

Syntax & Salt https://syntaxandsalt.com/submit/

Strange Fictions http://strangefictionszine.com/submissions/

Augur http://www.augurmag.com/submissions/