Ray Daley's Blog, page 2

Sept ’23 (Unofficial) Subs Challenge Round-up

This month isn’t an official event. The list was given directly to those who asked for it. As few new people outside the official Facebook group took it (In Cat Rambo’s discord & The Dread Machine discord) I explained that the rules for everyone else were to sub to whatever markets they wanted. As always for me, to sub to at least 1 paying market per day for the entire month.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 1st – Todays listed markets were Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores and Hearth. I subbed Scenario Twelve to Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores, Bodge Job to Asimov’s to Hearth Stories. I also made a sale, not challenge related but my 14th this year.

Subbed=2. Accept=0. Reject=0. Hold=0

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 2nd – Just the 1 market today, Beneath Ceaseless Skies. I’ll deal with rejections first. No on Scenario 12 from Cosmic Roots. Probably one of the fastest rejections I’ve had from them in years, I must have really made a poor choice in my sub there if it was bounced so quickly.

I subbed Ode To The Blind Harpist to Beneath Ceaseless Skies.

Subbed=3. Accept=0. Reject=1. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 3rd – Today was another solo market, Fusion Fragment. I subbed Mission 334; Mannequin World to Fusion Fragment.

Subbed=4. Accept=0. Reject=1. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 4th – And back to 2 again, today’s markets were Hexagon Magazine or Apex Magazine. Obviously, I subbed to both of them, because this is me we’re talking about here.

Sent Witch Hunt to Hexagon & Assessment to Apex Magazine.

Subbed=6. Accept=0. Reject=1. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 5th – Another single market today, Flash Fiction Online. I’ll deal with rejections first, though. No on Mission 334; Mannequin World from Fusion Fragment.

I subbed The Insider Skinny On Your Best Dragon Restaurant Experience to Flash Fiction Online. That’s a quite new story, it hasn’t been anywhere else yet.

Subbed=7. Accept=0. Reject=2. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 6th – Just the 1 market again today, and it’s the toughest place on the planet to get in, Clarkesworld.

I sent 11 Walls In The World to Clarkesworld.

Subbed=8. Accept=0. Reject=2. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 7th – To let you know how tough it was finding markets open this month who also paid, today is also a single market day, it’s Asimov’s.

However, I’ll deal with rejections first, just the one, No from Hearth on Don’t Forget Your Potato!

I subbed Bodge Job to Asimov’s.

I’m also informed there’ll be news from another market today, but it’s not challenge related.

Subbed=9. Accept=0. Reject=3. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 8th – Today should have been 2 markets, Analog or The Colored Lens. However, I still have a piece at Analog so I couldn’t sub there today.

No on Egg Witch from The Colored Lens. That was VERY quick, but she said some nice things about it. Also a no on 11 Walls In The World from Clarkesworld.

At first I sent Egg Witch to The Colored Lens. Until someone told me Analog were okay with sim subs. So I sent Starliner Down to Analog.

Subbed=11. Accept=0. Reject=5. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 9th – Todays markets were Interzone or Planet Scumm. Rejections first, no on Bodge Job from Asimov’s.

Moon Walker to Planet Scumm.

I went completely insane due to the heat, I sent the wrong story there, and in the wrong format too. I expect that to be rejected quickly. I will sub to Interzone, just not today.

Subbed=12. Accept=0. Reject=6. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 10th – Todays markets were The Quiet Ones (The End theme) or StarshipSofa. It looks like The Quiet Ones closed early as they were a little overwhelmed with entries, so nothing went there.
Sent Hyperboy; Trinity to StarShipSofa.

Subbed=13. Accept=0. Reject=6. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 11th – Today, officially I only had 1 market, Etherea Mag. However, because I constantly keep my eyes out for anyone open, I also found Reckoning who were open, and after I’d had a look at what they wanted, I had a feeling at least one of my stories would fit there.
I also moved a few markets around. Because I missed out getting a sub to The Quiet Ones yesterday, I’ve shifted one market up several days and placed an always open market down into its place. I’ll explain more, when that day arrives.

Subbed The Adventures Of The Amazing Jill, And Otter Bob to Etherea & Volunteer To Be A Martyr to Reckoning,
Subbed=15. Accept=0. Reject=6. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 12th – Todays listed markets were Intrepidus Ink or Bourbon Penn. Because I’ve got another market closing very soon and I didn’t want to miss getting a sub there, I moved it up to today.

I sent The Safety Of Checkpoints to Intrepidus Ink & Return To Blood Cove to Crab Tales Magazine.

Subbed=17. Accept=0. Reject=6. Hold=0.

EDIT:- Got a late rejection, just before the end of the day. No on The Safety Of Checkpoints from Intrepidus Ink.
Subbed=17. Accept=0. Reject=7. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 13th – Today’s markets were Electric Spec or Shortwave Magazine. I decided not to select a story for Electric Spec because I was recently published there.

Scenario Twelve to Shortwave Magazine.

Subbed=18. Accept=0. Reject=7. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 14th – Initially, today was only going to be 1 market, Penumbric. I did actually find a 2nd, which I had to write a story specifically for, but I quite enjoyed doing that.

I subbed The Fight to Penumbric & The Secret Of Takeshi’s Castle to Apparition Lit Flash Fiction Contest.

Also logged another non-challenge related acceptance today which arrived a few days ago. Up to 15 this year now.

Subbed=20. Accept=0. Reject=7. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 15th – Today was initially only the one market, Archive Of The Odd but I got lucky during the last 2 weeks & another popped up which looked super tempting, IMAGITOPIA (who are focussed on fantasy reprints). Reading the guidelines, I realised I couldn’t sub my story to Archive Of The Odd as it needed to be anonymous & I’m a character in it.

So I subbed A Tooth Fairy Dreams… to Imagitopia.

Subbed=21. Accept=0. Reject=7. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 16th – Todays listed markets were Weird Horror Magazine or Silver Blade. I’m not sure if I misread the date on Weird Horror or they closed early but they’d closed on the 15th. Fortunately I subbed …And Yet So Far Away to Silver Blade.

Subbed=22. Accept=0. Reject=7. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 17th – Fractured Lit (Flash/Micro) elsewhere prize or Flash Point SF. I didn’t realise that the Elsewhere prize were charging to sub until I came to check the guidelines, so nothing went there, because I don’t pay to sub. The Last Survival Reality Show to Flash Point SF.

EDIT: Had a late rejection come in. No on The Secret Of Takeshi’s Castle from Apparition Lit Flash Fiction Contest.

Subbed=23. Accept=0. Reject=8. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 18th – Today was originally going to be just the one market, Pyre Magazine. Do you remember how I said I moved Bourbon Penn back on the 12th? Well, I bumped it down to here.

I sent Do Bears… to Pyre Magazine & Mother Knows Best to Bourbon Penn.

Subbed=25. Accept=0. Reject=8. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 19th – Today also started out as a single market, Three-Lobed Burning Eye. I’d looked a little further down the list and noted the 22nd had 3 markets listed so I was curious if I could possibly bump one of those up, it turned out I could, so I also had Myriad (Duel theme).

I sent The Bounty to Three-Lobed Burning Eye & Power Struggle to MYRIAD Dual.

Subbed=27. Accept=0. Reject=8. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 20th – Todays listed markets were Escape Pod or Radon Journal.

For whatever reason, I hadn’t preselected anything for Radon Journal so I had to do a bit of a hunt to find something.

I subbed Benchmark to Escape Pod & Shots Of Repatriated Bastard to Radon Journal.

Subbed=29. Accept=0. Reject=8. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 21st – Today was scheduled as two markets, F&SF or Crab Tales. However, for the 1st time ever during a challenge, F&SF closed. I had already bumped Crab Tales up to Sept 12th.

Fortunately for me, I had bumped another market, much earlier in the challenge, all the way back on the 9th. It’s not unheard to end up not subbing to either scheduled market, but it is quite rare.

I had a rejection arrive while l I was doing my sub so I’ll cover that 1st. No on Assessment from Apex.

I sent Egress to Interzone.

Subbed=30. Accept=0. Reject=9. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 22nd – Another weird and rearranged day. Today’s scheduled markets were Myriad (Duel theme) or Translunar Travelers Lounge. I had already bumped Duel up to the 19th so it was a matter of shifting stuff about again. I’ll deal with rejections first.

No on Egress from Interzone.

I sent Simply Surviving to Translunar Travelers Lounge & Some Enchanted Evening to Astrolabe.

Subbed=32. Accept=0. Reject=10. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 23rd – On the face of it, today was just one market, The Dark Magazine. However, my usual behind the scenes beavering found that Shoreline Of Infinity was also open.

I sent The Legend to The Dark & King Of The Mountain to Shoreline of Infinity.

Subbed=34. Accept=0. Reject=10. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 24th – Another day where it was initially just the one market, Seize The Press. More beavering and Dreamforge was found to be open.

I subbed The Safety Of Checkpoints to DreamForge Anvil & Into The Labyrinth to Seize the Press.

It’s surprising (even though it’s not only a weekend, it’s also Sunday) that over 24 hours later I still haven’t heard back from The Dark yet. I won’t read anything into that. Yet.

Subbed=36. Accept=0. Reject=10. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 25th – Yet another day where it seemed like it was going to be just one market, The Future Fire. Fortunately I’d also found that Tales from the Moonlit Path were open.

I subbed Something Good To Eat to Tales from the Moonlit Path and Inheriting Grandma’s House to The Future Fire.

Subbed=38. Accept=0. Reject=10. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 26th – Again, another day where it was initially just one market, Nightmare Diaries. The usual beavering, searching, and I found a horror market called The Dark Door. That spoke to me.

I’ll deal with rejections first. No from The Dark on The Legend. Damn. THREE DAYS? Unheard of. Of course, I did not think they were going to take that, but for a hot minute I thought it was close.

Fairytales, And Lies to Nightmare Diaries & Meat Is Murder to The Dark Door.

Subbed=40. Accept=0. Reject=11. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 27th – This is getting to be quite a groove. Another day where it seemed it’d be just one market, Andromeda Spaceways. My usual beavering found Amplitudes Anthology open.

I’ll deal with rejections first. No on The Bounty from Three-Lobed Burning Eye, Simply Surviving from Translunar Travelers Lounge & Simon Says from Space And Time.

I sent Transitional Period to Amplitudes & The Bivouac subbed to Andromeda Spaceways Magazine.

It turned out that The Dark now have the weekend off. My 1st 2 days weren’t anything special.

Subbed=42. Accept=0. Reject=14. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 28th – Still in that single market on the surface groove, today was Myriad (Necropolis theme). However, this little beaver also found that Crimson Quill Quarterly were open, and that looked damn fine to me.

As the script always goes the same way, we’ll deal with rejections first. It’s because it’s easier to deal with something negative then do something positive like submissions after to level or improve the emotional & mental balance. And you thought I was just sending them out for the money?

No on Benchmark from Escape Pod. I did get some feedback so I have a better idea of what not to send the next time. They don’t like twist endings.

After a bit of reading, I realised I don’t write the sort of thing Crimson Quill were looking for so I passed on subbing there. I eventually subbed On Common Ground to MYRIAD NECROPOLIS.

Subbed=43. Accept=0. Reject=15. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 29th – Wow, an actual two market day! The Midnight Labyrinth and Paranoid Tree.

I subbed Assessment to The Midnight Labyrinth & How We Overcame A Totalitarian Regime to Paranoid Tree.

Subbed=45. Accept=0. Reject=15. Hold=0.

________________________________________________________________________________

Sept 30th – Todays markets were supposed to be Little Bastards or The Dark Door. I’d already subbed to The Dark Door back on the 26th. Looking online I discovered that Little Bastards had been cancelled, no reason why. Which left me in a bit of a quandary. So I had a look to see what possibles I still had left. After a decent amount of searching, I settled on CreepyPod.

I subbed Ghosts Of My Past to Creepy Podcast.

Subbed=46. Accept=0. Reject=15. Hold=0.
________________________________________________________________________________
I’m happy with 46 subs. I did get 2 acceptances this month but neither were from challenge subs. I think 15 rejections may possibly be the least I’ve received since starting the challenge. The next will run during January of 2024, I have already started compiling markets for that. This has been the hardest challenge to find markets for since I started doing it, with a lot of places closed forever, or simply closed now/until further notice. I’m sorry to see Fantasy Magazine go under. Arley Sorg did an excellent job making it a market that people really wanted to read and get into. F&SF were also closed for the 1st time ever during an event. All I can say there is I hope they reopen to subs again soon.

Losing Daily Science Fiction as a reliable market was also hard. They were an excellent place to sub to, and I’m proud to have made it in there at least once before they shut.

A lot more people took the list, especially through Discord, folks from Cat Rambo’s group and from The Dread Machine. It made me happy to know others find this event useful, I look forward to hearing how they did, and hope they take part in the next official event.

So This Was September 2023

I’ve made 230 submissions. 185 rejections. 15 acceptances. 2 holds.

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.
On Reflection, It’s Life was sold to Psychotoxin Press, May 1st, 23.
Hostile Take-over was sold to Eidetic, May 10th, 23.
I Will Send Diamonds was sold to Bards and Sages Quarterly, Jun 5th, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was sold to Fear Forge Anthology Series, Jun 6th, 23.
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge was sold to Cry Baby Bridge, Jun 12th, 23.
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour was sold to Stupefying Stories, Jun 26th, 23. 100th Accept!
King For A Day was sold to Electric Spec, Jul 31st, 23.
Yard Sale Witch was sold to The Lorelei Signal, Sept 2nd 23.
The Haunted Spaceship was sold to Stupefying Stories, Sept 11th 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 49 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)
On Reflection, It’s Life is appearing on bookmarks at various horror conventions after May 26th, 23.
Hostile Take-over was released in the Eidetic Pride issue, June 1st, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was released in Fear Forge: Summer Quarter 2023, Jun 30th, 23.
Spun Yarn was released in Bullet Points, 26th July 2023.
King For A Day was released at Electric Spec, Aug 31st, 23.

LESSONS LEARNED:-(This is a new segment, I’ll be adding tips for myself for future blogs.)
Add sales as stubs as once 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!
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge will be released in Cry Baby Bridge, Oct 23. (DTBC).
I Will Send Diamonds will be released at Bards & Sages Quarterly, Oct 23. (DTBC)
The Haunted Spaceship will be released at Stupefying Stories, Oct 23. (DTBC)
The Dragon Readers will be released in 99 Fleeting Fantasies, winter 2023. (DTBC).
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour will be released at Stupefying Stories, 2023. (DTBC)
My House Is Haunted, Ask Me Everything will be released in Eidetic, 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, Jan 2024. (DTBC)
Yard Sale Witch will be released at The Lorelei Signal, Jan 2024. (DTBC)
Hot Dust will be released at Galactic Treks. (DTBC)
John Lennon Is Feeding Me Instructions Across Time will be released in 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.
The Stiff In Pod G is also in a void right now, I know as much as you do there.
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour has been delayed, it should be out in the first week of September.
A few publications have been pushed back. Some stuff I can’t talk about because they aren’t announced yet.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-I wrote 2 stories this month, 2162 words in total. I did have something else I’d started but it wasn’t finished or typed up so it doesn’t count.

So This Was August 2023

I’ve made 184 submissions. 158 rejections. 13 acceptances. 2 holds.

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.
On Reflection, It’s Life was sold to Psychotoxin Press, May 1st, 23.
Hostile Take-over was sold to Eidetic, May 10th, 23.
I Will Send Diamonds was sold to Bards and Sages Quarterly, Jun 5th, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was sold to Fear Forge Anthology Series, Jun 6th, 23.
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge was sold to Cry Baby Bridge, Jun 12th, 23.
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour was sold to Stupefying Stories, Jun 26th, 23. 100th Accept!
King For A Day was sold to Electric Spec, Jul 31st, 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. 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)
On Reflection, It’s Life is appearing on bookmarks at various horror conventions after May 26th, 23.
Hostile Take-over was released in the Eidetic Pride issue, June 1st, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was released in Fear Forge: Summer Quarter 2023, Jun 30th, 23.
Spun Yarn was released in Bullet Points, 26th July 2023.
King For A Day was released at Electric Spec, Aug 31st, 23.

LESSONS LEARNED:-(This is a new segment, I’ll be adding tips for myself for future blogs.)
Add sales as stubs as once 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!
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge will be released in Cry Baby Bridge, (DTBC).
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour will be released at Stupefying Stories, Jul-Aug, 23. (DTBC)
I Will Send Diamonds will be released at Bards & Sages Quarterly, October ’23. (DTBC)
The Dragon Readers will be released in 99 Fleeting Fantasies, winter 2023. (DTBC).
My House Is Haunted, Ask Me Everything will be released in Eidetic, 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 in 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.
The Stiff In Pod G is also in a void right now, I know as much as you do there.
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour has been delayed, it should be out in the first week of September.
A few publications have been pushed back. Some stuff I can’t talk about because they aren’t announced yet.

ANY OTHER BUSINESS:-I only wrote 1 stort this month, 863 words in total.

2020 Wasn’t That Bad; Or, Light Is Where You Find It.

To provide context for this article, I wrote this towards the end of 2020, I checked the files but because I’d done edits, originally, I couldn’t work out the exact date I wrote it. I scanned down the piece and found the words “As we reach the middle of November”, so somewhere around November 15th 2020.

I wanted to tell people that although the world was having a shitty time, some people were doing okay. So I give you the piece as I wrote it.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2020 Hasn’t Been THAT Bad; Or, Light Is Where You Find It

2020 is almost over. Thank god, and good riddance, most people might think. I’m here to say no. Stow that kind of thinking. 2020 has been a lot better than you might have guessed.

If you’re reading this, you’re probably some kind of creative type. You write, you read, you make art. Whatever you do, that creative outlet has helped you get through what most people are referring to as a car-wreck of a year. Again, no.

#

Things have been tough this year, don’t get me wrong. Sure, there’s a global pandemic and hundreds of thousands are already dead from it. That’s incredibly tough for everyone upright and breathing. The thing is, if we hang our heads and decide we’re all doomed, who’s going to save us? No-one, that’s who. Not with thinking like that.

Each of us has to take responsibility. Have a positive outlook, become part of your own solution. So what can you do? There’s the obvious stuff. Wear a face covering, wash your hands, maintain social distancing. Give a crap about everyone, not just yourself.

Personally, I’m in the at risk category. I’m almost 51, I have to look after my health.

I stay home as much as I can, but being constantly alone isn’t great for your mental health. So I’ve set myself a challenge. To submit one story every day for a year, to a paying market.

BAM! I’m now distracted. I’ve got something to look forward to every day. Where there was darkness, I’ve created my own light.

This is what I’m recommending to everyone. Light is where you find it! So the best thing is to start making your own.

#

As a writer myself, I thought the pandemic would hurt my sole income source. I’m pleased to say not only has that turned out to not be the case, my opportunities to make sales, get acceptances and see stories get published have been better than ever. People have been more focused, not being able to get out to their real jobs.

I personally start out each year by setting at least one New Years Resolution – that’s something I’ve done for the past 5 years, ideally something which is within the realms of possibility, but which takes a decent amount of effort to actually achieve. For me this year, I wanted to sell a reprint and make a pro-rated sale. Neither of these things are easy, but both were possible, and probable.

I know it might seem odd to many to break things down to hard statistics but sometimes like the old proverb says, the best way to eat an elephant is a bite at a time.

Many markets buy reprints. If you’ve published something before, selling it as a reprint is a good way to make more money. Yes, reprints don’t make as much as original sales, but they DO MAKE MONEY. Also, they can be published again, this time, perhaps reaching more eyes than the first time around. At least some time normally passes between a story being published and selling it as a reprint. During this time, hopefully, you’ve grown as a writer. Your creative skills, your ability as an editor, all these have hopefully improved.

I was lucky, I found a story which meshed well with the market, they liked it, they bought it. So I had ticked off one of my resolutions. Sell a reprint—DONE.

Then some time passed. Many stories were submitted. I had my crazy idea to work towards submitting out a story every day for a year. While I was doing that, another story got rejected. A few months passed, I already had a different piece at that market, when I got the strangest email I’ve ever received in my life.

“Changed my mind if “Stranding Room Only” is still available. Sent a contract, but will understand if it’s no longer available.”

It had already been rejected, in June. I’d moved on.
(Good advice when a story is rejected. Never mope. Move on, get more work out ASAP!)
Then suddenly, they wanted it. At 8 cents a word. Pro rates.

So I had to check.

Was it out in submission anywhere else? (No)

Did I still want to sell it? (Yes)

Did I want to sell it to them? (Hell to the yes!)

So I said yes, they could buy it. Make a pro rated sale. DONE.

And just like that, with a few months still left in the year, I had achieved both my New Year’s resolutions.

#

Nothing worth getting is ever easy. If it’s too easy, it’s probably not worth having. The most satisfying achievements take time and effort. Persistence pays off.

As we reach the middle of November, I am still pushing myself every day. I still get terrible imposter syndrome, but I battle that by looking at what I’ve done and telling myself I can do those things again, either just as well, or better, because I now have experience.

What I’m saying, friends, is to look up and forward. Make plans. If you’ve got things to look forward to, life can’t possibly be complete shit. It can be slightly shitty, that’s because life isn’t perfect. It’d be boring as fuck if it were. A modicum of chaos now and then keeps things interesting.

No matter how bad things might have seemed this year, it’s not been all bad.

We’ve had a few magazines close, but that is the way of things. Entropy exists, things come, other things go. People have still backed kick-starters and patreons for anthologies, and magazines. One publisher closed, only to be rescued and reopened by another publication. They were even nice enough to employ the original owner and keep him running the thing.

#

My whole point is, you need to be proactive, getting stuff done. Don’t procrastinate, now is the best time to be productive. Make simple plans, follow up and fulfil them. You’ll feel so much better, having achieved things. If you haven’t got a ton of time, maybe set a few goals you can achieve in a day. Got more time on your hands? Then make a plan that’ll take a week to do. This is you finding a light, by making it yourself. You’re uplifting your own mental health. Getting serotonin boosts.

Even if it’s just crazy basic things. “I’m going to walk to the bottom of the garden and back.” Yes, it might not sound like a big deal but you’ve gotten yourself out of the house, you’ve had some exercise and you’ve had a dose of proper sunlight, because lack of sunlight can cause seasonal associated disorder (SAD).

The end of the year is drawing near. If you can keep yourself occupied with your plans, it’ll pass by so much sooner. You’ll be in 2021 before you know it!

2020 wasn’t bad for everyone. If you start making plans now, you could be having a good 2021 because you were ready for it. It doesn’t have to be anything huge, but any plan is better than nothing.

So This Was July 2023

I’ve made 171 submissions. 144 rejections. 12 acceptances. 2 holds.

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.
On Reflection, It’s Life was sold to Psychotoxin Press, May 1st, 23.
Hostile Take-over was sold to Eidetic, May 10th, 23.
I Will Send Diamonds was sold to Bards and Sages Quarterly, Jun 5th, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was sold to Fear Forge Anthology Series, Jun 6th, 23.
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge was sold to Cry Baby Bridge, Jun 12th, 23.
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour was sold to Stupefying Stories, Jun 26th, 23. 100th Accept!
A sale has been made to a market, Jul 31st, 23. I don’t have official permission to announce it yet.

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 37 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)
On Reflection, It’s Life is appearing on bookmarks at various horror conventions after May 26th, 23.
Hostile Take-over was released in the Eidetic Pride issue, June 1st, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was released in Fear Forge: Summer Quarter 2023, Jun 30th, 23.
Spun Yarn was released in Bullet Points, 26th July 2023.

LESSONS LEARNED:-(This is a new segment, I’ll be adding tips for myself for future blogs.)
Add sales as stubs as once 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!
An as-yet unannounced sale will be published at their website. Aug ’23 (DTBC).
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge will be released in Cry Baby Bridge, (DTBC).
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour will be released at Stupefying Stories, Jul-Aug, 23. (DTBC)
I Will Send Diamonds will be released at Bards & Sages Quarterly, October ’23. (DTBC)
The Dragon Readers will be released in 99 Fleeting Fantasies, winter 2023. (DTBC).
My House Is Haunted, Ask Me Everything will be released in Eidetic, 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 in 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 only wrote 8 stories this month, 2513 words in total. Happy enough with that. Another Submission Challenge story sold, so score another point for their success rate.

Writers Block (A short story by Ray Daley)

Previously, when I was still a legit Codexian, I took part in The Pete Wood Challenge, where Pete would give us a prompt & word count then tell us “Go write stuff”. Bruce Bethke would publish the 5 best on Stupefying Stories.

I wasn’t asked to take part this time around. My memory isn’t great, I may have asked Pete not to include me next time around. We haven’t spoken in over a year. Pete, if that was the case, I changed my mind. Loop me in, next time, please?

Anyway. This prompt was Writers Block, with a 125 word limit. Here’s what I wrote.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Writers Block

19/07/23

By Ray Daley

On the chopping block today, an oldie. A slice of Stephen King. Dark cellars, machines which chewed you up. Death in the least expected manner. Yet it failed to yield results. No new ideas.

So I asked the dispenser. “Horror. Weird. Old school. Freaky.”

I’d never seen meat that colour before, and it was cooked, too.

Seared into the top, these words. “The Cabal will embrace you.“

Psychos in button masks, men with pins in their heads. Books of blood, shelves streaming with gore. A land of monsters, just below our own.

I asked the dispenser, “Is there more of this meat available?”

“Limited supply. Buy now, avoid disappointment!”

It showed me great sights. “Who the hell was this?” I asked the dispenser.

“Clive Barker.”

THE END.

June ’23 Submission Challenge Round-up

June 1st – Todays scheduled markets were Lightspeed (SF) and Illustrated Worlds.

I managed to screw up immediately having selected a story which wasn’t flash, that’s all Lightspeed were open for. Fortuntely, I have many to chose from. Did some minor revisions and subbed In The Natural Language Processing Station to Lightspeed. Subbed Hansel and Gretel and Wilhelm to Illustrated Worlds.

2 stories subbed. 0 rejected. 0 accepted.

June 2nd – So, todays scheduled markets were Dose Of Dread and Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores.

I was up early as I was waiting for my ISP to call about an incredibly long on-going issue with my phone number which is HOPEFULLY being resolved today. On checking, Dose Of Dread closed recently and won’t be open “until further notice”. Sent What You Can Do With A Non-trademarked Nut-based Spread to Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores.

3 stories subbed. 0 rejected. 0 accepted.

June 3rd – Had a nice lie-in today, brain feeling better for it too. Todays scheduled markets are Clarkesworld and The Colored Lens.

Ode To The Blind Harpist was subbed to Clarkesworld. I’ve been finessing that for a few weeks to try and make it as much what I’ve read there as possible. Hopes are quite high, but it’s also a bad idea to get your hopes up at all. It’s not good for depression. Sent 2 People Is Not A Parade to The Colored Lens. I’ve sold twice there before, I’m not sure if the story is precisely their thing but it’s a pretty strong concept so it may land.

I did receive a rejection yesterday but it wasn’t challenge related so it’s not going on these stats.

EDIT: Later. No on 2 People Is Not A Parade from The Colored Lens. Not gonna lie, a same day rejection from a market who’ve published me twice is disappointing. Clearly that story is QUITE divisive.

5 stories subbed. 1 rejected. 0 accepted.

June 4th – Todays scheduled markets are Interzone and Occult Detective Magazine.

Sent The Safety Of Checkpoints to Interzone & The Hauntings to Occult Detective Magazine. I did think ODM was closed, but fortunately no, they turned out to be open.

2nd rejection, a quick form no from Clarkesworld on Ode To The Blind Harpist.

EDIT: Later. Received another non-challenge related rejection.

7 stories subbed. 2 rejected. 0 accepted.

June 5th – Another Monday. Sometimes I understand how Garfield feels. Todays scheduled markets are Nature: Futures and If There’s Anyone Left.

I still have something at Nature so I can’t sub there. I know the current sub will be rejected, but I like to maintain a good professional relationship there so I waited to hear back.

I’ve Fallen In Love With A Hologram, Again to If There’s Anyone Left.
EDIT: Much later. SALE! I Will Send Diamonds was accepted & sold to Bards & Sages Quarterly where it will appear in the October ’23 issue. This was subbed during the January Challenge.

8 stories subbed. 2 rejected. 1 accepted. Also received a non-challenge related rejection.

June 6th – Starting the day with my second sale in as many days! Not challenge related but it’s always nice to have someone appreciate your work.

Todays scheduled markets were Flash Fiction Online and Amazing Stories.

Sadly, FFO were closed, they reopen next month, I will certainly sub there again when they do. I subbed Transitional Period to Amazing Stories. I’ve had a sale there before so am hopeful for another. Got a fairly quick but polite no back from Interzone on The Safety Of Checkpoints, that was my 1st non-form rejection there so I am zeroing in on what they want a bit better.
EDIT: Later. Another non-challenge related rejection. They happen, it’s the most likely outcome of a sub, to be honest. Expect them. They still don’t feel nice, but it’s way easier to cope if you think they are coming.
EDIT: Later still. Another non challenge related rejection.

8 stories subbed. 3 rejected. 1 accepted.

June 7th – A week into the challenge.

The scheduled markets for today were Radon Journal & Fantastic Other. I subbed Volunteer To Be A Martyr to Radon Journal.

By the look of their website, I think that will work well there. Hopes are high for a sale on that. I hadn’t actually selected anything for Fantastic Other but had a quick look what they do and sent them Assessment. It’s a good, solid story which has come close with a few other markets.
EDIT: MUCH LATER! I also had an opportunity pop up in my feed on Facebook. Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour sent to Stupefying Stories. Bruce wanted stories from writers he has pubbed before, I more than qualify there.

11 stories subbed. 3 rejected. 1 accepted.

June 8th – Todays scheduled markets were Propagule and Qualia Nous Volume 2.

Both were open, easy to sub to. I like days like this, where everything is nice and straight forward. Subbed The Painted Beast At My Mother’s House to Propagule & Who’s Got The Button to Qualia Nous. I had selected a different story when I was compiling the list but decided to go with this one in the end.

13 stories subbed. 3 rejected. 1 accepted.

Jun 9th – Quite a nice day. I mowed the front lawn!

Todays scheduled markets are Asimov’s and Thank You For Joining The Algorithim.

I sent The Concentration Camp to Asimov’s Science Fiction & Making The Grade to Thank You For Joining the Algorithm. Heard back, Bruce Bethke received my story.

15 stories subbed. 3 rejected. 1 accepted.

June 10th – Todays scheduled market was Apex Magazine. I had also added Diet Milk a few days ago, as an extra.

No on The Concentration Camp from Asimov’s. Subbed The Guardian to diet milk & Debrief to Apex Magazine.
EDIT: Later. No on What You Can Do With A Non-trademarked Nut-based Spread from Cosmic Roots.

17 stories subbed. 5 rejected. 1 accepted.

Jun 11th – It’s a humid one!

Todays scheduled market was Space Brides (Wolfsinger). I added Make Your Presence Known a few days ago, as a secondary.

After checking the guidelines, my selected story wasn’t a good fit for Space Brides so I chose not to sub there. Subbed The Hauntings to Make Your Presence Known.

18 stories subbed. 5 rejected. 1 accepted.

Jun 12th – Another sale! The third in the last 7 days. I can’t say who yet but hopefully by the time this blog goes up, that will have changed. [On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge was sold to Cry Baby Bridge.]

Todays scheduled markets are Flash Frog and Shoreline Of Infinity (flash theme).

Shoreline Of Infinity hadn’t announced the theme yet (or have extended the climate fiction theme) so I didn’t sub there. I subbed Second Front to Flash Frog. After a brief chat with Carol at Wolfsinger, I’ve decided to give them a go. Subbed Wedded Bliss to Space Brides. They can decide if it’s a good fit or not.

20 stories subbed. 5 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 13th – Quiet day, just the 1 sub.

Todays scheduled market was Electric Spec.

I was considering subbing to somewhere else as well, but it was just so humid, I was finding it difficult to do anything. King For A Day subbed to Electric Spec. Had a non challenge related rejection.

21 stories subbed. 5 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 14th – By heck, it is WARM! Todays scheduled markets were The Dread Machine and 34 Orchard.

Because I sold a piece there not that long ago, I chose not to sub to 34 Orchard. Subbed To My Amazement to The Dread Machine. Also received a non challenge related rejection.

22 stories subbed. 5 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 15th – Another humid day, and of course, I have a cold. Not hayfever, but the sneezes. Again. First up, a rejection. No on Second Front from Flash Frog.

Todays scheduled markets were F&SF and Flash Fiction Podcast.

I still have a piece at Flash Fiction Podcast so I couldn’t sub there. Not a big deal, but I’ll be annoyed if I get a rejection from them in the next week or so. I will have to check how busy their queue is and when they close, if they close. I subbed Ode To The Blind Harpist to F&SF. I’ve never got very far with them so this might be the one. Or not.

23 stories subbed. 6 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 16th – Guess what? It’s still warm here in the UK. Stupid humidity.

Todays scheduled market is The Dark.

I subbed Feeding The Ghosts Of The Abandoned Asylum to The Dark. It’s a weird one, but I hope it takes longer than a few hours for them to tell me to fuck off and die. We’re now into the back half of the challenge. At least my cold seems to have buggered off. Again.

24 stories subbed. 6 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 17th – Probably the hottest day this month so far.

Todays scheduled markets were Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Factor Four Magazine.

I subbed Once, A Humble Bard to Beneath Ceaseless Skies and Life In The Death Squad to Factor Four Magazine. Got a rejection on The Painted Beast At My Mother’s House from Propagule. I’m also doing a zoom course on flash fiction today. I’ll let you know how that went tomorrow.

26 stories subbed. 7 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 18th – Good course yesterday. No actual writing done, but lots of useful things covered. Another warm day, we’ve had rain but you can’t tell. That writing course was mostly tips and tricks, no actual writing took place.

Todays scheduled market was Newmyths.

As June doesn’t seem to be a brilliant month for markets, I am honestly thinking about going back to May for next year. We’ll see what happens when that rolls around, I guess? Subbed The Ripples Of Time to Newmyths.
EDIT: LATER – No on To My Amazement from The Dread Machine.

27 stories subbed. 8 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 19th – Problems with Virginmedia email today. I’m going to wait, and sub as late as I can if it gets fixed today. I can send but not receive email.

EDIT: LATER- Inbound email still broken so I am going to roll the dice and sub, hoping it gets there safely. EDIT: EVEN LATER- I can now receive email, getting the sub out while it’s working. Subbed King For A Day to The Future Fire.

28 stories subbed. 8 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 20th – Thankfully it’s a much cooler day today. Things are easier when it doesn’t feel like you are baking alive.

Todays scheduled markets are Brilliant Flash Fiction and Flash Point SF.

Subbed On Common Ground to Brilliant Flash Fiction. Sent I Screamed Into The Cosmic Void And All I Got Was A Lousy T-shirt to Flash Point SF.
EDIT: A BIT LATER- Got a non challenge related rejection.

30 stories subbed. 8 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 21st – A couple of rejections came in while I was burning the midnight oil. No on 38 Days from Nature: Futures. It was subbed during January’s challenge so I’m including the stats here. And a no on Ode To The Blind Harpist from F&SF. I honestly do not know what else I can do to get beyond form rejections there. I spent several weeks giving that story a good immersion & sensation pass & it was still a form no.

Todays scheduled markets were Planet Scumm and Seize The Press. Planet Scumm said it was reopening summer 2023 but it’s still closed so nothing is going there. I sent Terrance Thinks It’s A Good Idea to Seize The Press.

31 stories subbed. 10 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 22nd – We’ve had rain but it’s still pretty damn warm.

Todays scheduled markets are James Gunn’s Ad Astra and The Other Stories. I made the call not to sub to James Gunn. I hadn’t listed anything to send there and decided they are a bit on the tough side to know what to send. Gimme That New Time Religion to The Other Stories Podcast.

32 stories subbed. 10 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 23rd – By ‘eck, petal, it’s warm! Two rejections today. No on I’ve Fallen In Love With A Hologram, Again from If There’s Anyone Left & on The Guardian from Diet Milk A non-challenge related one received also.

Todays scheduled market is Analog. Thirty-Eight Days In An Electric Tyrannosaur subbed to Analog. I also spotted a market last night which I specifically wrote a story for, if it doesn’t land there, there are other drabble markets as it’s a 100 word story. Subbed Duty Free to the Hiraeth Drabble Contest.

34 stories subbed. 12 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 24th – Hey, how ya doing? Sorry, you couldn’t get through. If you leave a message, I’ll get back to you. Of course it’s another warm day, because why the fuck wouldn’t it be?

Todays scheduled markets, and yes, there are two. Haven Spec Wet Theme & Metaphorosis. Subbed Rhythm Of The Rain to Haven Spec Wet Theme & Taken By The Squads to Metaphorosis. It’s too fucking sticky to be typing.

36 stories subbed. 12 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 25th 23 – If you guessed it’d be warm today, you win! Have 3 litres of fresh, warm sweat. We’ll deal with rejections first, because I have some. No on Taken By The Squads from Metaphorosis, on Once, A Humble Bard from BCS & on Hansel & Gretel & Wilhelm from Illustrated Worlds.

Todays scheduled market is Penumbric. I subbed You Are Needed On The Bridge to Penumbric. It’s a weird one, and a bit on the dark side. We’ll see if it flies there or not. It’s nice to be this far through the challenge with less than 20 rejections. Unsure if markets are taking longer or I am finally picking stories which fit better. BCS sent nice feedback which is rare. I asked Illustrated Worlds if they might consider a R&R. I’ll let you know how that went.

37 stories subbed. 15 rejected. 2 accepted.

Jun 26th – An actual cool day where I wasn’t constantly melting from the heat! WOO HOO! Dealing with rejections first, no on Debrief from Apex & on In The Natural Language Processing Station from Lightspeed.

Todays scheduled markets were Orion’s Belt and Not One Of Us. Subbed War Driver to Orion’s Belt & Running With Scissors to Not One of Us. I did also make another sale. Again, hopefully by the time the blog goes live I’ll be able to announce it. [Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour was sold to Stupefying Stories.] This is my 100th story accepted as a writer. It’s taken 9 years.

39 stories subbed. 17 rejected. 3 accepted.

Jun 27th – Lovely and cool. Mmmm.

Todays scheduled markets were Etherea and Mythaxis. Or at least they would have been if I hadn’t misread the date for Mythaxis which is actually next month, so nothing is going there today. I subbed Top Field Tanks to Etherea Magazine.

40 stories subbed. 17 rejected. 3 accepted.

Jun 28th – Yeah, let’s not talk about the warmth today.

Straight into todays scheduled markets, which were Dark Void Magazine and Fairy Tale Review.

I had nothing long enough or dark SF set off Earth enough for Dark Void. After reading the guidelines more carefully, I realised my sub to Fairy Tale Review wasn’t suitable for the issue they were doing next, I’ll hold that and sub it there in the future. So I ended up subbing to Meat Is Murder to Cosmorama.
EDIT: MUCH LATER. No on On Common Ground from Brilliant Flash Fiction.

41 stories subbed. 18 rejected. 1 accepted.

Jun 29th – I discovered that my last sale has brought me to the magic 100 acceptances. Quite the landmark for a writer. Here’s to the next 100. I’ll deal with rejections first. No on War Driver from Orion’s Belt.

Todays scheduled markets are Three-Lobed Burning Eye and Calliope Interactive. I can’t sub to Calliope as I still have a piece waiting to hear back about with them. Subbed Running With Scissors to Three-Lobed Burning Eye. I’m not worried about being stung with sim-subs as I rarely get far with them.

42 stories subbed. 18 rejected. 3 accepted.

Jun 30th – And just like that the month is over and done. It felt like it’d never start, never end and now it’s done with. No on Life Is Grim from Augur’s Fancy & Fantasy.

Todays scheduled markets were Anotherealm and Bards & Sages Quarterly. I shitlisted Anotherealm recently, for taking almost a year to send a form rejection. I think I added them because I was struggling for markets at the 1st compilation. Rejections first. No on Terrance Thinks It’s A Good Idea from Seize The Press & on Volunteer To Be A Martyr from Radon Journal.

Subbed The Ripples Of Time to Bards & Sages. I also decided to try one of the bonus markets and subbed Second Site to Hellarky Vol 2. I also subbed We Grow The Legs Last to Stupefying Stories. That was by invitation, please don’t send Bruce stories, he is not open for general subs. I can’t confirm if my subs went out or not, Virginmedia are pissing about with the email server. I’m hoping they went.

45 stories subbed. 20 rejected. 3 accepted.

Summing up.
3 related sales during a challenge month equals the all-time best. 4 sales in a month is also a new record.

I don’t know when the next public challenge will be. I’ll probably do something myself for September. I’ll probably do next January & decide if Sept is open to anyone else nearer the time.

So This Was June 2023

I’ve made 155 submissions. 127 rejections. 12 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.
On Reflection, It’s Life was sold to Psychotoxin Press, May 1st, 23.
Hostile Take-over was sold to Eidetic, May 10th, 23.
I Will Send Diamonds was sold to Bards and Sages Quarterly, Jun 5th, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was sold to Fear Forge Anthology Series, Jun 6th, 23.
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge was sold to Cry Baby Bridge, Jun 12th, 23.
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour was sold to Stupefying Stories, Jun 26th, 23. 100th Accept!

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 39 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)
On Reflection, It’s Life is appearing on bookmarks at various horror conventions after May 26th, 23.
Hostile Take-over was released in the Eidetic Pride issue, June 1st, 23.
Bizarre Life Triangle was released in Fear Forge: Summer Quarter 2023, Jun 30th, 23.

LESSONS LEARNED:-(This is a new segment, I’ll be adding tips for myself for future blogs.)
Add sales as stubs as once 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)
On Patrol At Copperhead Bridge will be released in Cry Baby Bridge, (DTBC).
Welcome To The Death Machine Factory Tour will be released at Stupefying Stories, Jul-Aug, 23. (DTBC)
I Will Send Diamonds will be released at Bards & Sages Quarterly, October ’23. (DTBC)
The Dragon Readers will be released in 99 Fleeting Fantasies, winter 2023. (DTBC).
My House Is Haunted, Ask Me Everything will be released in Eidetic, 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 in 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 set a couple of records this month. Most acceptances in a month=4. And all time acceptances received is now 100. I’m currently at 12 acceptances this year, which is the most I’ve ever been at by this point in a year.

I only wrote 1 story this month, 100 words, for a drabble call. I started a bunch of stuff, did several outlines as well. Only that drabble got finished. Big motivation issues. Hard to either get started or finish.

The story I wanted to finish & sub ended up going nowhere, I think the idea ran out of steam. No plans to write this month, we’ll see if my desire picks up or not.

So This Was May 2023

I’ve made 109 submissions. 94 rejections. 8 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.
On Reflection, It’s Life was sold to Psychotoxin Press, May 1st, 23.
Hostile Take-over was sold to Eidetic, May 10th, 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 33 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)
On Reflection, It’s Life is appearing on bookmarks at various horror conventions after May 26th. 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!
Hostile Take-over will appear in the Eidetic Pride isue, June, 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)
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 3 stories this month, 6807 words in total. Two were for calls I decided not to sub for in the end. One story didn’t work out as well I had hoped because it was too vague a concept to flesh out in the time. I didn’t sub the other as I felt it had strayed too far from what they were asking for.

The second is solid enough to sell to the right horror market in the future. I don’t expect to write much during June with the submission challenge going on. I do have a call I want to sub it to & enough of a written up idea to make a decent story which fits. If I get time, I’ll write it. If it fits the sub well enough, I’ll send it there.

June 2023 Submission Challenge

The rules are simple.

Submit at least 1 story to a paying market during the month of January. If you wish to sub to more than 1, that is your choice. These are my selected markets, they should all be open, they are all paying. If you wish, you can sub a story every day. That’s my challenge, if you want to try it as well, feel free. This is a mixture of SF/Fantasy & Horror markets because I cover all those genres.

It’s been a lot harder compiling the list this time as so many markets have either shut completely or changed their sub schedules. If you submit to one of the markets listed below, READ THE GUIDELINES!

If you take part, do try to blog about it because I love hearing everyone’s experience trying the challenge. Pretty much everyone who ever took part has sold a story but I can’t guarentee success. Write good pieces, fit the right story to the right market & submit. I’ve made a pro sale (which counted towards becoming a Full SFWA Member) from this challenge so it does work.

The whole point of the challenge is to get you used to submitting, matching stories to markets & frequently having to do that with no warning that it’s not the market you expected. If you have questions, or want to take part you can get in touch with @RayDaleyWriter on Twitter or scream into the void because I don’t check Facebook as often these days.

Where I have listed more than 1 market per day, these are spare or optional markets. These can be used if the 1st market isn’t open for any reason. Not every day has a spare market, so if the main market is closed, check my Twitter for an alternate.

________________________________________________________________________

01 – Lightspeed (fantasy) https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/lightspeed/guidelines OR Illustrated Worlds https://www.illustratedworldsmagazine.com/submission-guidelines.html#/
02 – Dose Of Dread https://dreadstonepress.com/submissions/ OR Cosmic Roots & Eldritch Shores https://cosmicrootsandeldritchshores.com/submissions/
03 – Clarkesworld http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/ OR Cosmic Horror Monthly https://www.cosmichorrormonthly.com/submissions/
04 – Interzone https://interzone.press/submissions/
05 – Nature: Futures http://blogs.nature.com/futureconditional/2015/04/19/how-to-write-for-nature-futures/
06 – Flash Fiction Online https://flashfictiononline.com/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/what-were-looking-for-and-not/ OR Amazing Stories https://submission.amazingstoriesmag.com/guidelines/
07 – Radon Journal https://www.radonjournal.com/submit OR Fantastic Other https://fantasticother.com/submissions/
08 – Propagule https://www.propagule.co/submissions (don’t bump beyond June 15th)
09 – Asimov’s https://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
10 – Apex Magazine https://apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines/
11 – Space Brides (Wolfsinger) https://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/space-brides-guidelines
12 – Flash Frog https://flash-frog.com/submit/ OR Shoreline Of Infinity (flash theme) http://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/submissions/
13 – Electric Spec https://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html
14 – The Dread Machine https://www.thedreadmachine.com/submit/ OR 34 Orchard https://34orchard.com/guidelines/
15 – F&SF https://www.sfsite.com/fsf/glines.html OR Flash Fiction Podcast http://www.manawaker.com/ffp-submissions/
16 – The Dark Magazine http://thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/
17 – Beneath Ceaseless Skies http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/submissions/ OR Factor Four Magazine http://factorfourmag.com/submissionsinfo/
18 – Newmyths https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-home/submissions
19 – The Future Fire http://futurefire.net/guidelines/fiction.html
20 – Brilliant Flash Fiction https://brilliantflashfiction.com/submissions/ OR Flash Point SF https://flashpointsf.com/submissions/
21 – Planet Scumm https://www.planetscumm.space/submit OR Seize The Press https://www.seizethepress.com/submissions/
22 – James Gunn’s Ad Astra http://www.adastrasf.com/submissions/short-fiction-submission-guidelines/ OR The Other Stories https://theotherstories.net/submissions/ (AI theme)
23 – Analog https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
24 – Haven Spec https://www.havenspec.com/submit/ OR Metaphorosis https://magazine.metaphorosis.com/guidelines/
25 – Penumbric https://www.penumbric.com/subs.html
26 – Orion’s Belt https://www.orions-belt.net/submissions OR Not One Of Us https://legacyliteraryservices.com/not-one-of-us/guidelines/
27 – Etherea Mag https://ethereamagazine.com/submissions/ OR Mythaxis https://mythaxis.co.uk/submissions.html
28 – Dark Void Magazine https://www.darkvoidmagazine.com/submissions OR Dragon Gems https://waterdragonpublishing.com/submissions/dragon-gems-submissions-fall-2023/
29 – Three-Lobed Burning Eye https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html OR Calliope Interactive https://calliopeinteractive.com/open-call
30 – Anotherealm http://anotherealm.com/faq/submit.php OR Bards & Sages Quarterly https://www.bardsandsages.com/contact_us/fiction_submission_guidelines

NOTHING BELOW HERE ARE CONFIRMED OPEN. THESE ARE MERELY SUGGESTED ALTERNATE MARKETS WHICH MAY BE OPEN & DO PAY.

Allegory https://www.allegoryezine.com/submissions
Andromeda Spaceways https://andromedaspaceways.com/submissions-manager/#fiction
Aphotic Realm https://aphoticrealm.com/submissions/
Apparition Lit https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/
Archive Of The Odd https://archiveoftheodd.wordpress.com/submissions/
Chrome Baby http://robindunn.com/chrome-submit.html
Compelling Science Fiction http://compellingsciencefiction.com/guidelines.html
Dark Recesses https://darkrecessespress.com/?page_id=29
Fantasy Magazine (short & long form) https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/fantasy/guidelines
Giganotosaurus http://giganotosaurus.org/submission-guidelines/
Infinite Worlds https://www.infiniteworldsmagazine.com/submissions
Kaleidotrope https://kaleidotrope.net/guidelines/
Mithila Review https://mithilareview.com/submission-guidelines/
Neon Mag https://www.neonmagazine.co.uk/guidelines/
Tales From The Radiator https://strongbranchproductions.com/tales-from-the-radiator/
tdotSpec http://tdotspec.com/submissions/
The Bureau Dispatch https://www.bureaudispatch.com/submissions
The Colored Lens http://thecoloredlens.com/?page_id=8/
The Dark Magazine http://thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/
The Fairy Tale Magazine https://www.fairytalemagazine.com/submissions
The Lorelei Signal https://www.loreleisignal.com/Guidelines.html
The Periodical, Forlorn https://www.periodicalforlorn.com/submission-guidelines
Timeworn Lit https://www.timewornlit.com/submit
Tiny Tales Podcast https://www.tinytalespodcast.com/submissions
Tumbled Tales https://wanderingwavepress.com/submissions
Underland Arcana https://www.underlandarcana.com/submissions/
Vanishing Point https://vanishingpointmagazine.com/index.php/submissions/
Weird Horror Magazine https://undertowpublications.com/weird-horror-magazine
World Unknown Review https://lsengler.wordpress.com/submissions/