Short Story Submissions
When I first started writing, I mean as an adult, with a view towards being published, I would send out my short stories to magazines and other publications. I had a few published, and all went well. Until, one day, I just… stopped.
Sitting here, I can’t remember why I stopped. I mean sure, novels came along and took up most of my time, but I still wrote short stories, but rather than submit them, I posted them on my blog, and / or Wattpad etc.
Somewhere on my journey from there to here, I forgot all about magazines and never once considered sending something anywhere.
It was only earlier this week, when I was browsing through the posts of fellow horror writer Armand Rosamilia, and saw him talking about how often he submits to paying markets etc, that I remembered that whole avenue of writing.
I look at my Facebook and Twitter accounts, and most of my friends on there are other writers, and or small press publishers. I can see where I went wrong, I became so focused on writing novels, and anthologies for publication, I simply developed tunnel vision with regards what it meant to be a writer.
Paying dues is all part of the process, writers should earn their success and not have it handed to them. This is why I hate shows like X-Factor all that other crap. People need to slog away, sing in crappy night clubs and bars, they should face rejection and heartbreak. It’s what helps us develop not just within our craft, but in life. The ‘Me-Me-Me, Now-Now-Now’ attitude that seems to be spreading through all walks of life needs to change. However, I digress slightly. Let me put my soapbox away and get back on track.
Submitting to magazines and other such publications is a natural part of writing, and something that I feel bad about overlooking. If I want to become a member of the Horror Writers Association, then I need to have some stories published here and there. Plus, it is an excellent way to advertise yourself and the books that will eventually follow.
With all that said and done, I wrote a short story this week, something I haven’t done in a while. It was only 2100 words, a big change as most of my work comes in at around 10k, and then sizes itself out of many paying markets.
The story is being read by a few friends of mine; the wonderful Ranee Dillon, and the very talented Matthew Munson
After that, I plan to send it off into the big wide world in search of a home. Not on my blog, not on any social network account I may own. This bad boy is flying the next and going solo.
I would like to try to write one story a month of that length and send them out in search of glory.
The question now is, where do I send it to… hmmm
Do you submit your work to magazines, or are you like Me (how I was at least) and focused on only one goal.
