A while ago, I decided that before finishing the novel that I wanted to write, I should try writing some short stories again and seeing if I could get any published. I hadn't tried this in a few years, but in the past I had gotten some positive personal feedback, and I know that I can write better than I could back then. I figured this would be a good way to improve my writing and hopefully build up my publication credentials.
I wrote several short stories, but the first one I wrote, I think was likely the best, because of some very personal emotional elements included in it. I originally submitted to Strange Horizons, and it was rejected with a form rejection, although I was slightly encouraged because they seemed to hold onto it for significantly longer the average time, according to Moksha. The same with Apex. Next, I tried Asimov's.
After 5 months (not atypical there), I got my first personal feedback on the story. "The story is nicely done, but a bit maudlin. I look forward to your next one, though."
This was, at least, very encouraging. I did some major and minor rewrites, and submitted to Clarkesworld, because even though it didn't seem like it was quite appropriate there, I didn't want to wait another 6 months to hear anything. Form rejection after 1 day.
Then, I submitted to Fantasy&Science Fiction, which seemed like a much more appropriate place. I got a "template 3" rejection from C.C. Finlay, which I looked up on his blog, and apparently it means:
"Template 3 is the “didn’t win me over” template. Look, you’re probably a pro. This is a good story. You know it’s good. You’re probably going to sell it elsewhere. Maybe I can tell you the idiosyncratic reasons why it didn’t make me all hot and tingly so that I can’t stop thinking about it day and night, night and day. Maybe I did. But either way, you probably don’t care. It’s a no. You’ve already got your next market lined up and you’re ready to send it out again. AS YOU SHOULD."
When I saw that, I was really encouraged. So, apparently, I should continue submitting it elsewhere, but I'm not sure what the appropriate venue would be. I ideally wanted to get it published in a professional magazine, and the SFWA has a list of around 30 magazines that qualify, when I look at the stories in them, it doesn't quite seem like mine fits, usually. It's also hard to gain a huge amount of knowledge about all of them.
The story takes place in a rural town, has very few sci-fi elements, although there are some, particularly at the end. It involves a young woman who has undergone trauma, and centers around her interaction with her family and her desire to escape it. It also draws on a bit of actual physics (since I'm a physicist). There are only 3 characters in the story.
So, any suggestions on what I should try next? Should I try dropping down to semi-pro mags? Should I try non-sci-fi magazines? Or is there some sci-fi mag that might be appropriate, based on my description.
Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
(and of course, I'm continuing to write more things)
I wrote several short stories, but the first one I wrote, I think was likely the best, because of some very personal emotional elements included in it. I originally submitted to Strange Horizons, and it was rejected with a form rejection, although I was slightly encouraged because they seemed to hold onto it for significantly longer the average time, according to Moksha. The same with Apex. Next, I tried Asimov's.
After 5 months (not atypical there), I got my first personal feedback on the story. "The story is nicely done, but a bit maudlin. I look forward to your next one, though."
This was, at least, very encouraging. I did some major and minor rewrites, and submitted to Clarkesworld, because even though it didn't seem like it was quite appropriate there, I didn't want to wait another 6 months to hear anything. Form rejection after 1 day.
Then, I submitted to Fantasy&Science Fiction, which seemed like a much more appropriate place. I got a "template 3" rejection from C.C. Finlay, which I looked up on his blog, and apparently it means:
"Template 3 is the “didn’t win me over” template. Look, you’re probably a pro. This is a good story. You know it’s good. You’re probably going to sell it elsewhere. Maybe I can tell you the idiosyncratic reasons why it didn’t make me all hot and tingly so that I can’t stop thinking about it day and night, night and day. Maybe I did. But either way, you probably don’t care. It’s a no. You’ve already got your next market lined up and you’re ready to send it out again. AS YOU SHOULD."
When I saw that, I was really encouraged. So, apparently, I should continue submitting it elsewhere, but I'm not sure what the appropriate venue would be. I ideally wanted to get it published in a professional magazine, and the SFWA has a list of around 30 magazines that qualify, when I look at the stories in them, it doesn't quite seem like mine fits, usually. It's also hard to gain a huge amount of knowledge about all of them.
The story takes place in a rural town, has very few sci-fi elements, although there are some, particularly at the end. It involves a young woman who has undergone trauma, and centers around her interaction with her family and her desire to escape it. It also draws on a bit of actual physics (since I'm a physicist). There are only 3 characters in the story.
So, any suggestions on what I should try next? Should I try dropping down to semi-pro mags? Should I try non-sci-fi magazines? Or is there some sci-fi mag that might be appropriate, based on my description.
Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks.
(and of course, I'm continuing to write more things)
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