Is this sort of taboo to do? - contact publisher, ask for update?

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darrtwish

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Several months ago (in either December or January) I recieved a note from Teen Voices, their standard reply that they have it on file and they'd try to get it published, but to be patient because publishing takes time, so I've been patiently waiting and checking each issue to see if my short story appears, but it hasn't. I was wondering if it would be sort of taboo to write a note to them, requesting an update on my short story, since if it is going to be published (or has been published, and I haven't been made aware of it) I would like to put that in my Query Letter I will be writing for an agent as publishing credit. Is this considered acceptable to do, or should I just continue to be patient about the whole thing?
 

Darklite

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I’m no expert, but I don’t see what harm it would do to give them a little reminder. After all, they can’t just hold your story on file indefinitely, or expect you to hang there in a sort of limbo not knowing whether your story is going to be published or not. I’m sure if they had already published it they would have informed you. How often is this magazine published? If it's monthly, then they've had plenty of time to place your story, but if it's quarterly you might still have a while to wait. Either way, I think a politely written note just to ask what's going on is a good idea :)
 

alleycat

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There wouldn't be any real harm in sending a follow-up letter, but in this case I would just wait. Six months isn't that long in the publishing world.
 

scope

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A brief, polite note is perfectly alright.
 

IceCreamEmpress

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And you can say "Accepted by Teen Voices for publication in a future issue" until you know when the story's coming out.
 
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