This is interesting to me - would you mind talking a little more about the math? (I'm curious how you'd predict acceptances reliably enough to have that as a goal, but you may have a ton more data than I do.)
Hi Beth, If my overall acceptance rate -- and/or Duo/Grinder stats --was for example 10% for the markets I normally submit to, then reaching an annual goal of (examples) 6 stories published I would need 60 submissions (60 submissions not 60 stories, because I would expect 90% of the submissions to be rejected and submitted elsewhere).
So if Market A typically responds within 6 months (no sim subs) they are good for 2subs/year, Market B estimated 3-4 subs/yr, usually can find 2-3 anthologies for a sub each, etc. (Personal experience plus Duo/Grinder stats). Considering all that, I would need to have or write enough stories/WIPs to cover that many subs -- which sometimes leads to a flurry of mid-year writing, FYI.
So the publishing goal (usually a range, example 5-7 stories re: the discussion above) needs to balance typical acceptance rate (from personal experience plus Duo/Grinder stats) with number of subs needed vs. stories/WIPs available. Once those factors are in balance, I set the goal and monitor and pursue it for the year. Sometimes achieve it, sometimes not, but I prefer this goal vs. a goal for number of stories written or subbed because my end-goal is getting stories published, not simply written and subbed.
This goal-setting approach was the result of online discussions with a prolific writer who has published hundreds of stories in dozens of markets. Made sense to me so I stole it.
Good luck!
Note re: balancing acceptance rate vs. subs/stories/WIPs - the point is to maximize publishing opportunities using resources available. So if I have lot of stories/WIPs/ideas and discovered a new market or two, publishing goal goes higher. If fewer stories/WIPs/ideas and some of my usual markets closed/hiatus, the goal goes lower.