At a recent writers conference I saw a sci-fi author extraordinaire speak about what it takes to be successful. One key point he made was to keep your work circulating. I have fallen down on this one. I have sent short stories out once or twice and left it at that. Some of them have won some contest mentions but I really haven’t been keeping up with submissions. My main focus is my writing business and my novel, but it’s time I took Sawyer’s advice and submitted my backlog of short stories. They’ll be a hit with someone somewhere and may help land a book contract in the future.
Today I submitted a piece to Writer’s Digest. I’ve won prizes from them before so it’s a logical place to return.
BONUS:
One question that comes up is: contests or literary journals? Here’s both barrels:
There are definitely some journals I would consider for submission, but very few. Read some to decide what fits your tone and sensibility. Many academic literary journals are a waste of time. Plotless, wishy-washy time. Watch those endings, for instance. They far too often seem to be designed to leave you confused with a vague sense of ennui. I’m a fan of plot over pretense and I don’t want to get lost in a sea of description (e.g. I don’t-can’t-won’t read Annie Dillard.)
And who’s reading all these stuffy lit journals, anyway? Does their readership outnumber the number of whipped cream foot fetishists of the world? Hmmm…(Oh! Oh! And incestuous! Did I mention incestuous? That or by some uncanny freak of the odds, all the very best literature emerged from the editor’s cohort in their MFA class.)
I have spoken.
Filed under: publishing, academic literary journals, writing contests, writing rant
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