Comments on: Pros and Cons of Short Story Writing http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292 In which the writer blogs about her growing collection of rejection letters, quirky Internet finds, and the inside-out adventures of daily life Thu, 08 Jan 2009 13:05:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Suanne http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-8016 Fri, 18 May 2007 20:24:11 +0000 http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-8016 Hey, I like the idea of eventually posting here. I have another online group (passoword protected) that I use for stuff I'm polishing, but it would still be great to get feedback from a wider audience of what worked or didn't. I'm afraid the advice to not revise before sending stuff back out is wasted on me. I'm really not capable of leaving unfixed what I know how to fix--a compulsive twitch, I know. However, I can say that so far I've honored my rule requiring 24 hour turnarounds pretty good. I've only extensively revised when the editor gave specific feedback. And you're right about any credit is still a credit. Feel free to remind me of this whenever you see my head swelling. :) Hey, I like the idea of eventually posting here. I have another online group (passoword protected) that I use for stuff I’m polishing, but it would still be great to get feedback from a wider audience of what worked or didn’t.

I’m afraid the advice to not revise before sending stuff back out is wasted on me. I’m really not capable of leaving unfixed what I know how to fix–a compulsive twitch, I know.

However, I can say that so far I’ve honored my rule requiring 24 hour turnarounds pretty good. I’ve only extensively revised when the editor gave specific feedback.

And you’re right about any credit is still a credit. Feel free to remind me of this whenever you see my head swelling. :)

]]> by: Jordan Lapp http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-8010 Fri, 18 May 2007 19:05:28 +0000 http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-8010 You know, I've had that same thought myself about prior work and prior skill levels. It's especially challenging because I feel like I'm improving so quickly right now. I think the key is that any writing credit looks good. So don't revise. Just send the story out over and over AS IS until it finds a home. If, say, 10 freebie markets don't accept it... then shelve it. Or post it here!!! We'll all offer comments that could help you with future stories! That's what I did with "Leaving the Grand Design" which you can find at http://jordanlapp.com/blog/32/ You know, I’ve had that same thought myself about prior work and prior skill levels. It’s especially challenging because I feel like I’m improving so quickly right now.

I think the key is that any writing credit looks good. So don’t revise. Just send the story out over and over AS IS until it finds a home. If, say, 10 freebie markets don’t accept it… then shelve it. Or post it here!!! We’ll all offer comments that could help you with future stories! That’s what I did with “Leaving the Grand Design” which you can find at http://jordanlapp.com/blog/32/

]]> by: Suanne http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-7913 Thu, 17 May 2007 02:48:04 +0000 http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-7913 Yeah, okay. So five may have been a bit harsh. I guess I set it there with the assumption that I would then send it to <a href=\"http://suannewarr.com/\"http://suannewarr.com/blog/to%20http://www.rejectedq.com/page2.html/\"\" rel=\"\\\"nofollow\\\"\" rel="nofollow">The Rejected Quarterly</a>, and if they didn\'t want it, nobody would. Probably short-sighted. But understand, I don\'t think I\'m capable, as I reformat a story to the specs of the new place, of not tinkering with it. They\'re just so glaringly in need of a work-over! Adding to that is I\'m a stickler for reading and triple reading the guidelines, so it can actually take a surprising chunk of time to get a story back out. Then when you consider that every moment of my writing time is more precious than native silver, and that my brain is flooded with ideas I just can\'t wait to work on, plus I\'m supposed to be working on the nitty-gritty of my \'world\', I\'m just not sure that continuing to send out tired old stuff that reflects a prior skill level is really the best use of my time. Not that I\'m sure about this...just mulling it over. And I\'m sure the kill-date would depend on how much faith I had in a story, too. Yeah, okay. So five may have been a bit harsh. I guess I set it there with the assumption that I would then send it to The Rejected Quarterly, and if they didn\’t want it, nobody would.

Probably short-sighted. But understand, I don\’t think I\’m capable, as I reformat a story to the specs of the new place, of not tinkering with it. They\’re just so glaringly in need of a work-over! Adding to that is I\’m a stickler for reading and triple reading the guidelines, so it can actually take a surprising chunk of time to get a story back out.

Then when you consider that every moment of my writing time is more precious than native silver, and that my brain is flooded with ideas I just can\’t wait to work on, plus I\’m supposed to be working on the nitty-gritty of my \’world\’, I\’m just not sure that continuing to send out tired old stuff that reflects a prior skill level is really the best use of my time.

Not that I\’m sure about this…just mulling it over. And I\’m sure the kill-date would depend on how much faith I had in a story, too.

]]> by: Cavan http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-7909 Wed, 16 May 2007 22:17:32 +0000 http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-7909 I'd agree. I just had a story accepted for publication after it had been out at various markets for over a year. The mag that accepted it was the tenth I submitted to. The key, I think, is to send it and forget it. Work on other stuff while it's out in submission-land. I’d agree. I just had a story accepted for publication after it had been out at various markets for over a year. The mag that accepted it was the tenth I submitted to.

The key, I think, is to send it and forget it. Work on other stuff while it’s out in submission-land.

]]> by: Jordan Lapp http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-7895 Wed, 16 May 2007 03:50:24 +0000 http://suannewarr.com/blog/archives/292#comment-7895 Wah! 5??? Mine's 20. 5 seems a little harsh. Editors are fickle and it costs you nothing but a small amount of time to send it out.... What do you think? Wah! 5??? Mine’s 20. 5 seems a little harsh. Editors are fickle and it costs you nothing but a small amount of time to send it out…. What do you think?

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