I’m surprisingly cool today, even though I’m submitting three stories to various online markets: one anthology, one e-mag and one to the Accentuate short story contest’s “Endless Love” theme. I’ve already subbed one story to the contest, but have another that will fit the theme.
It will be the first time I ever have more than 2 submissions out at the same time. I’m proud of me for tromping on the procrastination and fear – at least for a little while – and submitting. There is one immutable truth to the writiing game: if you don’t submit, you’ll never get published.
My organizational methods include innumerable index cards in boxes with big labels on them. My daily to-do list is a kid’s shoe box with 20 tabbed cards and about 30 index cards between each. Each index card is one thing I have to do.
I have something very similar for fiction submissions. In a grubby old index card box with “Fiction” on graph paper taped to the front, I have tabs for each month. Then, I write the submissions I want to make on cards and stick them in their appropriate month, based on due date. The ones for the current month get taken out of the box and taped to the back of my desk hutch where I can see them all the time.
Right now, there are two cards there with stories due April 15th. Rather bold of me to try to get two more stories done by tax day, but I’ll see what I can do.
Two years ago at the Muse Online Conference, one of the presentors talked about her “Rule of Thirteen.” She said she always had 13 stories or articles out at one time. I don’t think I have 13 stories that are ready for submission right now, but I can see how the guideline works. The moment you get a rejection back, submit the story somewhere else (perhaps after another quick edit). My goal over the next few months is to build up to at least a Rule of Seven. Seven’s luckier than thirteen anyway.
31. March 2010 at 3:50 pm
I’m lucky to abide by a rule of three, at this point, but I do understand the point. And, when for a very brief period of time I had five submissions pending, one placed in an AWF contest, one was accepted to Chicken Soup and one was outright reject. Two I haven’t heard on yet. I really need to get to submitting as when those are the odds, you get acceptances!
Good luck with your submissions!!
31. March 2010 at 5:07 pm
Good luck on the two subs, and a big congrats on the Chicken Soup one. I love those books.
28. April 2010 at 5:30 pm
Smart idea for keeping your work organized! I need to incorporate something similar in my own office. I’ve heard of the Rule of Thirteen before, too, but have never been able to work up to that many at a time. The Rule of Seven sounds like a much better plan.