So, I finally did it. I resubmitted my current story to a new market.
I don’t know why I took so long to submit the story. Initially, it was for lack of a 9 x 12 envelope to stuff the thing in. But then, Dear Wife and I bought a package of 9 x 12 envelopes. Why didn’t I send it in, then? I had all the parts: a printed copy of my story in the appropriate format, a cover page, everything was ready but to address and stamp the envelope. Then, more than a week ago, I discovered that the market I was planning to submit to had decided to allow electronic submissions! So, I almost immediately started filling out the online submission form. And yet, I stalled at the last stage: uploading the story and clicking submit.
Chalk it up to fear, I guess. What if my story’s not good enough? What if it gets rejected (a second time)? What if, what if, what if… Well… What if it does?
I’ve ruminated on that, before. At twelve thousand words, this isn’t just a “short” short story. It’s a novelette. And the market for novelettes, no matter what the genre, is very small. There just aren’t many places I can try to sell this tale.
So, if it does fail in this market, I’ll keep looking. There may be some place left out there that I’m not yet aware of. In the mean time, I keep writing. (And hopefully, as I keep writing, I manage to keep it a bit shorter so I can target more markets.)
So, I finally uploaded the story, and I clicked submit.
The good thing about the market to which I just submitted is that it’s actually a prestigious contest (again, I won’t name names) that is only open to authors who are unpublished at professional levels. That means that my story is going up against not established authors with name recognition and selling power – a hurdle I cannot hope to overcome – but against other authors who are my real peers: new, unpublished authors. This will allow my story to rise or fall on its own merits.
And the feedback I’ll get here – even if I get no personal feedback – will tell me whether the story is really any good after all. If I don’t get far in the contest, I’ll know it’s because my story failed to appeal. If it does well, even if it doesn’t win, I’ll know I’m on the right track. And, frankly, that gives me a clue as to whether I need to go back to the drawing board and continue honing my skills, or whether I’m actually a half-decent writer.
Now, only time will tell. Lots of time. I don’t expect to hear a response from this market for several months, since the contest doesn’t even close for several months.
Stephen Watkins, Writer 
Ahh the excuses we make. It gets easier, but the only way for it to get easier is to accumulate more rejections. You know, I think I’d rather get my rejections now, and get to understand what I’m doing wrong, than to be successful right out the gate, and not know what I did right (then not being able to replicate that success for a long time).
Of course, any success is still success! Good luck! I’m pretty sure I know which contest you speak of 😀 I was pretty thrilled about the electronic submissions too.
It does make things a lot easier. (Excuses notwithstanding.) One thing that I’m hopeful for is that if you do well enough in said contest, even if you don’t win, you can get some good personalized feedback. I’m hoping for that level of success… But I’m realistic.
8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
Revelation 3:8 (NLT)
8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Revelation 3:8 (NKJV)
It says in this wonderful verse that God is going open a door for you that no man can shut. It says that God knows and sees all the things that you do and have done in your life and that he is a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him. God is faithful. If you keep His word and don’t deny Him by giving Him everything you have, he will reward you openly. Open doors will begin to come before you and supernatural blessings will follow! It’s in His word!
While, as you know, I am religious, I try to keep my religious inclinations and my blog somewhat separated, for the most part. So, while I agree that “doors will be opened” I’m not sure I think those doors will often be in secular circles, so to speak. I kind of see those doors as opportunities to increase spiritual understanding, more often than not, as opposed to opportunities to advance my career (whether that be my writing career or otherwise). Not saying the latter doesn’t happen – I’m sure it can and does – but this might be something of a “parable of talents” moment, vis-a-vis you get out of it what you put into it. Which is to say, for now, I’m just trying to put some of my talents into this, to try to get something out of it. Because until I do, I don’t expect to receive anything in return.
I dread rejections too, and this is why I never even wrote for the School magazine though the editors were less snooty.
But I’ve realised that rejections make us better, though I still dread it. When I’m really paranoid, I attribute the rejections to my ‘name’ or location.
Good luck with the contest.
Honestly, in this day and age, I think a unique name (at least, unique in the U.S., if you’re writing for an audience here) can be more of an asset. I actually worry about the frightful commonality of my name (particularly that there’s already someone with a version of my name writing and publishing books). The good thing about the contest I entered is the judging is blind – name and identifying information are stripped out of the story before the stories are read and judged. (Or, more accurately, you submit a version of the story with your name and identifying information already stripped out, and a separate title page with your name and story title that links the two back together for when judging is done.) So work is judged on the quality of the story and writing alone. You’re right, though. Rejections help us advance in our craft, in a way, if for no other reason than that they are a measure of our perserverance to write and submit our work and our dedication to improving our craft. Thanks for the good luck wishes!
Hi, Stephen! Thank you so much for adding me to your “Travelers on the Journey” list on your WordPress blog! I love staying in touch with you and hope that your big break is just around the corner. Even if there’s nothing around the next corner, though, never stop traveling, because “the” corner will eventually be there if you just keep going! All the best. –Cheri
Thanks for stopping by. I enjoy the interaction with my fellow writers. Last I looked, though, you were a lot farther along in the journey than I. It’s to be expected that I still have a long way to go, since I have so little time to devote to it. One step at a time!
I enjoy reading your blog. I am an aspiring author myself working with a literary coach to get my first novel published. I hope that your “big break” will come soon. All I can say is keep on keeping on.
I’m glad you’ve enjoyed my blog. This blog specifically, of course, is a bit light on content – my “Undiscovered Author” blog is updated much more frequently. Good luck in your own quest to get published! Hopefully you’ll find some inspiration when you visit my blog, and some commisseration, a place to share stories of triumphs and challenges.