Why do short story submissions take so long? - Page 2

areteus · 05-23-2012, 02:44 AM

The Duotrope responses are manual. By which I mean the Duotrope account holder updates them when they get sent an email with a response. The editors of the publisher do not have access to that system (well, they might, but only if they are also using Duotrope to track things that they have submitted to other markets in which case they update their own stuff when it gets a response just like you do). The only thing the notifications on duotrope do is update the stats both on your personal submissions and on the market's entry (where it averages with all the other responses that have been tracked).

Some markets have a submisson system which tracks which part of the process your work is in and that is updated by the editor when they make a decision but Duotrope does not have a system like this (unless they have made a very recent and very major upgrade I am not aware of...).

I agree with the others above. Submit and forget. There is nothing you can do about a story once it is submitted so no point or purpose in fretting about it. Just keep an eye on the average submission time for that market on duotrope (or the time listed in the guidelines) and work out what date this means you should have had a response by and mark it on your calendar. Then wait a while after that (cos many markets are sometimes slower than they claim) before chasing them with a polite email to enquire about the status of the submission.

Shadow_Ferret · 05-23-2012, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gettingby

I do still have time to worry. I keep busy, but there is always time to worry.

I never worry. My wife thinks I'm inhuman that way.

It's probably the only self-destructive negative trait I don't have.

Mutive · 05-23-2012, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by areteus

Submit and forget. There is nothing you can do about a story once it is submitted so no point or purpose in fretting about it. Just keep an eye on the average submission time for that market on duotrope (or the time listed in the guidelines) and work out what date this means you should have had a response by and mark it on your calendar. Then wait a while after that (cos many markets are sometimes slower than they claim) before chasing them with a polite email to enquire about the status of the submission.

Definitely recommend this. One magazine apparently forgot to send me a rejection. They were very polite when I asked about the status, and it was good to be able to move the story onto a new home. (It was eventually accepted elsewhere.) But up until a three to six month mark, you're probably just annoying the already over taxed person looking at submissions.

jaksen · 05-23-2012, 11:35 PM

Write, write and then write some more. Write so much you don't have time to think about stuff like this.

Works for me.

folkchick · 11-10-2012, 01:02 AM

I agree with the above advice, that we should submit and not worry. However. I can't help being curious when something is out for over six months. I have two stories that have been out since March. Is this generally a good sign?

MJNL · 11-10-2012, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by folkchick

I agree with the above advice, that we should submit and not worry. However. I can't help being curious when something is out for over six months. I have two stories that have been out since March. Is this generally a good sign?

Depends on where you sent them. Have you heard of Duotrope.com? it lets you track submissions, and see what the current average response time is.

Six months down means you've still got months to go at some markets. At others, it means you should have queried five months ago.

folkchick · 11-10-2012, 08:12 AM

Thank you, MJNL. I use Duotrope—it's great. These markets I speak of are known for having slow response times, so it's true, I just need to be more patient.

Rhoda Nightingale · 11-11-2012, 12:27 AM

It's not really that long--it just seems longer than it might because so many short fiction markets don't allow simultaneous submissions. At least that's how it feels to me, as compared to waiting for agencies and publishing houses.

folkchick · 11-11-2012, 05:12 PM

Rhoda Nightingale—I have to agree with you!

squeaky pram · 11-16-2012, 02:08 PM

I loved duotrope when I first discovered it, but I'm beginning to see how it can be a curse as well as a blessing. In the old days you sent a story and pretty much had to forget about it because it went into a sort of black hole of which you knew nothing. With duotrope you can see, based on the responses reported by other writers, whether or not your submission is in the "rejection zone" (or "response zone", however you want to think of it!), and I think that's possibly a bad thing. It's easier to become obsessive. I've found myself on pins and needles when I see I'm in the zone, which is a waste of energy. I'm weaning myself off the constant checking and comparing, but I do understand its allure. In fact, at the moment I'm in the zone at three publications (so much for weaning!). I know I'd be better off not knowing.

I agree with the others: 'submit, forget, write more stories' is the best approach. Obsession, thy name is Duotrope!

Phaeal · 11-16-2012, 04:45 PM

Well, let's see my current sub list.

Story 1: Out for 14 months so far.
Story 2: Out for 15 months so far.
Story 3: Out for 17 months so far. (And it's a short-short!)
Story 4: Out for 13 months so far.
Story 5: Out for 16 months so far.

Been so busy working on novels I forgot to notice. Plus I tell myself that they're out so long because they've moved up from slush readers to top editors and will all end up published at once.

Nah. I thinks it's time to resub those babies.

gettingby · 11-16-2012, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phaeal

Well, let's see my current sub list.

Story 1: Out for 14 months so far.
Story 2: Out for 15 months so far.
Story 3: Out for 17 months so far. (And it's a short-short!)
Story 4: Out for 13 months so far.
Story 5: Out for 16 months so far.

Been so busy working on novels I forgot to notice. Plus I tell myself that they're out so long because they've moved up from slush readers to top editors and will all end up published at once.

Nah. I thinks it's time to resub those babies.

Where are you submitting? I submit to literary journals that take a few months, but your stats seem longer than what I've experienced or seen on duotrope.

Rhoda Nightingale · 11-16-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gettingby

Where are you submitting? I submit to literary journals that take a few months, but your stats seem longer than what I've experienced or seen on duotrope.

I'm curious about this too. None of the subs I've sent out have taken longer than two months to get back to me.

V1c · 11-16-2012, 08:27 PM

I've submitted to places that take well over a year to get back to me (like Fiction, for one). And yeah, that was because the story made it to the editorial board and such.

Literary seems to take longer. The fact that many are housed in academic institutions might be part of it, especially if you submit during a changover period.

Phaeal · 11-17-2012, 03:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gettingby

Where are you submitting? I submit to literary journals that take a few months, but your stats seem longer than what I've experienced or seen on duotrope.

All but one are SFF mags, the exception is a well-known mainstream mag.

This last batch I sent between 6/2011 and 11/2011 ARE taking much longer than I'm used to. Why? Again, I'm hoping because they're passing up the editorial ladder.

A story of mine that was out to a major SFF mag for over two years actually WAS sitting on the chief editor's desk, having been passed on by the preliminary readers. It just missed the sale, alas.

Anyhow. I was inspired today to query the slow responders and to send out four stories that had been awaiting resubmission.

My short story house is again in order!

05-23-2012, 02:44 AM	#26
areteus practical experience, FTW Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 2,515	The Duotrope responses are manual. By which I mean the Duotrope account holder updates them when they get sent an email with a response. The editors of the publisher do not have access to that system (well, they might, but only if they are also using Duotrope to track things that they have submitted to other markets in which case they update their own stuff when it gets a response just like you do). The only thing the notifications on duotrope do is update the stats both on your personal submissions and on the market's entry (where it averages with all the other responses that have been tracked). Some markets have a submisson system which tracks which part of the process your work is in and that is updated by the editor when they make a decision but Duotrope does not have a system like this (unless they have made a very recent and very major upgrade I am not aware of...). I agree with the others above. Submit and forget. There is nothing you can do about a story once it is submitted so no point or purpose in fretting about it. Just keep an eye on the average submission time for that market on duotrope (or the time listed in the guidelines) and work out what date this means you should have had a response by and mark it on your calendar. Then wait a while after that (cos many markets are sometimes slower than they claim) before chasing them with a polite email to enquire about the status of the submission. __________________ Transitions http://www.amazon.co.uk/Transitions-...tt_at_ep_dpt_2 'Gods of the Sea' Part of the Pirates and Swashbucklers anthology: http://pulpempire.com/mag/ My blog: http://lurkingmusings.wordpress.com/ I helped write this: http://www.realmfw.com/

05-23-2012, 11:35 PM	#29
jaksen Caped Codder Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: In MA, USA, across from a 17th century cemetery Posts: 3,945	Write, write and then write some more. Write so much you don't have time to think about stuff like this. Works for me. __________________ Just sold Story No. 28! To EQMM! I am so happy. (New grandson, too. Life is good. ) Eeyore was saying to himself, “This writing business. Pencils and what-not. Over-rated if you ask me. Silly stuff. Nothing in it.” A.A. Milne

11-10-2012, 01:02 AM	#30
folkchick Not a new kid Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,437	I agree with the above advice, that we should submit and not worry. However. I can't help being curious when something is out for over six months. I have two stories that have been out since March. Is this generally a good sign? __________________ Joni's Freewheelin' Blog of Despair *Woman in Love—Jane and Keith Day are mother and son in a coming-of-age story set to the Bicentennial. The Secret life of Dr. Johnny Fever—The rambling adventures of nomadic disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever. Ismay*—Despite exoneration from the Titanic’s sinking, J. Bruce Ismay is a man plagued with regret and shame.

11-10-2012, 08:12 AM	#32
folkchick Not a new kid Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,437	Thank you, MJNL. I use Duotrope—it's great. These markets I speak of are known for having slow response times, so it's true, I just need to be more patient. __________________ Joni's Freewheelin' Blog of Despair *Woman in Love—Jane and Keith Day are mother and son in a coming-of-age story set to the Bicentennial. The Secret life of Dr. Johnny Fever—The rambling adventures of nomadic disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever. Ismay*—Despite exoneration from the Titanic’s sinking, J. Bruce Ismay is a man plagued with regret and shame.

11-11-2012, 12:27 AM	#33
Rhoda Nightingale Full-Time Vampire Junkie Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 3,216	It's not really that long--it just seems longer than it might because so many short fiction markets don't allow simultaneous submissions. At least that's how it feels to me, as compared to waiting for agencies and publishing houses. __________________ ~~WIP: 1001 Souls (YA horror)~~ On Hold WIP: Dream Warriors (YA horror), revising, 50k Shorts: The Yellow Season (R's--4); The Raggedy Girl (R's--3) Blog: http://glitter-n-gore.livejournal.com/

11-11-2012, 05:12 PM	#34
folkchick Not a new kid Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 1,437	Rhoda Nightingale—I have to agree with you! __________________ Joni's Freewheelin' Blog of Despair *Woman in Love—Jane and Keith Day are mother and son in a coming-of-age story set to the Bicentennial. The Secret life of Dr. Johnny Fever—The rambling adventures of nomadic disc jockey Dr. Johnny Fever. Ismay*—Despite exoneration from the Titanic’s sinking, J. Bruce Ismay is a man plagued with regret and shame.

11-16-2012, 02:08 PM	#35
squeaky pram oldie turned newbie Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: UK Posts: 255	I loved duotrope when I first discovered it, but I'm beginning to see how it can be a curse as well as a blessing. In the old days you sent a story and pretty much had to forget about it because it went into a sort of black hole of which you knew nothing. With duotrope you can see, based on the responses reported by other writers, whether or not your submission is in the "rejection zone" (or "response zone", however you want to think of it!), and I think that's possibly a bad thing. It's easier to become obsessive. I've found myself on pins and needles when I see I'm in the zone, which is a waste of energy. I'm weaning myself off the constant checking and comparing, but I do understand its allure. In fact, at the moment I'm in the zone at three publications (so much for weaning!). I know I'd be better off not knowing. I agree with the others: 'submit, forget, write more stories' is the best approach. Obsession, thy name is Duotrope!

11-16-2012, 04:45 PM	#36
Phaeal Whatever I did, I didn't do it. Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Providence, RI Posts: 8,255	Well, let's see my current sub list. Story 1: Out for 14 months so far. Story 2: Out for 15 months so far. Story 3: Out for 17 months so far. (And it's a short-short!) Story 4: Out for 13 months so far. Story 5: Out for 16 months so far. Been so busy working on novels I forgot to notice. Plus I tell myself that they're out so long because they've moved up from slush readers to top editors and will all end up published at once. Nah. I thinks it's time to resub those babies. __________________ SUMM0NED (Coming from T0R, 2014) Real magic becomes real trouble when Sean summons the wrong familiar -- the big, toothy one with a taste for the neighbors. And so it goes...

11-16-2012, 08:27 PM	#39
V1c Hmmmmm Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 258	I've submitted to places that take well over a year to get back to me (like Fiction, for one). And yeah, that was because the story made it to the editorial board and such. Literary seems to take longer. The fact that many are housed in academic institutions might be part of it, especially if you submit during a changover period.

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