defcon6000
Banned
I know most of us don't like subbing to Pedestal, but in case y'all hadn't noticed they've made major changes to their submissions/publication schedule/guidelines.
I guess that knocks them off my list for good.
Aggy, doesn't do once a year magazine publications
Sigh. I'm really struggling, guys. I've got a short story that's absolutely insisting it be written, but it's *really* dark, and it keeps taking turns that I know are exactly where the story needs to go but are very uncomfortable to write. I'm lucky if I get a paragraph or two down a night before I just have to go do something else. Abandoning it doesn't really feel like an option, because I don't think it'll let me go, if that makes any sense.
Meanwhile I've only got two stories currently out and one is waaaaaay past average response time, the other about twice ART, and it's making me much more antsy than usual. Could use some good news, ywim? Especially since I didn't win the lottery this weekend (I know, right?)
Anyhow, just needed to whine a bit among friends.
Oooh, how dark are we talking about?
It's a future dystopia about a mining colony run by religious extremists where the vast majority of people are effectively owned by corporations and have very little realistic chances of escape. It's also a culture that's extremely hostile to women, and my MC is, in fact, female. It's fair to say a lot of the news lately keeps making the whole thing seem less and less far-fetched, which may be at least half of what really is difficult about the story, and half why I can't seem to walk away from it.
Sigh. I'm really struggling, guys. I've got a short story that's absolutely insisting it be written, but it's *really* dark, and it keeps taking turns that I know are exactly where the story needs to go but are very uncomfortable to write. I'm lucky if I get a paragraph or two down a night before I just have to go do something else. Abandoning it doesn't really feel like an option, because I don't think it'll let me go, if that makes any sense.
Anyone else receiving a bunch of rejections today? I've gotten a total of34 so far. Maybe the editors think it's funny to hand out rejections on April fool's.
I think I've finally gathered the courage to submit to Clarkesworld! I almost did it just now, but I'm going to sleep on it and do it in the morning. Ha! That 0.07% acceptance rate out of 1500 stories is like the Eye of Sauron above the Black Gates of Mordor.