Middling It

SmallThing

Eek!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
230
Reaction score
35
Website
cosmicdriftwood.wordpress.com
No big deal, but it does support my policy of querying as soon as the market allows: this is the third time in the last several months that I one of my submissions had gone missing.

Alex, have missing subs been an issue for you at markets with submission managers of some sort? I've got something that's been out for a long time at a place that responds fairly quickly. Haven't quite reached the query after date yet, but submishmash still lists it in progress.

Waiting on a missing sub is one of my writerly anxieties. I'm sorry you've been running into it lately.
 

alexshvartsman

Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 27, 2010
Messages
2,049
Reaction score
156
Location
Brooklyn, NY
@Michael: I'll probably be sending the rewrite your way for a second opinion when it done :)

@KitKat: If it was more or less a form second round bump-up, a response from you is not expected/necessary. GL with those subs!

@SmallThing: For me all 3 were normal, e-mail subs. And it wasn't an email issue - in each case they found the submission after I queried.

I'm also worried about my Abyss & Apex sub (out since Nov 1, not a word) - but their query time is 60 days, so I won;t be able to check up on it till 2012.
 

pangalactic

Gargling blasters
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 14, 2010
Messages
721
Reaction score
47
Location
Manchester, UK
Website
chrisbissette.com
I'm sitting on a 17-story pile of crickets at the moment, and have been for a couple of weeks apart from an R from Apex. I guess I'm middling it.
 

SmallThing

Eek!
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
230
Reaction score
35
Website
cosmicdriftwood.wordpress.com
@SmallThing: For me all 3 were normal, e-mail subs. And it wasn't an email issue - in each case they found the submission after I queried.

I'm also worried about my Abyss & Apex sub (out since Nov 1, not a word) - but their query time is 60 days, so I won;t be able to check up on it till 2012.

At least your subs reached their destination, I suppose. Still frustrating to be waiting on something when no one realizes you're waiting.

Were I to guess at A&A's approach to slush, I'd say they have some kind of preliminary sort, with things that aren't right for them being rejected during the reading period, and things that need a closer look being held until the end. So, I think not having heard is more likely a good sign, then a missing story.
 

Project Deadlight

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 30, 2011
Messages
857
Reaction score
43
Location
The Shire of Warwick
Oh god... so I had this story out at a market for nearly 110 days. Eventually they responded to my second query saying they hadn't got it. They encouraged me to send it again with another story I wanted to send. So I sent it. They have now had it another 40 days and aren't responding to my query.

This market has essentially had my story since it was written in June and it is one of my favourites. I wouldn't mind if it weren't for their absolutely archaic submission policy which is done entirely by post and SAE and you have to wait for either a rejection, or if it goes missing you have to wait until you can't any longer then submit elsewhere because YOU probably didn't put enough stamps on your SAE. Agghhh!
 

mhaynes

practical experience, FTW
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Sep 1, 2011
Messages
657
Reaction score
36
Location
Ohio
Website
www.michaelhaynes.info
Middling It, but not in a bad way... Received an email today that one of my submissions moved on to a second round of consideration. Now, to go back to waiting. :)

(Not expecting many crickets this week, though... LOTS of stories likely to get replied to this week per average RTs.)
 

Lillie

practical experience, FTW
Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jan 14, 2011
Messages
1,585
Reaction score
178
Location
Wales
Oh god... so I had this story out at a market for nearly 110 days. Eventually they responded to my second query saying they hadn't got it. They encouraged me to send it again with another story I wanted to send. So I sent it. They have now had it another 40 days and aren't responding to my query.

This market has essentially had my story since it was written in June and it is one of my favourites. I wouldn't mind if it weren't for their absolutely archaic submission policy which is done entirely by post and SAE and you have to wait for either a rejection, or if it goes missing you have to wait until you can't any longer then submit elsewhere because YOU probably didn't put enough stamps on your SAE. Agghhh!

Hmmm. Can you send it recorded? If it's in this country? It's only a quid. They have to sign for it. I do that for any official or government body, even when they send you a prepaid reply envelope.
If it's got that sticker on it, the post office take care of it more, and they can't say they didn't get it.

As for weird submission processes, I have one at a place where if they don't send rejections. You just have to wait 90 days, and if you haven't heard, they don't want it.
Mine is at 73 days. Clearly they don't want it, but I'll let it do it's time. It's not like I can think of anywhere else to send it.

Meh, some places are just strange.
 

Sai

Book lover/Spy
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 11, 2007
Messages
2,392
Reaction score
394
Location
Back home
Website
www.kuri-ousity.com
I have a story under review at Asimov's. I know that's just the usual procedure, but I still can't help but hope. I really think this story is a good fit for the magazine so I'm eager to see what they think. Argh, must stop checking e-mails, must focus on work...
 

victoriajakes

let me tell you about my dogs
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
378
Reaction score
72
Location
New Orleans
For some reason, the wait at Apex feels longer than all my other waits. It's only been 8 days at Apex, compared to some of my other pieces that have been out now for 47, 84, and 94 days, but these 8 days at Apex feel like forever. It must be the tiny amount of daylight we're getting now. Just sitting around forever in the dark, waiting to hear from Apex...
...I need another hobby.
 

faerydancer

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Mar 14, 2005
Messages
596
Reaction score
103
Location
So Cal
Website
www.brendastokes.com
I have a story under review at Asimov's. I know that's just the usual procedure, but I still can't help but hope. I really think this story is a good fit for the magazine so I'm eager to see what they think. Argh, must stop checking e-mails, must focus on work...

I'm under review there, too. How long has it been for you? Mine's been since Sunday, I think. This makes me anxious! lol
 

Sai

Book lover/Spy
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 11, 2007
Messages
2,392
Reaction score
394
Location
Back home
Website
www.kuri-ousity.com
I think it's been under review since Saturday, but it might have been Sunday as well. I almost wish I didn't know, just so I could focus on other things more easily.
 

alexshvartsman

Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 27, 2010
Messages
2,049
Reaction score
156
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Just sent my first-ever submission withdrawal e-mail. Reclaimed a story from Result Jelly after over two months wait. They initially claim to have lost my sub and put it "at the top of the list" a month ago. Nothing since then, and no response to a query sent a week ago.

I wouldn't have been so impatient normally, but they also haven't updated their Twitter or Blog in weeks and there are no responses recorded on Duotrope.

On to the next market in the morning.
 

Sai

Book lover/Spy
Super Member
Registered
Joined
May 11, 2007
Messages
2,392
Reaction score
394
Location
Back home
Website
www.kuri-ousity.com
I finished a 12k story today that I'm hoping to submit to Writers of the Future. It's a weird story, but I feel perversely proud of it, like a mother with an ugly baby. I just want to bask in the glow of finishing it for a little bit before my beta readers send back their crits :D.
 

alexshvartsman

Kind Benefactor
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 27, 2010
Messages
2,049
Reaction score
156
Location
Brooklyn, NY
Got a note from a podcast 'zine editor saying that he received my story and is forwarding it to his P.A.

Question is, what in the world does P.A. stand for in this context? Is it a Production Assistant? Publishing Assistant? If he forwarded it to a Physician's Assistant (which is the only P.A. abbreviation I'm familiar with) then I should be worried.
 

Tienci

Lost in the Land of Giants
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Nov 2, 2005
Messages
840
Reaction score
66
Location
Everywhere and nowhere
Hmmm...Subtropics, who usually responds within 1-3 weeks, has had a story of mine for 35 days now.
 

victoriajakes

let me tell you about my dogs
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
378
Reaction score
72
Location
New Orleans
Woke up this morning to two e-mails from Apex. First was standard "We just read this, rejection or passing it on e-mail soon." Then, very shortly after that one, another saying just "Your story is under review by one of our editors." Which, to me, is clearly not a passing it on message. What does it mean??

After hearing you all talk about Apex insta-rejections, I've got my tiny hopes up. We'll see if I get anything else from them today or tomorrow. I think maybe it's just because their submissions system is changing.
 

KitCat

practical experience, FTW
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jul 28, 2011
Messages
788
Reaction score
86
Location
State of Insanity
*crosses fingers for you* I'd say something hopeful but i don't want to jinx it for you lol
 

victoriajakes

let me tell you about my dogs
Super Member
Registered
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Messages
378
Reaction score
72
Location
New Orleans
Thanks, kitcat!

Has anybody ever gotten sent up at Apex? Do you know the process? I can't help but freak out a little. I'm about to go drive a bus all afternoon too, and I know I won't be able to stop thinking about it haha. :p
 

Project Deadlight

Super Member
Registered
Joined
Jun 30, 2011
Messages
857
Reaction score
43
Location
The Shire of Warwick
Thanks, kitcat!

Has anybody ever gotten sent up at Apex? Do you know the process? I can't help but freak out a little. I'm about to go drive a bus all afternoon too, and I know I won't be able to stop thinking about it haha. :p

I'm no expert but my first ever story I submitted was sent to the next level in this way. I believe it means it has passed through slush and is awaiting a viewing from the editor. In my case, Cathrynne stopped editing in the middle of my wait and my submission got one of of the mass emails everyone got in July/August after a near 100 day wait.