tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35425528.post5341174716389334975..comments2023-10-20T09:45:31.267+01:00Comments on The Long And The Short of It: Slam-dunkin' the Too Many Chasing Too Few TheorySue Houghtonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14147561434172961209noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35425528.post-14444996725191195732009-08-29T11:52:18.520+01:002009-08-29T11:52:18.520+01:00I SO agree with what you've said here, Sue. On...I SO agree with what you've said here, Sue. One thing that is certainly true is that editors are (generally) taking longer to respond, than they did years ago. And that must be mainly because they've got so many more submissions to plough through. As I've said on my blog, as long as I've got lots of submissions 'out there', I (being optimistic by nature) always believe I've got some more acceptances to come!<br /><br />But well done you, on being approached by an editor, unsolicited! That really is worth some trumpet blowing!<br /><br />And lastly, I agree 100% about people thinking short story writing is a doddle. Having done both (long and short), I agree that writing short stories is a particular skill and certainly not easier - just shorter! I get quite irritated by people who say they'd do it if they had time. I point out to them politely that I had a full time job while writing most of my stories and novels - I just gave up watching TV. And as Julie said, the answer is: if you think you can do it - get on and try!Sheila Nortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13997206301877289623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35425528.post-44504745561655887012009-08-28T14:53:01.566+01:002009-08-28T14:53:01.566+01:00Rejection doesn't mean it's rubbish. Often...Rejection doesn't mean it's rubbish. Often as not it means the mag has run something similar recently, or the word count doesn't fit anywhere in the issue they're currently planning. Loads of reasons that really are just bad luck. Right story, wrong time. Send it back a year later and it might well be chosen.Sue Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14147561434172961209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35425528.post-13902972878560979702009-08-28T11:08:31.134+01:002009-08-28T11:08:31.134+01:00Hi Sue, That leaves me in a pickle, as I still sen...Hi Sue, That leaves me in a pickle, as I still send as many stories as I used to yet my sales are down too. So I can only conclude that my stories aren't good enough anymore...sigh..<br /><br />Someone I know also said, well if you can sell stories to magazines, I can too. So she wrote one, sent it off and got a rejection. She complained long and loud, believing it was good enough to be published. As far as I know she didn't try again.Happy Writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17105042169320137215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35425528.post-1197792254189865622009-08-28T10:02:28.049+01:002009-08-28T10:02:28.049+01:00Mmmmm I don't think your male writer friend wh...Mmmmm I don't think your male writer friend who will remain nameless has quite got the gist of it! There can be a bit of money to be made from writing for the Women's mags plus it gets your name known out there. It's all writing practice. I am so glad he got rejected! <br /><br />I suspect he was secretly infuriated when he got the rejection letter - tee hee."How dare that mere little lady's mag reject my story!" Heres to writing for the women's mags!<br /><br />Julie xxJulie Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06546678603569056691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35425528.post-77910480147406664672009-08-27T19:08:44.755+01:002009-08-27T19:08:44.755+01:00And how many times have we heard, 'I'd lik...And how many times have we heard, 'I'd like to have a go at writing for the mags but I just don't have the time.'?<br /><br />I know one male writer (who shall remain nameless) who thinks womag writing is the pits and to prove how easy it is he sent something off. It was rejected! He said it was because he's too good and so he'd proved his point. Hmm???Sue Houghtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14147561434172961209noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35425528.post-11458070832248066032009-08-27T18:28:25.440+01:002009-08-27T18:28:25.440+01:00I totally agree with you, Sue. Obviously I haven&#...I totally agree with you, Sue. Obviously I haven't been writing short stories for as long as you have so I don't really know what the market was like a few years ago, but I think the important thing for writers trying to get published in the womags is that you have to study the magazines first, then get the stories written and actually send them off!<br /><br />Too many wannabe writers look on short stories as a piece of cake to write when they are so not! Then they give up at the first sniff of a rejection letter.<br /><br />My personal favourites are those who, when you tell them you write short stories say, "Oh I could do that easy - I don't know why you get so many rejections - it's easy." Well come on then, I say, lets see your name under one of the stories in Take A Break!<br /><br />I write my stories because I love writing stories - yes I am trying to get published and I've had loads of rejections (and will have a good many more) but it doesn't stop me from writing.<br /><br />I'd be happy with one sale at all!<br /><br />Julie xxJulie Phttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06546678603569056691noreply@blogger.com