We all know that getting rejected is part of being a writer. But that doesn’t mean we're immune to getting upset by a rejection. Having a story or poem rejected can elicit a wide range of emotions including disappointment, frustration, self-doubt, self-pity, anger, and more. Of course, we can also learn from rejections, and they … Continue reading 5 Types of Rejection that Drive Every Writer Nuts
An acceptance is pretty much the best thing a writer can get, right? After all, that’s why we take the time to send out our work. There’s nothing more exciting than opening an email from an editor or publisher and reading the words, “we loved your submission and would like to publish it.” It’s the … Continue reading How to Get Your Story or Poem Unpublished
Do you like having your short stories rejected? Although you might be a generally positive person who likes to learn from your rejections, chances are that you don’t want to get rejections. Unless, of course, you’re an absolute sadist (don’t all writers have to be at least a little bit?). In reality, no one spends … Continue reading 5 Stories You Should Never Submit If You Want to Get Published
I recently received an email with the subject line “Are you a good writer?” The email didn’t come out of the blue. It was an email blast from a blog I had recently subscribed to. Side note: Dammit, I just ended a sentence with a preposition. Does that mean I’m not any good at writing? … Continue reading Am I a Good Writer? 7 Signs You’re a Master
So you’ve decided to enter a writing contest. Good luck! You’re going to need it. The competition will be stiff. The odds are against you regardless of your previous writing credentials. I've read over 5,000 writing contest entries. One thing that's always surprised me is how little effort some people put in considering they were … Continue reading How to win a writing contest
Writers can be an antsy and impatient bunch, especially when they are waiting to hear back regarding a submission. Since most of us are submitting our work through Submittable now, things are both better and worse than they used to be. They’re better because we can see the status of our submission. They’re worse because … Continue reading The Truth About In Progress On Submittable: Everything the Impatient Writer Needs to Know
All stories can be broken down into two core components: 1. The idea 2. The execution The idea, also sometimes referred to as the premise, is often where a story begins. Rarely does a writer sit down with absolutely no idea and end up with a brilliant story after pounding aimlessly at the keyboard. Looking … Continue reading When a Good Idea Isn’t a Good Story
If you're planning to submit anything to a literary magazine or publisher, it’s essential to play by their rules. Some publishers claim to receive ten thousand submissions per month. While you may think that adding a unique touch is necessary to make your manuscript stand out, your deviation from the guidelines will more likely result … Continue reading Playing the Submissions Game: A Guide to Guidelines
Whether you just started a blog or have been at it for years, a question that probably haunts you on a regular basis is, “What should I blog about?” It’s not always an easy question. While you sometimes have tons of ideas on your mind, other times you struggle to find something to say—especially something … Continue reading What Should I Blog About? 5 Tips for Picking a Topic People Will Actually Read
Nothing elicits more fear and excitement for a writer than seeing a new email from an editor sitting in their inbox. These emails can bring us great news, bad news, or even something in between. Will it be a rejection? An acceptance? A restraining order requesting you never submit again? Just seeing the unread email … Continue reading If, When, and How to Respond to Emails from Editors
