Submissions: 2009 Submissions and Responses

Submissions

It's time to look back on my submissions record for the previous year once again. Those of you who have followed these submissions over the years know I try for the Buckell 150 and each subsequent year I've submitted less and less. This is my lowest submission year since I started tracking my submissions in 2003. Am I discouraged? Not so much because I've managed to finish the first draft of a new novel (my third) this year while pouring a majority of my time and energy into a brand new position at work.

That being said, I'm hoping the submissions for 2010 are the ones which take my writing career to the next level. I guess we'll have to wait a whole year to find out.

2009 SUBMISSIONS AND RESPONSES:
12 total submissions
*The total is 56 less than 2008.

4 rejections
*These are from various sources for a variety of projects, some agented, some freelance (mags, agents, online media, editors).

4 non-responders
*This isn't as cut and dry as it would seem because either my agent or me are still in direct contact, negotiations, etc. with 3 of these sources.

4 acceptances
*Not bad. I broke pretty even.

2009 RESPONSES FROM 2008 SUBMISSIONS:
1 acceptance - 29 days

1 withdrawal - 285 days
*As usual, the withdrawal was due to questionable circumstances regarding the editor/publisher.

2 rejections - 314 days; 111 days

2009 RESPONSES FROM 2007 SUBMISSIONS:
1 rejection - 547 days
*So the longer they have it doesn't necessarily mean the better your chances! Didn't I say that last year, too? But, at least they got back to me, right?

Comments

  1. Not a bad record. I've also slid a little on my submission volume even though I vowed to ramp it up a bit. I blame it on the novel I'm working on. I'd hoped to have it finished by now, but I'm still doing a good pace.

    Very cool about your new position! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Ha ha! So I had the wrong Matt in my last reply!

    Everything still applies, though, like how the novels are more important than anything else and how we're on the right track. :)

    Except you were probably pretty mystified about the ACT 48 hours, weren't you?

    Happy New Year,
    Heidi

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  3. It did throw me a second! Or two!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hahahaha!

    Sorry about that. ;)

    We're hoping to make World Fantasy this year, so hopefully we'll see you in the fall.

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  5. It's just a matter of time before everything comes together: the right ms plus the right agent/publisher and that invisible ceiling will dissolve. Wishing you great things in 2010!

    Oh, and I tagged you over on my blog. http://vrbarkowski.blogspot.com/. Eight short questions about writing. They'll be fun, I promise!

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  6. Wow! That is a pretty cool record. And it's neat that you keep up with it like that. I am gonna have to start doing that. Anyway, great job on the acceptances. Congrats!

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  7. Thank you for the encouragement, VR, and the tag!

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  8. Thanks, M!

    It's interesting to note the statistics of my own submissions over the years; it shows as much about my writing as it does about the market.

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  9. Congrats on the acceptances! I think you've got the right strategy for now: work on the book. I submitted very little last year, and will probably do so again due to concentrating on longer works. Two closed-market submissions lined up for this year, so fingers crossed that I'll at least have two short stories coming out while I forge ahead on the latest novel.

    -Chris

    ReplyDelete
  10. CPC:

    Good luck with your short stories and the new novel. I'm very excited about the premise and can't wait to read it.

    I'm looking at this year to be the second stage in my master plan!

    Just how many stages that will end up being? I'll let you know when I get there.

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