Wow. LiveJournal totally fubared itself, didn’t it? Hoping it’s all better now.
Writing Stuff:
I did something I’ve never done before. I’m not sure if I should call it a new milestone, or sheer stupidity and/or arrogance.
I declined a sale.
I submitted a story to a market last year, and since that time, this market’s pay scale dropped significantly (about a quarter of what I expected initially which was already what I consider the minimum of what I will submit fiction to) and the editor, in her email to me accepting the story, apologized for it citing low sales and went on to say how she might not print the next issue in any case because of a dearth of good submissions. After some waffling–it goes utterly against instinct to refuse money for a story–I decided that I believed this story was worth more than what she was offering me. Plus, I’m not really keen on the idea of jumping aboard a sinking ship–low sales, uncertain future of the publication and all.
So, yeah. I can walk away from a sale.
Words: -500 on various rewriting between the huli jing and the SF story in the Critters queue. Chop chop chop. One of my regulars did indeed nail me with all the typos I left in it, and then found several that I missed. I’m well and duly mortified. But aside from my sloppiness, I’m getting a good reaction so far.
Time to get Matthew to first reader my fox story.
500/day
9
May I ask the publication so I don’t bother submitting there – or find out if I HAVE submitted there?
May I ask the publication so I don’t bother submitting there – or find out if I HAVE submitted there?
P.S. I *did* nominate your novelette. 😎
P.S. I *did* nominate your novelette. 😎
Wooo! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!
Wooo! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!!
Well, the HUGOS really *do* need new blood infused into them… 😎 And I’m deep into pimp mode right now.
Well, the HUGOS really *do* need new blood infused into them… 😎 And I’m deep into pimp mode right now.
I’ve just sent an email off to you to your LJ addy!
I’ve just sent an email off to you to your LJ addy!
Got it – and it’s not something I had or would’ve submitted to – whew! Though I hate seeing any paying market go by the wayside. Good luck to ya. I admire you turning the down the sale for something better.
Got it – and it’s not something I had or would’ve submitted to – whew! Though I hate seeing any paying market go by the wayside. Good luck to ya. I admire you turning the down the sale for something better.
Can you tell me, too? I may start submitting again next month. Thank you!
Can you tell me, too? I may start submitting again next month. Thank you!
Yepper. Email on the way. And RAH for you on the submitting front!
Yepper. Email on the way. And RAH for you on the submitting front!
Eugie: That took some real sand. Good for you!
Kealan
Eugie: That took some real sand. Good for you!
Kealan
Thanks, Kealan. I’m still a bit slack-jawed about it . . .
Thanks, Kealan. I’m still a bit slack-jawed about it . . .
I think you made the right decision.
~Maggie
I think you made the right decision.
~Maggie
Thanks, sweetie. I think I did too. It just feels so . . . unnatural.
Thanks, sweetie. I think I did too. It just feels so . . . unnatural.
It’s hard, since the struggle is usually to find places that want to publish one’s work, but I think it was the right decision to make, and you’ll no doubt find another home for the story, eventually. Here’s hoping it’s sooner rather than later!
It’s hard, since the struggle is usually to find places that want to publish one’s work, but I think it was the right decision to make, and you’ll no doubt find another home for the story, eventually. Here’s hoping it’s sooner rather than later!
Thanks! I still have faith in this story, although I’ll feel particularly grim if it turns out I can’t find a good home for it now. Sigh.
Thanks! I still have faith in this story, although I’ll feel particularly grim if it turns out I can’t find a good home for it now. Sigh.
Good for you for holding out for what you think your story is worth!
First stage of being a writer: You just want to get published. Anywhere.
Stage two: You start picking and chosing markets with care.
I mean, honestly, a market which isn’t going to pay you a lot and which might soon fold–not worth it.
Good for you for holding out for what you think your story is worth!
First stage of being a writer: You just want to get published. Anywhere.
Stage two: You start picking and chosing markets with care.
I mean, honestly, a market which isn’t going to pay you a lot and which might soon fold–not worth it.
Thanks! Yeah, I made my decision and I’m feeling pretty solid about it on a rational front. Emotionally, I’m quailing in my bunny slippers.
Thanks! Yeah, I made my decision and I’m feeling pretty solid about it on a rational front. Emotionally, I’m quailing in my bunny slippers.
i think it’s a good idea for the state of the art. i am tired of seeing publications spend vast sums on everything but the writer. then again, i’m probably just bitter. good on ‘ya, and i’m sure you will find a good home for your tale.
i think it’s a good idea for the state of the art. i am tired of seeing publications spend vast sums on everything but the writer. then again, i’m probably just bitter. good on ‘ya, and i’m sure you will find a good home for your tale.
I don’t think this pubication was spending vast sums on anything, but yeah, I think writers are undervalued. We’re certainly underpaid!
I don’t think this pubication was spending vast sums on anything, but yeah, I think writers are undervalued. We’re certainly underpaid!
Good for you, Eugie. Takin’ one for the team, eh?
Sounds like the right decision. I’m sure you’ll place it in a better market! Let us know if it sells elsewhere, k? :o)
Good for you, Eugie. Takin’ one for the team, eh?
Sounds like the right decision. I’m sure you’ll place it in a better market! Let us know if it sells elsewhere, k? :o)
Thanks! I definitely will!
Thanks! I definitely will!
It’s a weird feeling, isn’t it? I remember turning down Dragon Magazine a few years ago, because they wanted to change an article in a way that would have totally ruined the point of it.
Trust me, odd as it is, you made the right call. 🙂
Could I impose on you to shoot me the name of the market as well? I’m still planning to toss “None So Blind” into the shark pool (I have no excuse other than absent-mindedness for the fact that I haven’t done so yet), and I’d like to avoid this particular market.
(In fact–he said shame-faced–I recently had a hard drive crash and lost the e-mail of yours I was saving. The one where you suggested something like half a dozen magazines for that story? Could I impose on you to recreate it?) :-}
It’s a weird feeling, isn’t it? I remember turning down Dragon Magazine a few years ago, because they wanted to change an article in a way that would have totally ruined the point of it.
Trust me, odd as it is, you made the right call. 🙂
Could I impose on you to shoot me the name of the market as well? I’m still planning to toss “None So Blind” into the shark pool (I have no excuse other than absent-mindedness for the fact that I haven’t done so yet), and I’d like to avoid this particular market.
(In fact–he said shame-faced–I recently had a hard drive crash and lost the e-mail of yours I was saving. The one where you suggested something like half a dozen magazines for that story? Could I impose on you to recreate it?) :-}
Email on it’s way!
Whoa, sorry to hear about your hard drive. Hope you didn’t lose anything major. We’re in the middle of a total backup so Matthew can reload our primary system. It’s been slowing down, and we think it needs an overhauling. It’s a pain, but I’m resting easier, knowing everything is backed up.
Email on it’s way!
Whoa, sorry to hear about your hard drive. Hope you didn’t lose anything major. We’re in the middle of a total backup so Matthew can reload our primary system. It’s been slowing down, and we think it needs an overhauling. It’s a pain, but I’m resting easier, knowing everything is backed up.
No, didn’t lose anything vital, thankfully. I back up my work neurotically, on floppy and on an external hard drive, after every day’s writing. Just a few scattered things here and there… including a number of saved e-mails.
No, didn’t lose anything vital, thankfully. I back up my work neurotically, on floppy and on an external hard drive, after every day’s writing. Just a few scattered things here and there… including a number of saved e-mails.
Refusing a sale certainly takes guts. Good for you, for having faith in what your work is worth. 🙂 I hope this isn’t the market I think it might be. *sigh*
Refusing a sale certainly takes guts. Good for you, for having faith in what your work is worth. 🙂 I hope this isn’t the market I think it might be. *sigh*