Are you researching, writing, subbing? Had any acceptances or rejections? Any other news?
Feel free to use the as a picture prompt. If you'd like other writing prompts, short exercises and story/scene suggestions then you might find this book useful.
I'd love to hear your competition news.
Have you entered any writing comps? Had any luck? Heard about interesting contests? Got any tips to pass on? (Although I only feature free to enter competitions in my posts it's fine to share news about other competitions too.)
Do you have writing tips to share, questions to ask, or suggestions for this blog?
23 comments:
Subbed a couple to new the magazine Seven Days but not heard anything. Not sure of their rejection policy. I had an acceptance for my first pocket novel with TPF so very excited about that. Entered loads of comps as I don't seem to be having much luck with womag atm! Shortlisted for Glittery literary flash fiction and winner of creative writing NZ flash competition.
I'm not having so much luck with Secret Attic at the moment :( but still doing Writing Magazine regularly and also the last Write Time and one for Weird Christmas. Two rejections for Christmas stories WW - not too worried because of the all rights issue. Thank you for the heads up for Cat Lumb's Masterclass which was a treat last Saturday :)
Have a short story in Woman's Own this week. Have a few things in the pipeline but don't know if any of them will come off but still I live in hope. Also sent a story to SevenDays so we'll see. Sent a Christmas story to Ireland's Own & waiting to hear something. They used to be very good about accepting or rejecting and letting you know but one of the editors told me a while back that during COVID they were totally bombarded with submissions and don't have time to get back to people now which is a pity because you never really know. I have had a piece that I submitted in March accepted in June but it still hasn't been published & I don't know when it will. I can understand the situation as I think there is only two people reading them and editing the magazines etc. No other news really.
I had a rejection from WW. Always disappointing, but at least they got back to me after two months, unlike some of the mags which simply leave writers hanging. I heard from Spirit and Destiny that a story they'd originally scheduled for publication in Sept 2021 will now appear in May 2022! I think they were also deluged during COVID. I've also submitted one story to SevenDays. A little disappointed that Secret Attic will be asking for a subscription from January 2022 if writers are to be in the running for a prize. Still, we can continue to submit and get published without subscribing - just no prizes on offer then!
I'm fortunate enough to have had a pocket novel accepted by My Weekly, my third PN but first for My Weekly. Couple of other pieces of work being considered elsewhere, and quite a few other stories still out there with no signs of acceptance or rejection, fingers crossed for the former. No competition luck to date.
Well done to all those who have had acceptances in these quiet times. I've quite a few stories with PF that have been passed up for further consideration, and one story published in the My Weekly Annual. If anyone out there gets the My Weekly Annual (I don't get mine till Christmas!) and could tell me the title of Kate Hogan's story, it would be most appreciated as I can clain on ALCS for it!
Many thanks. Good wishes. Kate Hogan.
I've had a decent month, with two stories accepted by People's Friend (including a long crime read) and the second part of a three-part serial (also for People's Friend) getting the green light. Some new ideas are percolating now, while I work on a non-womag-related long-term project.
I've got some stories out for consideration, including one for SevenDays, so waiting to hear about those. I've entered a few competitions which have yet to close, not that I'm expecting anything from them, but I enjoyed writing the stories anyway.
I also sent a story to Seven Days but have heard nothing. I wonder if they are inundated too?
I have an article in this month's Writing Magazine - subbed over a year ago, but told at the time they didn't have a slot for it then.
Also came 3rd in the Wrekin Writers short story competition which was nice.
Congratulations to those who've had stories and PN's accepted. My aim is to write a PN this winter...
Alyson
I had a speedy acceptance from SevenDays which gave me a boost. I sent 3 stories and 1 accepted. Entered lots of comps but no success at all. Awaiting outcomes from stories with TPF and Yours Fiction...but have a story in latest TPF. Congratulations to everyone who is having success. It isn't easy to keep trying sometimes. Every success is a signal to keep at it.
I love reading all the comments here as it really helps me to keep going. I'm taking Patsy's advice (I think) and working towards getting more pieces out there so that if I get a rejection there is always the possibility of good news in the pipeline. Once again thanks Patsy for all your hard work putting this blog together, its very much appreciated.
Well done everyone in all your acceptances and winnings. I’ve got a story out this months Yours fiction - exciting! Still waiting from Woman/woman’s weekly for a story acceptance but no date for publication as yet! Sent SevenDays a couple of stories nothing back as yet and just done a resubmission with changes to TPF so 🤞I agree that everything is still pretty slow! Anyone know if the new mag SevenDays send rejections or just if you are accepted?
Thanks for the info about Ireland's Own Sheelagh, as I have 2 Xmas stories out with them.
If they no longer give out rejections, I'll give it 3 months after I subbed, and after that I'll assume it's a no.
I'll give all my Xmas ones out a deadline for a 'no' - the end of October.
I've subbed some work to 7 days mag but heard nothing.
It'd be good know if they give out rejects.
Lots of writers who are getting acceptances from WW, Woman/ W own are getting this message: 'If we find a place for it in our schedule.'
Be aware that they can ditch an accepted story, even when it's been given an allocated publication slot.
Well done to those who have had acceptances and published work. I'm not having much luck at the moment. It's hard to keep going at times.
My acceptance from WW also had the message: ‘If we find a place...’ I am keeping my fingers crossed that it will be published at some point. Be a shame to dangle the carrot then whisk it away. I also subbed them another story as well as sending one to Seven Days. Does anybody know when this magazine actually launches? Will obviously buy it to see what it’s like. Hopefully they’re not inundated yet as I’ve never seen it advertised - only what I’ve read on this blog. Once again thanks, Patsy. Good luck, everybody, with your submissions.
Michael D
@ Chris – congratulations on your pocket novel acceptance.
@ Marguerite – I'm so pleased one of my blog readers was able to attend and really glad you enjoyed it.
@ Sheelagh – Congratulations on your Woman's Own story.
Shame IO aren't able to send rejections now. It's really frustrating not to know.
@ New Girl – I agree that disappointing as rejections are, they're better than not hearing at all.
@ Elizabeth – well done for the PN!
@ Kate – well done for the story in the annual. Sorry I don't know the title.
@ Liz – a decent month indeed!
@ Marian – If you enjoyed writing them, then it was worth doing.
@ Alyson – well done!
Yes, I'm sure that Seven Days have been inundated with submissions. The fiction editor did ay my blog post had done a good job – maybe by now she thinks it worked a little too well?
@ Jane – well done. It's great the know some of my blog readers have had success with this new magazine.
@ Sheelagh – Yes, I do advise people to try to have more than one piece out at a time, whether that's subbed to a publication or sent in for a competition, so there's always hope of good news.
@ Charlie – well done for the Yours fiction acceptance.
I've not heard of rejections being sent from Seven Days.
@ Sharon – An acceptance 'if we find room' isn't really an acceptance at all, is it? And dropping your story after being told it was to be published was very unprofessional. Woman's Weekly used to treat their writers very well, but that's no longer the case.
@ Michael – I believe it's to be launched at the end of this month.
Michael - I looked Seven Days up and it says the date of first publication is the 19th October so not long to wait.
Sharon - I submitted a Christmas story to Ireland's Own in August & the editor got back saying that they would be making their decisions on the Christmas stories in October so fingers crossed, eh. So I think you are right to assume that if we've heard nothing by end of Oct its a no. The problem is that it's probably too late to submit elsewhere for this year if its not accepted. Re getting a bit downhearted at times, the best advice I got here was to redouble your efforts so that you have other material out there waiting to be accepted as it invariably will be. I think I only came to realise recently that even the most well known and prolific of writers get rejections too.
Thanks for the info, Patsy and Sheelagh.
Michael D
A fellow Scottish writer recently drew my attention to the fact there is a Women's fiction short story option for the Scottish Association of Writers. You have to be a member of an affiliated group to enter, but presumably many of your followers will be and it's easy to join if you aren't via the umbrella group.
https://www.scottishassociationofwriters.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/SAWProspectus2022Download.pdf
Sue
Hi, it's great to read what everyone's up to. I have stories coming up in Yours, Yours Fiction and Woman's Weekly. I've also had a true life story published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book coming out soon. Ive sent 2 stories to 7 Days but not heard anything. Good luck to everyone waiting on replies and thanks Patsy for keeping us updated. Sharon H.
Thanks Sheelagh again about info about Ireland's Own.
I have quite a lot of material out there but when you don't hear one way or the other, it's frustrating.
I don't usually brag and boast, but as I'm so fed up, I reckon it won't do me any harm, just this once!
I have a poem in the TPF fireside book and a story in the forthcoming 'Little escapes' MW Xmas book so it's not as if I've had nothing published recently!
By the way, there was no extra payment for the MW writers for their work in this book.
I just had a 'holding' email from SevenDays thanking me for my submission and saying that they're reading through all the short stories they have received. Good to have an acknowledgement with an update of where they're up to. At least I know my story isn't in some black hole somewhere!
I’ve had the same email today from SevenDays, keeping my fingers crossed!
Ditto New Girl and Charlie :)I fancy this blog might have generated quite a few ;)
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