Stories of space exploration are not generally something I write, but if they’re something you write, you might be interested in this.

Originally shared by AmyBeth Inverness

Oh I am definitely entering this one! Thanks @James Yee

http://www.baen.com/baenmemorialaward

Well, it’s the last day of 2016 here, and I’m going to assume that I won’t receive any more rejections or acceptances in the next 12 hours, and sum up my year’s progress in the field of short stories.

My goals this year were to write 15 stories, make 60 submissions, and (a late addition) have 15 stories on submission at one time.

Partway through the year, I achieved the 60 submissions and set a new goal of 75.

I actually wrote 10 stories (that I subsequently submitted), made 74 submissions – one short of my revised goal – and had a maximum of 13 stories on submission at one time.

I’m relaxed about the fact that I didn’t make the numbers; they’re a way to keep score and motivate myself, not some kind of mystical obligation. And I did, after all, exceed my initial submission goal, which was already up from the 52 submissions I made last year.

My number of form rejections, predictably, went up more or less proportionately with the number of submissions: 45, versus 29 last year. Personalised rejections also went up, by approximately the same percentage: 18, versus 13 last year. The number of acceptances actually halved, though, from 8 to 4. My explanation for this is that I was being more ambitious in the markets I submitted to this year.

Three out of those four sales were at professional rates, versus only one out of eight last year, and that’s reflected in the fact that my year’s income from short stories went up from $354.09 to $680.78. (I’m counting the $200 I got from providing two “treatments” to a futurist consultancy, since I wouldn’t have got that opportunity if I hadn’t already been a short story writer with professional sales.)

This means my lifetime income from short stories is now over $1000 (USD), based on 13 paying acceptances out of 174 submissions. That’s a hit rate a little better than 1 in 14, which actually isn’t bad for the industry.

Full details behind the link, if you’re interested, including markets, timings, and statistics.

http://csidemedia.com/shortstories/goals-aspirations-and-achievements/

Daily Science Fiction have published my flash piece, “Forget You”.

My first SFWA-qualifying sale.

http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001DiSw1-eQcxZEY4597ZIIYRYwVK724oRrudWBTYa4tQvO4c_4LH2LAHc-AzjW36iniSYStlNjO5M1blXmFbZGbUcMi06_-LFdr5_7-m-GAB1Nu8YSY-WWAj_a3aUTslTD0fivwW2kBrOjU9vuj6ffm01jNiyceaXhfCjz3B4AEmlILyB_40jGUQER49XqH4-VsyM3lOoMLS9_LBf7DR7UOIsAq6J8llv0HMoGsNsrQaOPYyV7ryrx4NrxCxZmd09aEU-XC419c35BC40sNxccBA==&c=OXW7_gPCVtIAWpaXdnPflkSHbs-lKusGaNQdUrYjeJX3oN1scpgiQg==&ch=yDsoL3hTP7aRNV0-keIDwPaBTFd2hCS29CwV_rZJsy-J2jmC2tjdjQ==

I don’t often post links to reviews of my stuff, because it can come off as a bit of a peacock move, but this reviewer really gets what I was going for with the story.

It’s always a little bit of joy to get a review from someone who both digs and groks something I’ve written; it makes it feel worthwhile.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R1KZ6102GX67WH/?_encoding=UTF8&ASIN=B019M18DSI

Originally shared by Kat Richardson

And yet more good news: The ZNB multi-anthology Kickstarter is now over, but we made it to the first stretch goal, which means Bookmarks for everyone who pledged $17 or more! Yay! And submissions for ALL of the anthologies are now open. Spread the word to your writer friends who might want to send something in to read the guidelines and get their story in by December 31.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/543968884/robots-water-and-death-anthologies/description

These sound like good anthos.

Originally shared by Kat Richardson

Hokey smoke, Bullwinkle: the anthology Kickstarter has only 20 hours left and is only $1,000 away from its first stretch goal (bookmarks for everyone!), and a mere $3,500 away from adding more stories to each book and more money for each writer! Wheee! Tell your book-loving and genre-writing friends!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/543968884/robots-water-and-death-anthologies/description

Well, I’ve achieved one of my goals for the year: submit 60 short stories to anthologies and magazines. Time to up that goal to 75.

On my other two short story goals for the year – write 15 stories, and have 15 stories on submission at one time – I’m doing less well. I’ve written 10 and have 8 currently on submission. This is mainly because I’ve been writing novels instead, though, so I’m not crushed under the weight of my own failure or anything.

http://csidemedia.com/shortstories/goals-aspirations-and-achievements/

May be of interest.

Originally shared by Mary Robinette Kowal

Short Stories Explained — workshop

I’m teaching a short story workshop that’s specifically for people who are having trouble control length and structure. WHEN: Sunday, October 2, 2016 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 PM (CDT) – Add to Calendar When people are struggling to write short fiction, the…

http://maryrobinettekowal.com/journal/short-stories-explained/

Today, I reached 52 short story submissions for the year, which was my total last year.

Only 3 acceptances this year so far, versus 8 last year. I put this down in part to submitting to harder markets, but it may also be down to markets holding onto my pieces, since my form rejection rate (30 this year, 29 last year) and personal rejection rate (10 this year, 13 last year) are comparable. Who knows?

In other news, I got briefly excited this morning to see an email about film and TV rights for my Auckland Allies series, but it was just the Rightscenter database enquiring about details for a listing. Which I didn’t initiate, though, so somehow it has come to their attention.

http://csidemedia.com/shortstories/goals-aspirations-and-achievements/