Hurry up . . . and wait

I just checked my records (I do that sometimes) and saw that I still haven't gotten a response from a short story I sent out in July, 2002. I even followed up with a query in November, 2002. Just for sh*ts and giggles I went to their website. It's still up, and it still says that they will respond within 90 days. Oh yeah - and it still says no simultaneous submissions.

As a person far wiser than I once told me, "Ignore that part. If two publishers want your story, that's the right kind of problem to have." I'm glad I heeded his advice. That story got rejected by a multitude of other publications in the meantime.

Many editors and publishers that I've come across lately have finally seen the light. It used to be that the vast majority of guidelines that I read said "No Simultaneous Submissions." How unfair is that? "If you don't hear from us in three months, you may send a query." If you dig deep, you might also find that they reject 99% of the submissions they receive. What a racket. If I followed their guidelines there are some stories that I would've had to junk because my futuristic vision is already obsolete (I think that says more about my futuristic visions, but I digress). Now it seems that the majority accept simultaneous submissions as long as you let them know. I can do that.

To assume that a writer should wait sometimes up to three months, or longer is absurd. As a writer I want to get my stories out there quick, while the ideas are still fresh and timely. If I see more than one publication where my story will fit, that story will be going to more than one place. I'm not advocating blanketing the market and keeping your fingers crossed. One, it's a big waste of time - yours and theirs. Two, editors do talk to each other. If your name comes up and they all received the same story at the same time, well, that's not the kind of reputation you're going to want. Do your homework. Read the magazine, or at the very least carefully read their guidelines.

In the meantime, I think that it's time that I put my foot down. I'm going to email that publication that's been holding that story for 6 years and withdraw it from their consideration.