The mantra is “It'll be better once I get a few acceptances” or “I'll know I'm really meant for this writing thing once I get a few yeses instead of all nos.” It's hard not to think that way, if only momentarily in an early writing career. But it does not get easier when the yeses come. Honest.
Sometimes it gets more structured and hectic with deadlines and an eagerness to get your name out there as much as possible, and therefore take everything that comes your way. Sometimes the pressure just builds as you try to top yourself each time you set pen to paper or fingers to keyboard.
And sometimes the unexpected happens, and it's not anyone's fault. It doesn't matter much even if someone specific is at fault rather than it just being a twist of fate.
Cthulhu Sex Magazine is closing it's doors. In a panic I looked all over the web site and happened to see my story listed in the
table of contents (along with Brian Rosenberger, who was in Read By Dawn as well, the highly intimidating Wrath James White, and Karen L. Newman, who has rejected me and chatted with me a few times). I'm still not completely relieved, though I should be, simply because it seems that the horror small press is getting rather bad about this closing down thing. No doubt it's because a few large strands of the web have failed, which means smaller bits will be taken down as well. But it is a horrible feeling, a twist in the gut that's hard to shake, when a market closes down AFTER it's accepted you.
For the record, in all the shut downs I've gotten caught in I blame no one. There's no point, and in the one case that the reasoning was actually explained it was a damn good reason. But no, “yes” doesn't make the writing gig easier.
Here's the cover:
And, as a last note, this issue will NOT be available on newsstands, so you'll have to visit
one of these places to get a copy.
American Idolatry now available.
Dying Light: 11,428/????
| WriYe: 83,142/100,000 | WC August: 718 |
| Subs: 73/50 | Accepts: 4 | Rejects: 55 |
