Today's photo is a stretch considering our subject, but it also fits the topic of Submissions. Writers are always looking for Call for Submissions pages on facebook and emails and newsletters. Or via a search engine, and even poring through those huge marketing books the library keeps. We also find some calls for submissions through other writers.
The beginning of a new year is a good time to look back and see what we accomplished these past twelve months via our submissions records. If you keep a submission record--and I hope you all do--open it and study your track record for this year. Does it give you a feeling of satisfaction, or are you feeling grumpy? Only yesterday, I read a short essay written by a woman who had made 53 submissions last year. With not one acceptance. However, she did sign two book contracts which encouraged her to keep writing.
Some things to consider about Submissions:
A. Look at the number of submissions. How do you feel about it? Is it minuscule or way up in the double digits? What do your numbers say about you, the writer? I'm working my butt off. I could do better. I didn't give my writing much effort this year. I'm satisfied with the numbers.
B. Look at the SOLD or ACCEPTED comments next to the submissions. What was the percentage of submissions sold vs those made? Are you satisfied? One thing to keep in mind is that very few writers sell everything they write. I was once told that the average sold is 1 of each 12 submissions. Pretty discouraging. It seemed to me a lot of good writing was being overlooked by some editors, but I was a newbie and should have given thought to the writers not submitting to proper markets as one reason for failure.
C. Look at the column that tells the places you submitted to. Do you see a pattern of any kind? Are you top heavy with one or two places? Ask yourself why you tend to submit so often to the same market. It could be that you and the editor have a good relationship and you know you'll get special attention. You may have had lots of work published in one place, so why not keep on going there? You might be afraid to venture from the secure into scary new markets. How varied is the list of markets where you submitted? Maybe one of this year's goals should be to try markets new to you.
D. Look at the money you made. How much becomes far more relevant if you are trying to make a living as a writer. If you're writing on the side or a hobbyist writer, the amount you made is not as important. Important yes, but not as much as for those trying to keep food on the table. Rate yourself as Satisfied or Dissatisfied, Euphoric or Damn Mad. It could be any one of those.
E. Look at the overall picture of your Submission Record. This is your starting place for your 2023 goals. When you make up a new Submission Record page for this year, consider stating your goals at the top of the page. At the end of the year, you can check to see which ones you accomplished and those that never got off the ground.
If you're happy with your 2022 submissions and acceptances, congratulations to you. If you're mumbling and grumbling about them, I sympathize. No, I empathize. I've been there more than once. This year was just ok for me, not great. What I have to figure out now is the why and what I need to do to increase the numbers for next year.
Maybe the mantra you choose for this year is Send it in! You cannot be published if you don't submit. Don't let fear hold you back. What's the worst that can happen? Rejection! All writers get rejections, and we learn to handle them.
At the start of this new year, study your submission records, resolve to up the numbers this year, and keep writing.
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