Submission Status Feb/March

520
Originally uploaded by Nicole.Kelly

2/19 Sniff (fiction)--Abyss & Apex

2/22 Nomad (poetry)--Strange Horizons

2/22 La Busqueda (poetry)--Strange Horizons

3/31 A Tale of Two Heads: The Wenton Family Retrospective(fiction)--Writers of the Future

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All are still pending

Tired but happy

January 17
Originally uploaded by Nicole.Kelly

On Writing:

I am about 800 words into a new short story. It is very Hemingway, but it's nice to switch up the voice.

On Photography:

I learned how to hand color photos with Photoshop! I am super excited about that (note the photo)!

On Reading:

I am reading the worst non-fiction book ever! I cannot believe the logic flaws with this thing. Go ahead an expect a logic rant in the next day or two (you'll like that Written).

Sniff

January 14
Originally uploaded by Nicole.Kelly

I got this nice note from the Writers of the Future contest:

"Dear Contestant,

Your story arrived and has been entered in the 1st quarter 2008 competition. We will have results in the next 8 to 10 weeks. Winners will be notified personally and the results posted on our blog, which you can access through our web site which is www.writersofthefuture.com. Good luck!!
Best, Joni Labaqui - Director"

Honestly, that was a nice note to get. I didn't even submit via the Web, they pulled my address off of my submission form.

It was strange to me that I was so please about getting this, but I think it really points to the nature of the publishing business. As in, I feel respected as a writer, which is nice. Maybe I am just in a winter blues cycle, but I don't feel like most agents or editors are very kind (sorry). I have run into some really great agents and editors, but for the most part the industry personality is terse and cold.

After that bit of less than positive attitude, I give you some great editors that I think are supportive and kind in their responses (this is in no way a comprehensive list, so please add to it for me):

• JJA (whose timely responses and rejectomancy fun are always appreciated)
• Sean Melican (who wrote me a really nice critique)
• Eric Marin (timely, nice, and professional)

Submissions--Blink

I have my newest story out at Ideomancer right now. It's only been a week, but I am always so surprised how impatient I can get about hearing back. I have so much confidence in this piece that I know it will find a home, but I particularly like Ideomancer. They are a great magazine, and they are very respectful to writers (I actually got a good deal of feedback from Sean Melican about a piece I sent in to them about six months ago). I think I might be done sending into F&SF, Asimov, and Analog. In fact, I think I'd rather run with this crowd--Strange Horizons, Lone Star Stories, etc-- as they print very cutting edge speculative fiction instead of recycling the same authors and stories over and over. I think these magazines take more risks, which leads me to finding some of the coolest stories and new authors. Hooray for small presses, magazines, and publications!

*crossing fingers and toes for mah story*

The best thing about ...

The best thing about a writing group is that it motivates me to write. I just shipped off my newest short story to Fantasy & Science Fiction. It's great to have things going out again. I have to admit that after being orphaned at my literary agency (not being immediately picked up by the other agents), I've been feeling a bit down about sending anything off.

Well, wish me luck.