The Wheels on the Submissions Bus

Over the past 5 years, I've been blessed to find publishers for 133 poems/microfiction, 113 short stories, 2 novellas, and 1 novel. Only 6 stories, 2 novellas, and 6 novels to go—currently out on submission.

My original goal was to find publishers for 100 short stories and 1 novel before I turned 40. Hitting that target a while back, I added finding an agent to the list. Hasn't happened yet, but I still have four months to go before my birthday.

Shooting for the moon, I'd like to see my remaining submissions find publishers before the big 40. I'm only half-serious; if the past 5 years have taught me anything, it's that the wheels on the publishing bus go round and round v-e-r-y s-l-o-w-l-y. But anything can happen, right?

You'd think with all the self-publishing going on these days, there wouldn't be as many submissions to traditional publishers, and I would have less competition to deal with. Unfortunately, such is not the case. More people are writing today than ever before in the history of the world. Or so it seems.

Patience is a virtue. Mine may be wearing a little thin as publications and small presses close their doors without warning, sending my work into limbo. All part of the game, I suppose. Take the good with the bad and hope for the best. So glad I've got my teaching gig to fall back on!

6 short stories, 2 novellas, 6 novels. Publishers are out there somewhere; I just have to find them. Let's see what happens in the next 4 months. Stay tuned…