It's never fun to have one kicked back, but Mike does a good job of explaining the reasoning behind the Process, and not just for this antho but generally.
Thank you. I suspect I know why mine wasn't selected now. The question remains if I should hold onto it for a future edition or another anthology it miiiiiiiight fit.
I dunno. Not an expert myself. Let the gaggle of editors decide to toss it or not. Meantime, tweak it, give it a new coat of paint. Try, try, try again.
Such difficulties. So many minefields and trip hazards in the writing bidniss. Doubly so for the fumbled-footed. My hat is off to all who pursue this path. I think it takes more courage to move forward as a would-be author than to advance after being ordered to "Fix Bayonets!". God bless you all.
"Passive voice is the devil. Begin your fight against the forces of evil by eliminating the word “was” from your submission." Heh, 20+ years in the classroom pounding this one home. I finally gave up an went off to earn an "honest" living.
I would also say use alpha and beta readers if you have them, even for short stories! They can 'see' things we as authors will read right over. Remember, the first paragraph needs to 'grab' the reader! Actions can do that, as long as the move the story. Here's one of mine-
VF-211’s third launch of the day recovered aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard, and the grizzled maintenance master chief, Nabors, looked over at the status board. He turned as LCDR Hines, still wearing his sweat-stained flight suit, walked into maintenance, adding jet fuel to the miasma of diesel, steel, and ozone odors that permeated the steel compartment. Nabors said, “Well, MO, we’ve got all nine Checkmates back, and it looks like they’re gonna be usable again.”
LCDR Hines shook his head. “I know we got ‘em all back, but I ain’t sure they’re all gonna be usable. 201’s starboard guns are screwing up again, according to the skipper.”
It's never fun to have one kicked back, but Mike does a good job of explaining the reasoning behind the Process, and not just for this antho but generally.
Frustration, thine name is mine.
Thank you. I suspect I know why mine wasn't selected now. The question remains if I should hold onto it for a future edition or another anthology it miiiiiiiight fit.
I dunno. Not an expert myself. Let the gaggle of editors decide to toss it or not. Meantime, tweak it, give it a new coat of paint. Try, try, try again.
Such difficulties. So many minefields and trip hazards in the writing bidniss. Doubly so for the fumbled-footed. My hat is off to all who pursue this path. I think it takes more courage to move forward as a would-be author than to advance after being ordered to "Fix Bayonets!". God bless you all.
"Passive voice is the devil. Begin your fight against the forces of evil by eliminating the word “was” from your submission." Heh, 20+ years in the classroom pounding this one home. I finally gave up an went off to earn an "honest" living.
I would also say use alpha and beta readers if you have them, even for short stories! They can 'see' things we as authors will read right over. Remember, the first paragraph needs to 'grab' the reader! Actions can do that, as long as the move the story. Here's one of mine-
VF-211’s third launch of the day recovered aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard, and the grizzled maintenance master chief, Nabors, looked over at the status board. He turned as LCDR Hines, still wearing his sweat-stained flight suit, walked into maintenance, adding jet fuel to the miasma of diesel, steel, and ozone odors that permeated the steel compartment. Nabors said, “Well, MO, we’ve got all nine Checkmates back, and it looks like they’re gonna be usable again.”
LCDR Hines shook his head. “I know we got ‘em all back, but I ain’t sure they’re all gonna be usable. 201’s starboard guns are screwing up again, according to the skipper.”
Thank you for pushing back against present tense. Reading that is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me.
True Story -
Exited the DFAC at TQ one evening behind two Marines. One of them chased down a little scrap of plastic to throw it away.
Marine 2 - Why'd you do that?
Marine 1 - Because they're going to make us police call this entire country before we pull out.