It’s new and free, so stop bitchin’

Lately I’ve been obsessed with flash fiction.  Not reading it.  And not even following the “rules” of flash fiction.  Typically, it’s considered anything 1,500 words or less is flash.  Some people say more.  Some say less.  I say flash means short.  Like, really short.

I’m getting ideas but they’re such pointless little action scenes or descriptions that they can’t go very far.  So far, all of them have been around the 500 word mark.

That’s short.  That is flash.

So why waste time sending it to a workshop, waiting for people to bicker over the appropriate use of the word “the”, and then try to market it to some editor who’d rather be snorting lines off his mistresses ass?

I’m publishing these myself.  ON THIS BLOG!!!

You get to read them for free.  There’s no way you’d pay for them, so why bother?

Plus, I’d be cheating you out of some really great writing if I didn’t do anything with them.

So, I’m putting them up here.  Probably one per week.  Maybe more.  Maybe less.  No one really knows.  I’m sure no one really cares either, but that’s far beside the point.

Whatever.  Stay tuned.  Free shit.  Who can argue with that?

Waiting on a friend (when that friend is a simple yes, no, or hey how’s it going?)

Several weeks ago, I received an email.  It was one of those emails that you’re always dreading opening, but more than relieved when you do.  The news in there was not fame and fortune, but a potential doorway to those things was opened.  Yes ladies and gentlemen, someone wrote to tell me they wanted my story.

I’m always happy by this.  The payoff was $10, but hey, it’s a sale!  Another listing for my writing resume, another name for editors to notice when they are deciding whether I am worth publishing or not.  I mean, they’re looking at the quality of my writing more than anything, of course, but I have a feeling that the more publications one has, an editor opens their eyes just that much more.  Or not…but that’s not the purpose of this.

The point it, I was elated.  More than thrilled.  It was a story that I highly doubted would ever get published.  It was a publication that had turned me down numerous times.  It was $10 that I can use to…huh.  Well, I’ll figure that out later.

So I went ahead and email the editor back.  Sure, I said, I’d love to be published by you!  Please let me know if I need to do anything, or just sit tight.

And since then, I have been.

I haven’t heard back from him.  That was early July.  Today is September 2.  I mean, he hasn’t even email to apologize for the wait, maybe let me know that he’s hella busy and will sent a contract, or news, or money, or whatever, when he has time?

Nope.  Nothing.  At all.

And it isn’t just this one.  There are contests I’ve applied to.  Anthologies, that had strict deadlines.  I even had a rewrite request, back in May.  Well, where’s the “Please hold tight while we continue reviewing, we are busy as hell right now”?  I did get one of those, but that was late June.  So far, nothing!

I know, I know.  If you want an answer now, then it is a resounding NO.  But I’d like an answer sometime…hell, just an acknowledgment.

I get it.  Editors are people too.  They don’t always edit their online magazine as their only job.  In fact, they’re lucky to even focus on it more than once a week.  Don’t you just think it’s rather…rude to leave people hanging like this?

I know there are others out there who agree with me.  One of the worst things is not knowing whether or not you should submit your story to another publication.  Because let me tell you, waiting on pins and needles for up to six months (sometimes more!) just to hear a bullshit “we are sorry but this does not fit our needs at the current moment” blowoff is, well, bullshit.

Don’t get me wrong.  I am perfectly willing and able to wait.  But when it’s obvious they never even looked at it, it’s obvious they couldn’t give two shits about you or your story, what are we doing this for?

Because we love it.  And no one can take that away, no matter how long you have to wait.

Still, I’d love an answer…