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Almost Success - The "Mixed Feelings" Thread

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Dustin Adams
(@tj_knight)
Posts: 1584
Platinum Plus Moderator
 

@amstard Aww.

I just saw the open call from them, so I'll temper my enthusiasm while I'm waiting. Me just sending a query letter would be a win, so yup, mixed success.


Career: 1x Win -- 2x NW-F -- 2x S-F -- 9x S-HM -- 11x HM -- 7x R
Like me: facebook/AuthorTJKnight

 
Posted : February 19, 2025 3:03 am
Gideon Smith
(@gideonpsmith)
Posts: 801
Platinum Member
 

Posted by: @tj_knight

Me just sending a query letter would be a win, so yup, mixed success.

Sending a query letter is definitely a 'success' even if not a final outcome. Maybe we should have a thread for 'interim step successes' 😉 (though I think the daily progress one also functions for that!)

 


"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: P Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance

2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month

http://www.gideonpsmith.com

 
Posted : February 21, 2025 7:34 am
Jason P. Crawford
(@amstard)
Posts: 84
Bronze Star Member
 

I made it to the final consideration pile for the New Myths "Janus" themed anthology, but didn't get in. Time to send that story out elsewhere!


Jason P. Crawford
Author of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi (for now!)
Finalist for 2024 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award
3rd Place Winner for 2025 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award

Q3 V31: HM Q2 V39: SHM Q2 V40: SHM Q2 V41: HM Q2 V42: RWC
Q3 V38: HM Q3 V39: SHM Q3 V40: SHM Q3 V41: HM Q3 V42: P
Q4 V38: R Q4 V39: SHM Q4 V40: SHM Q4 V41: RWC
Q1 V39: HM Q1 V40: RWC Q1 V41: SHM Q1 V42: SHM

 
Posted : March 11, 2025 9:59 am
Gideon Smith
(@gideonpsmith)
Posts: 801
Platinum Member
 

Got a 'Hold' notice from a pro-rate magazine on one of my pieces.  Not sure what smiley goes with that. Good, but maybe not quite lol 😕 


"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: P Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance

2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month

http://www.gideonpsmith.com

 
Posted : April 9, 2025 4:51 am
Todd S. Jones
(@toddsjones)
Posts: 988
Platinum Member
 

@gideonpsmith That's awesome news.


Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: Submitted, editing HM for resubmit
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM
2020 V37: -, R, -, -

Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt

Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford

 
Posted : April 10, 2025 7:26 am
Gideon Smith reacted
Todd S. Jones
(@toddsjones)
Posts: 988
Platinum Member
 

Posted by: @amstard

I made it to the final consideration pile for the New Myths "Janus" themed anthology, but didn't get in. Time to send that story out elsewhere!

Congrats on being a finalist.

 


Writers of the Future:
2026 V43: Submitted, editing HM for resubmit
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), HM, SHM
2024 V41: RWC (HM Resubmit), HM, RWC, Finalist (RWC Resubmit)
2023 V40: HM, HM, R, HM
2022 V39: SHM, HM, Semi-finalist, HM (HM Resubmit)
2021 V38: -, -, -, HM
2020 V37: -, R, -, -

Other Achievements:
2026: 46th "On The Premises" short story contest: HM and Published in HTML format
2025: Southeastern Writers Association: 1st in Crime Fiction and 3rd in The Lighthouse Prompt

Todd S. Jones
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford

 
Posted : April 10, 2025 7:27 am
Gideon Smith
(@gideonpsmith)
Posts: 801
Platinum Member
 

so the last 'hold' notice I reported above quickly turned into a form rejection 🙁

However, I came into this thread to report another hold notice from a different magazine for a different piece!

Okay, its not an acceptance, and may well end up a rejection too - but I'm still cooking something special for my kids tonight because after 59 rejections in a row, I was really beginning to feel it.... and if I have to feel the rejections, I absolutely get to celebrate when someone sees "something" worth taking a second look over on one of my pieces Smile /p>


"...your motivations for wanting to write are probably complex. You may have a few great passions, you may want to be rich and famous, and you may need therapy."
- Dave Farland, Million Dollar Outlines
"...I also miss almost 100% of the shots I do take."
- Gideon Smith
Writers of the Future:
2026 Q1: P Q2: TBD Q3: TBD Q4: TBD
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: HM Q4: HM (resub of 2024 HM)
2024 Q1: F Q2: HM Q3:SHM Q4: SHM
2023 Q1: RWC Q2: SHM Q3: SHM Q4: R
2022 Q4: R
Submissions to other markets:
2026: 18 submitted 2 acceptances
2025: 163 submitted 10 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance

2026 goals: a. 2025 Novel submitted to agents/publishers b. Draft 0 of a new novel c. Speak at a con on panels d. Write 3 serious shorts NOT for WOTF e. Submit something, somewhere, every month

http://www.gideonpsmith.com

 
Posted : April 28, 2025 3:49 pm
Jason P. Crawford
(@amstard)
Posts: 84
Bronze Star Member
 

@gideonpsmith As well you should! Good progress being made!


Jason P. Crawford
Author of Urban Fantasy and Sci-Fi (for now!)
Finalist for 2024 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award
3rd Place Winner for 2025 Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award

Q3 V31: HM Q2 V39: SHM Q2 V40: SHM Q2 V41: HM Q2 V42: RWC
Q3 V38: HM Q3 V39: SHM Q3 V40: SHM Q3 V41: HM Q3 V42: P
Q4 V38: R Q4 V39: SHM Q4 V40: SHM Q4 V41: RWC
Q1 V39: HM Q1 V40: RWC Q1 V41: SHM Q1 V42: SHM

 
Posted : April 29, 2025 9:47 am
pdblake
(@pdblake)
Posts: 548
Gold Star Member
 

Just had an acceptance from Abyss and Apex which I've had to turn down. 

I withdrew it last October, around the time they lost their Grinder listing for using AI art. They must have sat on it. 

Would have been a low paying but high kudos sale too. 

At least I can say I still have my morals. 


R:6 RWC:1 HM:9 SHM:3
My Blog
Small Gods and Little Demons - Parsec Issue #10

 
Posted : January 23, 2026 12:30 pm
Adrian
(@adrian)
Posts: 125
Silver Member
 

@pdblake Congrats! Definitely a win, regardless.


F x1
SHM x6
HM x13
RWC x1
R Dozens

 
Posted : January 23, 2026 12:51 pm
James (Ease) and pdblake reacted
Morgan
(@morgan-broadhead)
Posts: 562
Gold Star Member
 

Posted by: @pdblake

Just had an acceptance from Abyss and Apex which I've had to turn down. 

I withdrew it last October, around the time they lost their Grinder listing for using AI art. They must have sat on it. 

Would have been a low paying but high kudos sale too. 

At least I can say I still have my morals. 

Kudos to you for maintaining your integrity and sticking it to The Man! We have enough problems in this business without Skynet throwing its horde of Artificial Impostinators at us.

 


"There are three rules to writing a novel. Unfortunately, no one knows what they are."
— W. Somerset Maugham

Drop me a line at https://morganbroadhead.com
SFx1
HMx6
R/RWCx6

 
Posted : January 23, 2026 1:45 pm
Joel C. Scoberg
(@joel-c-scoberg)
Posts: 415
Gold Member
 

Posted by: @gideonpsmith

Okay, its not an acceptance, and may well end up a rejection too - but I'm still cooking something special for my kids tonight because after 59 rejections in a row, I was really beginning to feel it.... and if I have to feel the rejections, I absolutely get to celebrate when someone sees "something" worth taking a second look over on one of my pieces Smile /p>

Absolutely you should celebrate!


3rd Place Vol 41 Q3 ("The Stench of Freedom")
Submission record: R x 2 / HM x 7 / SHM x 2 / W x 1
Stories published in Daily Science Fiction, Every Day Fiction, 365tomorrows, and Gwyllion Magazine.
Find out more on my website (www.joelcscoberg.com) or sign up to my newsletter for updates on my writing journey.

 
Posted : January 27, 2026 6:35 am
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