Penumbra Submissions

Rejection here, too. Really nice personal, though! Basically, she suggested I trim up the opening and send out again (somewhere else). She liked the story, just too slow of a start. Oh, well.

ETA: Good luck to everyone else still in the running!

No news yet for me. Not sure what this means.

No news yet for me. Not sure what this means.

As someone around here likes to say---it means no News.

Hopefully in your case it is good News coming.

One of us needs to get in and since my writing only gets the basic rejection that leaves you and what one or two others.

More if you count those who received personal rejections lately.

Reporting in with my third final round rejection this year. I would think they say this to everyone were it not for the fact that they don't always say it to me.

Ok, this Penumbra Submissions thing seems to always be active, but I've never paid any attention to it. Finally I decided to see why you all seem to like it so much. They always have a theme, the word limit is small and you have a decent chance of getting feedback. So it's like a quick challenge? Is that it?

Why are you all so into Penumbra?

Ok, this Penumbra Submissions thing seems to always be active, but I've never paid any attention to it. Finally I decided to see why you all seem to like it so much. They always have a theme, the word limit is small and you have a decent chance of getting feedback. So it's like a quick challenge? Is that it?

Why are you all so into Penumbra?

For the challenge. I never liked writing to prompts before. Thought I needed to flex those muscles. Also, I have an issue with short stories wanting to become novels, so it's great practice to keep it short. And it means a story a month, if I can force my brain to come up with something for each issue.

1. I like the create a story for a theme idea.
2.The response time for information on submissions is acceptable.
3.When Penumbra finally uses one of my stories I will be a published author.
4. Last, but not least, it's fun. Write on.

Ok, this Penumbra Submissions thing seems to always be active, but I've never paid any attention to it. Finally I decided to see why you all seem to like it so much. They always have a theme, the word limit is small and you have a decent chance of getting feedback. So it's like a quick challenge? Is that it?

Why are you all so into Penumbra?

All of the above, and they pay pro rates.

Some of the topics are really hard for me. I figure that some of the topics, but probably not the same ones, must be hard for other people and some people will therefore be deterred from entering. By this reasoning the field for each issue should be smaller than that for an un-themed monthly magazine. Other things being equal that must improve my chances, provided I keep submitting work of my best standard.

As I said above, I've had three final rounds this year. Of course I'd love to know whether the final round is ten stories or a hundred. Nevertheless the occasional final round notice tends to have the effect of inspiring another effort, though there are some really difficult themes coming up.

Hey guys, not sure if this is helpful or just feeding the need for rejectomancy but...

Penumbra sends out group acceptance emails for each issue. So if you see one reported acceptance on duotrope or the grinder, that means all the acceptances for one theme have been issued. Do with this info what you will.

Am I the only one hanging in there for Winter? Now I'm wondering if my submission got lost in The Cloud.
Still working on Egyptian Mythology...for some reason, this is a tough theme for me. But I'm almost done, and I'm pretty excited about it. Besides Egyptian Mythology has got to be easier than next month's theme, which I have trouble pronouncing.
And yeah, I echo what you all said above. Writing something under 3500 words to a specific theme is a great exercise. And best of all, the specific theme requirement weeds out all the riff-raff and makes your chances of getting published much better. And yes...pro rates!

Am I the only one hanging in there for Winter? Now I'm wondering if my submission got lost in The Cloud.
Still working on Egyptian Mythology...for some reason, this is a tough theme for me. But I'm almost done, and I'm pretty excited about it. Besides Egyptian Mythology has got to be easier than next month's theme, which I have trouble pronouncing.
And yeah, I echo what you all said above. Writing something under 3500 words to a specific theme is a great exercise. And best of all, the specific theme requirement weeds out all the riff-raff and makes your chances of getting published much better. And yes...pro rates!

I need to check that one out in case I want to do one I have trouble pronouncing.

And nice theory there.....

It might even work for most writers here.

Am I the only one hanging in there for Winter? Now I'm wondering if my submission got lost in The Cloud.

I know exactly how you feel. Here's hoping for the best. NNINN.

Am I the only one hanging in there for Winter?

I haven't heard anything yet. Can't decide whether to be hopeful or worry that my submission never made it; am doing a bit of both. Seems to me they usually choose issue's contents earlier in month than this. Am I correct in thinking when they release a month's issue they also release the cover for the following month as teaser?

ETA: And it looks like lost submission wins.

No news for me yet either. *Ahem* Still there gmail?

You guys are doing good. One of you will make it. I've desired making another attempt, if I wasn't quiet so busy on other stories.

Not now though, I probably will try again later but my writing isn't worth much right now.

Still no news. Of my 12 submissions to Penumbra, this is my longest wait ever (26 days). The second was 15 days after deadline, and that one made the final round. Dare I hope? Might all three of us get in? That would be so cool!
Good luck HL & Austin and anyone else still waiting.

I saw an acceptance on the grinder, so if Marina is right I guess that means they've all gone out. Maybe it's time to query? I submitted on the last day (October 31) so I suppose it could have been placed in the next month's pile by mistake.

So I think I figured out why I didn't hear back about my winter story. I forgot to put the theme in the subject line, which as the guidelines specifically say, is crucial. It's that old saying again: When all else fails, follow directions!
Anyway, I'm in for Egyptian Mythology. I found this theme probably the most challenging so far. I know way more about ancient Egypt now than I ever really intended to, but all is good, because I love the results, and as always, I'm convinced I've just written a masterpiece!
Good luck to everyone else who also submitted for Egyptian mythology. Now for a night at the Via Diodati.
Suddenly Egyptian mythology is looking like it was easy!

I'm in for Egyptian mythology as well. Good luck to everyone who submitted.

Still don't know what happened to my winter submission. I put the theme in the subject line, but I also submitted on the last day so I suppose it could have been misfiled. I'll query in a couple days and then send this one on to the next market.

I'm not doing the Egyptian Mythology or the Horror thing even though that last would be different for me therefore a challenge but I better start seriously thinking about the Isaac Asimov type story.

I'm convinced I've just written a masterpiece!

You too!

I've just written a masterpiece.

No you haven't.

Yes I have!

No you haven't.

Yes I have!

No you haven't.

Yes I have!

No you... oh dear.

I'm in for the Egyptian Mythology theme. Hope one of we forumites gets an acceptance.
I think I have an idea that might work for the next one. Villa Diodati.

Best of luck to everyone who subs on this one and the next.

Here I am again with Villa Diodati ready to go.

Second time I've tried to write about this idea but a completely different story and setting. Guaranteed no vampyres, werewolverines or zombifications. Not necessarily guaranteed to be by Ron or to contain shellac.

About 3,400. Anyone care to swap crits?

I'll swap.

It's been over a month since the last results came in, well, my r is what I really mean.
Has anyone heard anything?

Never heard back about Winter. Nothing for Egypt either.

Same as Preston. I'm starting to wonder about Egypt, but maybe it's taking a little longer because of the holidays?

I'll get around to querying them eventually...