After 223 short story rejections I've finally received my first acceptance! I was speechless for a few seconds after reading the email because I was just so surprised it had finally happened 🤣
My story "Languages of deception" will be in the Glen Must Die! anthology - assuming the Kickstarter for it funds. I'm really thankful to the editor for giving me by this opportunity.
The story had received 36 rejections in 4 years. I hadn't sub'd it to WotF because there's elements that I didn't think fitted with a WotF story. But I had some great feedback from my critique group that enabled me to strengthen the ending and it appears that paid off.
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
@pmg Congrats. That is great news.
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't--you're right."~ Henry Ford
2025 V42: RWC, HM (HM Resubmit), Submitted, Ideas swirling about
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 (R Resubmit)
2020 V37: -R--
@pmg congrats! a well earned win after 200+ "no"s !! 
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 82 submitted 4 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@pmg Congratulations!!
‘Writing is like giving yourself homework, really hard homework, everyday for the rest of your life. You want glamour? Throw glitter at the computer screen.' - Ketrina Monroe
'The War Within' Deep Magic Volume 73 https://deepmagic.co
'Spirit Talk' in The Last Line Issue 7 Winter
'The Mystical Farrago' Writers of the Future, Volume 38
'The Dying Book' Misfits of Magic Anthology
'Whatever Lola Wants' Murderbirds Anthology
'Inspirational Theurgist' Of Wizards and Wolves Anthology for the David Farland memorial fund
'Beneath the Glass Dark' From the Depths Anthology
'A Life of Color' Metaphorosis magazine 8/1/2023
'A Murmuring Darkness' Strange Horizons 9/18/2023
'Out There With Them' Robotic Ambitions-Apex publishing
'The Skykeeper's Daughter' Dragon Gems Winter 2024 Anthology --this story was written in 24 hours at the WoTF workshop.
Temporary Tales of Magic and Hope -- A Short Story Collection of New and Previously Published works.
'A Widow's Word' Murderbugs Anthology
'Whitechapel' The Vampire Survival Guide Anthology
Coming Soon The Malice of Moons and Mages, Book 1 of The Broken Bonds of Magic Series
V37- R, HM, SHM, HM
V38- HM, SHM, Winner (3rd place)
@toddjones Thank you!
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
@gideonpsmith I definitely learned that persistence can pay off!
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
@nvhaskell Thank you!
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
@pmg huge congratulations and a reminder that if you believe in a story keeping putting it out there. Great to hear that your persistence has paid off.
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.
@joel-c-scoberg Thank you! Patience and writing more stories has been a key for me.
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
I've got another former WOTF entry out to read, this time a post-apocalyptic tale called "Children of a Bronze Sun". This one picked up a Silver in Q2 of V38, and @pmg, I'm with you on the rejection experience for this one! This story went through 37 rejections before it got accepted, so I pretty much just nudged you out by having also submitted it to WotF. This story is officially my most-rejected acceptance to date.
It went through some revisions inbetween, though, so not every rejection of it was the same story as the one that finally got published--but the published version is the same version that picked up a Silver HM. The original, which had a different ending, was written all the way back in 2014!
On Spec isn't currently publishing print issues, due to post-COVID financial woes, but issue #132 is fully available to purchase in electronic form. They don't publish free-to-read fiction on their site, so that's the only way to read it for now.
https://onspec.ca/2025/06/22/on-spec-vol-35-no-2-is-available/
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:2 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Pending: Q3.V42
@doctorjest congrats! A clear demo of sometimes its not the story, its the fit, and if you keep trying you can find it
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 82 submitted 4 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
microfiction piece out at Stupefying Stories
https://stupefyingstories.blogspot.com/2025/06/flashes-by-gideon-p-smith.html
"...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
Writers of the Future:
2025 Q1: HM Q2: SHM Q3: P Q4: TBD
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:
2025: 82 submitted 4 acceptances
2024: 53 submitted 8 acceptances
2023: 74 submitted 13 acceptances
2022: 22 submitted 1 acceptance
2025 goals: a. New Novel b. New piece submitted/month c. 100 rejections
@gideonpsmith That's a very sweet little story. I've tried to write things like this before but never managed to get them to work for me, so I'm impressed that you got something that clicked in such a short length!
DQ:0 / R:0 / RWC:2 / HM:15 / SHM:7 / SF:1 / F:1
Pending: Q3.V42
@doctorjest Congratulations on the sale! Well done for improving the story over time. Your perseverance paid off big time.
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
@gideonpsmith that was a good quick story! Well done on the sale!
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
A flash out at Manawaker Flash Fiction Podcast, excellently narrated by the legendary CB: A Pixel, a Word, a Lie, a Speck of You
Also just got my first acceptance for poetry, but contract not signed yet, so I'll post about that later.
2023 - V40 - Q4 HM
2024 - V41 - Q2 HM - Q3 HM - Q4 HM
@pmg Congratulations! That is admirable persistence! Awesome to hear you made your first sale - I am certain it will be one of many 
“Stories are the collective wisdom of everyone who has ever lived. Your job as a storyteller is not simply to entertain. Nor is it to be noticed for the way your turn a phrase. You have a very important job—one of the most important. Your job is to let people know that everyone shares their feelings—and that these feelings bind us. Your job is a healing art, and like all healers, you have a responsibility. Let people know they are not alone. You must make people understand that we are all the same.”
Brian McDonald
2022: Second Place Winner V39 Q1
2021: HM, HM, SHM
2020: R
2019: SHM, R
2018: HM
2017: HM
Check out my fiction and more at spencersekulin.net
@pmg Congratulations! That is admirable persistence! Awesome to hear you made your first sale - I am certain it will be one of many
Thanks Spencer, that's much appreciated!
Writers of the Future stats:
V32: Q3 - R
V33: Q3 - R
V39: Q4 - RWC
V40: RWC, R, HM, HM
V41: R, HM, RWC, HM
V42: Q1 - HM, Q2 - HM, Q3 - WIP
All markets submission stats:
242 Submissions
231 Rejections
31 Personal Rejections
1 Acceptances
