If your stories are as good as this wonderful essay you'll get lots of yes's. I just love this so much. And a perfect thing to read this morning as I start to write, (a revision for something I think will never be published. A rock up a hill.)
"I don’t write for approval anymore. I write because the world is odd, and stories are the only way I know how to hold it still long enough to understand even a little piece of it." That sentence stood out for me. Just remember, for most of us here, writing isn't rhought of as a way to make a living, either! Because the world is, well, odd. Cheers, Fendy!
Thank you for writing this. Thank you for the courage to show your vulnerability. You've made me feel less alone in my own fears which are just like yours except for living in a difference place and being quite a bit older.
Wow! After reading your words I wish I were an editor to say YES YES YES to your stories! Man, you have voice and then some. I’m going to save your words and read them every time I submit. I found your page and subscribed. Cheers!
"the world is odd, and stories are the only way I know how to hold it still long enough to understand even a little piece of it" - Absolutely feel the same way.
Fendy, I want to read that short story about the haunted vending machine that only appears at midnight. Please send it my way: eleventhhour@binghamton.edu.
This is an entertaining read and I can relate to it, mostly. Except when the writer talks about submitting to random journals. That is not a clever strategy for getting published. As a reader for two lit mags over the last four years I can tell you with absolute certainty that the biggest reason BY FAR for rejection is because you submitted your work to a journal that doesn't publish that kind of work. It has nothing to do with the quality of your work; you simply sent it to the wrong address. Which means you wasted your time and the journal's.
Thanks so much for reading my story and leaving a comment! Yeah, you're probably right, sending stuff to random journals isn’t the best way to get published. I get that. It does sound kinda messy. But for folks like me, especially writers from indonesia, it's also how we learn. English isn't our first language, and we don't always have mentors or access to workshops or literary groups. So... we try. We submit. We fail. And weirdly, that teaches us a lot. Not just about language or tone or how to write better, but about how the whole world of writing works. And maybe that's not efficient, but it's real.
Over here, being a writer isn't exactly seen as a "career", so yeah, we learn on journals, even when we're not sure we're a fit. It's not always smart, but it's honest.
Really appreciate your thoughts, truly. I'll keep them in mind. Thanks!
I can relate to the sense of feeling like an outsider from an Indonesian point of view. I lived in Singapore for many years and I'm eating kaya toast as I write this. If you're hitting brick walls with US/UK journals, why not try something closer to home? Singapore's literary scene has grown a lot in recent years and there's a fantastic publisher, Math Paper Press. Must be good things happening in KL too. And of course Australia. In terms of workshops and literary groups, many are free and online so you would have decent access even if time zones make it inconvenient.
Oh, I don't know about "random journals"... when I started submitting, it's what I did because I had no notion of who's taking what, then, after a ton of "No's" (of course, duh!, lol!) I started focusing better. Live and learn, but experimenting is good and you make some discoveries that way!
I loved this article - if your flash and stories are anything like this rich with texture and style no wonder they're getting picked up. I have an abhorrence of Submittable. After more than three years using it I can still count my acceptances on the fingers of one hand (and not even using all the fingers). The words of encouragement here are really helpful - I must go check the Submissions in draft tab, there are a couple that have been on there for ages.
I avoid Submittable now too. Over thirty submissions (not all of them of stories) and not one acceptance. It might not have anything to do with Submittable itself, of course, but those publications that use it for a fee are doing so because they receive (too) many subs. It's the fierce competition between writers that makes an acceptance unlikely, I think.
Yes, I believe you are right. One place I'd previously sent pieces to by email has recently moved to Submittable and said it was a volume related issue. Still, it's good to read an encouraging article like Fendy's, which is uplifting regardless of submission method. And why do any of us write? Presumably to be read, and that's the crux of the piece, to me, anyway.
What a lovely thing to read, first thing in the morning, here in northern Massachusetts. I'm orginally from Honolulu and could identify with the banana leaves and instant noodles and wondering if anyone will understand your references. I write essays and creative nonfiction but I'm going to look for your work. A man who opens a barber shop for ghosts? Sounds like an amazing read. Thank you for your encouraging words and good luck getting your work out there. And good luck to us all!
I love the whole piece. Especially when you wrote, “And made me realize, maybe my writing voice isn’t something I have to earn. Maybe it’s already here.”
THIS piece is alive! Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability and wonderful descriptions. I felt like I was right there with you between the laundry bucket and the fridge. Keep going!
Fendy, what a fabulous perspective you have! That rough individuality that makes you feel separate from the world is a particular piece of luck, as I think you're beginning to realize. Your description of writing under extreme duress reminds me of Stephen King writing 'Carrie' by the washing machine in his trailer. Godspeed, friend, I'll be watching for your weird little stories.
If your stories are as good as this wonderful essay you'll get lots of yes's. I just love this so much. And a perfect thing to read this morning as I start to write, (a revision for something I think will never be published. A rock up a hill.)
Go girl- that rock is flying upwards!
"I don’t write for approval anymore. I write because the world is odd, and stories are the only way I know how to hold it still long enough to understand even a little piece of it." That sentence stood out for me. Just remember, for most of us here, writing isn't rhought of as a way to make a living, either! Because the world is, well, odd. Cheers, Fendy!
Thank you for writing this. Thank you for the courage to show your vulnerability. You've made me feel less alone in my own fears which are just like yours except for living in a difference place and being quite a bit older.
Wow! After reading your words I wish I were an editor to say YES YES YES to your stories! Man, you have voice and then some. I’m going to save your words and read them every time I submit. I found your page and subscribed. Cheers!
"the world is odd, and stories are the only way I know how to hold it still long enough to understand even a little piece of it" - Absolutely feel the same way.
Fendy, I want to read that short story about the haunted vending machine that only appears at midnight. Please send it my way: eleventhhour@binghamton.edu.
R. Renee Branca
Editor-in-Chief
Eleventh Hour Literary
eleventhhourliterary.org
This is an entertaining read and I can relate to it, mostly. Except when the writer talks about submitting to random journals. That is not a clever strategy for getting published. As a reader for two lit mags over the last four years I can tell you with absolute certainty that the biggest reason BY FAR for rejection is because you submitted your work to a journal that doesn't publish that kind of work. It has nothing to do with the quality of your work; you simply sent it to the wrong address. Which means you wasted your time and the journal's.
Thanks so much for reading my story and leaving a comment! Yeah, you're probably right, sending stuff to random journals isn’t the best way to get published. I get that. It does sound kinda messy. But for folks like me, especially writers from indonesia, it's also how we learn. English isn't our first language, and we don't always have mentors or access to workshops or literary groups. So... we try. We submit. We fail. And weirdly, that teaches us a lot. Not just about language or tone or how to write better, but about how the whole world of writing works. And maybe that's not efficient, but it's real.
Over here, being a writer isn't exactly seen as a "career", so yeah, we learn on journals, even when we're not sure we're a fit. It's not always smart, but it's honest.
Really appreciate your thoughts, truly. I'll keep them in mind. Thanks!
I can relate to the sense of feeling like an outsider from an Indonesian point of view. I lived in Singapore for many years and I'm eating kaya toast as I write this. If you're hitting brick walls with US/UK journals, why not try something closer to home? Singapore's literary scene has grown a lot in recent years and there's a fantastic publisher, Math Paper Press. Must be good things happening in KL too. And of course Australia. In terms of workshops and literary groups, many are free and online so you would have decent access even if time zones make it inconvenient.
Oh, I don't know about "random journals"... when I started submitting, it's what I did because I had no notion of who's taking what, then, after a ton of "No's" (of course, duh!, lol!) I started focusing better. Live and learn, but experimenting is good and you make some discoveries that way!
I loved this article - if your flash and stories are anything like this rich with texture and style no wonder they're getting picked up. I have an abhorrence of Submittable. After more than three years using it I can still count my acceptances on the fingers of one hand (and not even using all the fingers). The words of encouragement here are really helpful - I must go check the Submissions in draft tab, there are a couple that have been on there for ages.
I avoid Submittable now too. Over thirty submissions (not all of them of stories) and not one acceptance. It might not have anything to do with Submittable itself, of course, but those publications that use it for a fee are doing so because they receive (too) many subs. It's the fierce competition between writers that makes an acceptance unlikely, I think.
Yes, I believe you are right. One place I'd previously sent pieces to by email has recently moved to Submittable and said it was a volume related issue. Still, it's good to read an encouraging article like Fendy's, which is uplifting regardless of submission method. And why do any of us write? Presumably to be read, and that's the crux of the piece, to me, anyway.
Totally agree! :)
What a lovely thing to read, first thing in the morning, here in northern Massachusetts. I'm orginally from Honolulu and could identify with the banana leaves and instant noodles and wondering if anyone will understand your references. I write essays and creative nonfiction but I'm going to look for your work. A man who opens a barber shop for ghosts? Sounds like an amazing read. Thank you for your encouraging words and good luck getting your work out there. And good luck to us all!
Thanks for this, on behalf of all writers who think they’re shouting into the void.
I love the whole piece. Especially when you wrote, “And made me realize, maybe my writing voice isn’t something I have to earn. Maybe it’s already here.”
I love the infectious optimism of this post. Maybe one day I'll come to Malang (I live in Aussie) for an infusion!
Wow. Love this. So encouraging and real🩷🩷🩷
I woke up at 3:45 AM to submit to a place that opened their window to “between 4 and 5 am.” Not to say my piece will make it but it felt good trying.
THIS piece is alive! Thank you for your honesty and vulnerability and wonderful descriptions. I felt like I was right there with you between the laundry bucket and the fridge. Keep going!
Fendy, what a fabulous perspective you have! That rough individuality that makes you feel separate from the world is a particular piece of luck, as I think you're beginning to realize. Your description of writing under extreme duress reminds me of Stephen King writing 'Carrie' by the washing machine in his trailer. Godspeed, friend, I'll be watching for your weird little stories.