I’d been averaging about a hundred rejections every six months. But this time it took less than four!
- 300 – August 8, 2008 (401 days to next milestone)
- 400 – September 13, 2009 (282 days to next milestone)
- 500 – June 22, 2010 (268 days to next milestone)
- 600 – March 17, 2011 (208 days to next milestone)
- 700 – October 11, 2011 (185 days to next milestone)
- 800 – April 17, 2012 (197 days to next milestone)
- 900 – October 31, 2012 (173 days to next milestone)
- 1000 – April 25th, 2013 (198 days to next milestone)
- 1100 – November 10th, 2013 (111 days to current milestone)
This is due almost entirely to all my submissions to literary journals, which’ve increased my submissions volume 2-fold. Nowadays, it’s rare for me to have fewer than 80 submissions out, and I frequently have more than 100.
I’ve gotten three acceptances along with the 100 rejections. I’ve sold stories to Daily Science Fiction, Nature, and a chapbook whose distribution channel I’m unsure of (I think it has something to do with a convention?) All sales were at pro rates.
I feel as if I’ve exhausted my stockpile of rejection-related wisdom. I feel as if I’m past the place where there’s any pride to be had from rejection volume. I’m only posting this entry because I’ve turned this into a tradition.