Hopefully, a lesson learned.

Subject: submissions for TEoP

Dear Editors,

I am a MFA creative writing student at the University of North Texas. Attached is a story from my portfolio for a writing class. I hope you can use it. Thanks, [Redacted].


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Subject: RE: submissions for TEoP

Hello,

Thank you for submitting your story to The Edge of Propinquity semiprozine. This story does not meet the guidelines/theme for The Edge of Propinquity. Please carefully reread the Submission Guidelines and try again.

http://www.edgeofpropinquity.net/library.asp?id=61

1. Improper subject set up.
2. Attachment instead of the story in the body of the email.
3. Clear indication that author has not read the Edge of Propinquity website, much less the guidelines.

Editor's note: If you cannot be bothered to read the submission guidelines for the site you are submitting for, your stories will be rejected unread - just like this one has been.

Thank you,
Jennifer Brozek
Editor, The Edge of Propinquity
http://www.edgeofpropinquity.net/default.asp

2009 Writing Goals

I've stopped writing resolutions on New Year's Eve and started laying out writing goals for the year. Some call this a business plan because writing (and editing) is my business now. As a freelancer, I can measure my "worth" by the products I product, edit and sell.

So, this is where I measure my accomplishments against my goals for the year.

2009 Writing Goals

Short stories written: 12 out of 15 – this is the first time I've fallen short in this category.

Short Story Submissions: 33 out of 22 – Overachiever in this category. 6 sales, 25 rejections, 2 pending.

New novels written: 3 out of 2 – This is why I'm not too put out at not making my short story goal. I wrote a whole extra book.

New novels edited: 2 out of 2 – Average

New RPG assignments: 8 out of 6 – Overachiever

Overall, I count this as a productive year. You'll notice I'm not counting the slush reading or the pays-the-bills writing because those are now just part of me and what I do. On the plus side, the new editor at Amazon loves what I'm doing and is giving me more.

2010 Writing Goals

Editing: 3 anthologies, 2 RPG books

New Short Stories: 12

New Short Submissions: 36

New Novellas: 2

New Novel: 1

New RPG assignments: 6

I'm not doing as much in the way of new writing as compared to last year because I have 3 books and 3 anthologies scheduled to come out in 2010. I will need to manage both the books' releases (and all that goes with that) and the anthologies (creation, editing, releases). That's a lot to do when you think about it. Plus, the new writing and the convention circuit. I'm going to WorldCon 2010 and spending an extra week in Australia. I'm pretty excited about that. 2010 is going to be an excellent year.

Oh yes, not to forget, there is the Edge of Propinquity, year 5 – Endings & New Beginnings. I'm so proud of my little zine. There were times I was going to give up on it but I didn't and it is looking so good.