tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post3233947722812924724..comments2024-03-28T10:16:38.716-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Playing the NumbersLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-42410804777286164242020-09-10T20:26:28.988-04:002020-09-10T20:26:28.988-04:00You can't win if you don't play, Craig, so...You can't win if you don't play, Craig, so it's a gamble I'm always willing to take. I'm more of a grinder, anyhow: rarely a big win, but usually in the money (when playing poker <i>and</i> when submitting stories).Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18311687027198590392020-09-10T14:16:01.068-04:002020-09-10T14:16:01.068-04:00Sending out a story is a form of gambling, Michael...Sending out a story is a form of gambling, Michael, a topic with which I know you're well acquainted. Good writing increases your odds, but even a great hand doesn't always beat the house.Craig Faustus Buckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10977748649878766205noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-22396763906861464142020-09-10T11:44:33.813-04:002020-09-10T11:44:33.813-04:00That may be a record, Bob. I don't think I'...That may be a record, Bob. I don't think I've ever submitted a story that many times prior to a sale. On the other hand, “I Can’t Touch the Clouds for You” (Sun, July 25, 2005)—spent thirty years visiting slush piles before publication.<br /><br />Leigh, it looks like Robert Allen set his goal too low. Apparently, 64 submissions should be the target.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-16437606940542192932020-09-09T11:21:05.319-04:002020-09-09T11:21:05.319-04:00Interesting post. It got me thinking about the num...Interesting post. It got me thinking about the numbers game. I'm nothing if not persistent. Your post made me curious, and I checked my records. I had one story (that I had a lot of faith in) that found a market on it's 64th try. Is that a record to be proud of? (Or a record of which to be proud?) I'm not sure.<br /><br />Bobrjpetyohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01456461141590991475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-66909299879808484982020-09-08T20:20:14.876-04:002020-09-08T20:20:14.876-04:00Robert Allen said his first book was shot down so ...Robert Allen said his first book was shot down so firmly, he set himself a goal to find a publisher by his 50th try. After every rejection, he'd say, "Thank you! I'm one more closer to my goal of 50!" He said it took damn close to 50 submissions before his first acceptance. I'm not so sanguine, but it's a clever anecdote.Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-11489568273582804882020-09-08T16:58:03.207-04:002020-09-08T16:58:03.207-04:00Paul, I'd be happy to stay right with the curv...Paul, I'd be happy to stay right with the curve and not have a genre where I'm doing well suddenly dry up and leave me with unsold stories. Sometimes I get lucky. When the genre starts heating up again I may have finished stories ready to submit.<br /><br />Susan, persistence might be more important than talent. I've seen talented writers stop writing because they weren't willing or able to do the non-stop grunt work necessary to build a career.<br /><br />John, I don't know how much respectability my presence adds to anything, but we do seem to appear in many of the same places.<br /><br /><br />Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-33199059691570404642020-09-08T15:36:14.751-04:002020-09-08T15:36:14.751-04:00Michael, these behind-the-scenes glimpses are alwa...Michael, these behind-the-scenes glimpses are always fun. And yes, persistence is the key to publishing.<br /><br />In your bookcase I see at least eight anthologies that both of us are in. I always like that because your presence adds a little respectability to my stories! (I also admire you for keeping those in one place--mine are scattered all over the house.)John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-14581999820233048832020-09-08T13:34:01.340-04:002020-09-08T13:34:01.340-04:00The key is persistence, a word often heard when gi...The key is persistence, a word often heard when giving advice to writers but not used here. I like the description of stories not sold and why, and what to do about it. You have an original perspective. Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-34486585643197375122020-09-08T10:44:29.184-04:002020-09-08T10:44:29.184-04:00Like you say, Michael, genres run hot and cold. An...Like you say, Michael, genres run hot and cold. And it's really hard to be ahead of the curve. So unless one is writing for a specific-themed anthology or the like I think it's best to just write what you like and hope someone else will, too.Paul D. Markshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15466234708772287399noreply@blogger.com