by Kathleen Marple Kalb, reprinted with permission
Short story submissions are different.
For one thing, the piece usually must be much closer to publication-ready than a novel-length manuscript.
Once in a great while an editor will work with you to extensively polish a piece, but that’s a rare gift, usually from a generous person who sees promise in you and your work. There are also stories of editors who like one sentence and tell the writer to come back with a new story based on it. Again, very much the exception.
Most of the time, though, if a piece has serious issues, the editor will reject it and move onto a piece that requires less work. Magazine (whether online or hard-copy) and anthology editors have many more writers, and much more material, not to mention tighter deadlines, than book editors, or agents.
Which makes it your job to catch most of the pitfalls before you submit. Make sure the plot is airtight. Find and fix any continuity errors. Smooth out any clunky writing.
If you have that creepy little feeling at the back of your neck that you’ve missed something – we all feel it, if differently – put the piece away and wait until you know what you need to revise. There are very few second chances in these markets, and you can’t count on them.
Don’t miss your shot because you’re in too much of a hurry to turn in your absolute best.
Kathleen Marple Kalb lives in Connecticut with her husband and son in a house owned by their cat. She is the author of historical and contemporary cozy mysteries with diverse cast, dry humor, and a touch of romance.
