Okay, it’s possible I’m overstating, but here’s the thing: as of this week, both Of Echoes Born (which now exists as a pre-order!) and Exit Plans for Teenage Freaks are drafted. They’re off in the wheels of publishing, awaiting the next steps, and that means both my major deadline projects are done.
Now available for preorder!
So, scratch that, it is totally not overstating that this is the most wonderful time of the year.
What Next?
With both major deadline projects off my plate, and with the holiday novella released, I’m kind of in a lovely bubble of not having something with a due date to work on at the moment. I mean, there are the open calls for submission (which are below, as usual) and I’m still considering some of those, but honestly? I might just take December to percolate.
If I had to answer this moment? I believe I’m going to pitch Triad Magic to my publisher, and I’m going to work on my village novella series (those poor things have been beyond back-burner for so long) and I’m also going to attempt another holiday novella for next year. Releasing Handmade Holidays was a lot of freaking fun, and an idea occurred to me with a fake relationship trope, and… well, we’ll see what happens.
Open Calls for Submission
On Writing Wednesdays I also track open calls for submission I’m keeping an eye on, as well as keeping honest how I’ve done thus far for the year in submitting things for publication myself.
Previously this year: January was: 6 submissions (4 reprints, 2 new), with 1 acceptance (new) and three acceptances (three reprints); in February was bare minimum: 1 submission (1 new); March brought 1 rejection, and 1 submission (new); April saw 1 submission (new) and 1 acceptance; May: 1 submission (new), 1 acceptance. June: BUZZ! (Let’s not talk about that). July: 1 submission (1 new). August: 1 submission (1 new). September and October: 2 submissions (2 new), and 1 acceptance. November: 1 submission (1 new). December has been 1 submission (1 new). So, I officially managed to submit something at least twelve times this year, but not quite at once-a-month pace near the end there. Also, if I made it through to the last round of the NYCMidnight Flash Fiction contest, I’ve got one more flash fiction piece to write.
And now, the open calls:
- Chicken Soup for the Soul—Various titles, various themes, various deadlines, 1,200 word count limit.
- Mischief Corner Books—Open to submissions for various themes, including Legendary Love, Everyday Heroes, Cowboys and Space; these are open rolling calls, so no deadline.
- NineStar Press—Open to submissions for various length prose, paranormal, science fiction, fantasy and horror; Click “Currently Seeking” header for details; word count limit variable.
- Spectrum Lit—This is an ongoing patreon flash fic provider, 1,500 hard word count limit; LGBTQ+ #ownvoice only; ongoing call.
- Best Gay Erotica for the Year, Volume 4—Cleis Press; 2,500-5,000 word count limit. Original stories strongly preferred; deadline January 5th, 2018 (but the earlier the better).
- Fantastic Beasts and Where to F*** Them—Circlet Press; Erotic short stories with magical beasts and shapeshifter tropes; 3,000 to 7,000 word count limit; deadline February 1st, 2018.
- Lost—NineStar Press. LGBTQIA+ romantic pairing. Both HEA and HFN are acceptable, Click “Lost” header for the theme. 30k-120k word count limit; deadline April 30th, 2018.
- Happiness in Numbers—Less than Three Press; Polyamorous LGBTQIA+ anthology, non-erotic polyamorous stories that explore the idea of “Family”; 10k to 20k word count limit; deadline April 30th, 2018.
'Nathan Burgoine 