I currently have 29 submissions out.  I have two more that I need to get sent by Halloween.  

I track my submissions on Duotrope.  It’s awesome.  If you write and submit and don’t use it, you should go and check it out. It will make your life easier.  

Here’s the breakdown.  

1 sub @ 329 days.  I should probably query about it.  Or just give up.  

1 sub @ 186 days.  This is less than average for this market.  I wait.  

1 sub @ 108 days.  This is within their normal range, and they’ve responded to someone who submitted after me.  I think that means that they’re at least thinking about it.  

1 sub @ 107 days.  Also less than average for this market.  I wait.  

1 sub @ 74 days.  Much more than average, but the editor fell behind because of personal stuff and hasn’t started responded to subs again yet.  I do trust that she will, though.  More waiting.  

1 sub @  73 days.  This is close to their average response time.  I should hear back soon.  Hopefully.  

1 sub @ 72 days.  There haven’t been any responses from this market reported since March.  I should probably query.  

1 sub @ 57 days.  This is a one-time anthology, and no responses have been reported yet.  

6 subs @ 35 days.  Three of them are around or under the average response time.  One has responded to someone who submitted after I did, one emailed to tell me that they want to hold my story for further consideration, and one is a new market with no responses reported.  Their website says that should change soon.  

1 sub @ 28 days.  This is another one-time anthology.  The editor said that she wanted to be done reading by Halloween.  We’ll see.  

5 subs @ 14 days.  Four are well under the average response times, and one emailed me to let me know that I’ve moved on to their second round of consideration.  

1 sub @ 12 days.  Another one that’s well less than the average for the market. 

1 sub @ 11 days.  The editor emailed me to tell me that my story is going to be held for final voting at the end of November.  

2 subs @ 9 days.  One under their average response time, and one has responded to someone who submitted after me.  I’ve got my fingers crossed for that one.  It’s a market I REALLY want to break into.  

2 subs @ 8 days.  Both are under the average response times.  

1 sub @ 3 days.  This is over their normal response time, but I’m #13 in their queue.  It is World Fantasy Con time, so the staff might be a bit busy.  

1 sub @ 2 days.  Well under the market’s average response time.  

Yeah.  In case you didn’t know, writing short fiction involves A LOT of waiting.  

Of the markets I’m waiting for, 17 pay pro ($.05 or more a word) rates.  The rest pay token or semi-pro rates.  I would be happy to appear in any of them.