Comments for otnipenop http://otnipenop.com writing, criticism and anything literary Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:42:30 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Writing is Revising—Even in the Bathroom by jonzech http://otnipenop.com/2009/11/09/writing-is-revising%e2%80%94even-in-the-bathroom/#comment-47 jonzech Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:42:30 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=120#comment-47 To quote somebody, "Writing is the spark, editing fans the flame." Oh wait...that was me. I should listen to me own advise more often. To quote somebody, “Writing is the spark, editing fans the flame.”
Oh wait…that was me.
I should listen to me own advise more often.

]]> Comment on Writing is Revising—Even in the Bathroom by cassandrajade http://otnipenop.com/2009/11/09/writing-is-revising%e2%80%94even-in-the-bathroom/#comment-46 cassandrajade Mon, 09 Nov 2009 04:47:49 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=120#comment-46 Some very good advice. It is always good to hear what is working for others. Some very good advice. It is always good to hear what is working for others.

]]> Comment on Who’s Really Reading Your Submissions? by jpon http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/14/who%e2%80%99s-really-reading-your-submissions/#comment-45 jpon Fri, 23 Oct 2009 02:09:14 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/14/who%e2%80%99s-really-reading-your-submissions/#comment-45 Yes, I'm submitting . . . and I'm reading. I'm an assistant editor for <a href="http://fifthwednesdayjournal.org/" rel="nofollow">Fifth Wednesday Journal</a> and I read 6-15 submissions a week. And I know how difficult it is to clear one's head of the issues of the day and give each writer a fair hearing. Many times I'll reconsider a rejection and give a story another read, and sometimes I'll change my verdict after I've read something in a different state of mind. I only hope other readers are as judicious. Yes, I’m submitting . . . and I’m reading. I’m an assistant editor for Fifth Wednesday Journal and I read 6-15 submissions a week. And I know how difficult it is to clear one’s head of the issues of the day and give each writer a fair hearing. Many times I’ll reconsider a rejection and give a story another read, and sometimes I’ll change my verdict after I’ve read something in a different state of mind. I only hope other readers are as judicious.

]]> Comment on Who’s Really Reading Your Submissions? by Sharon M http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/14/who%e2%80%99s-really-reading-your-submissions/#comment-44 Sharon M Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:58:44 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/14/who%e2%80%99s-really-reading-your-submissions/#comment-44 Joe, keep this in mind...you're submitting! And you have work TO submit beyond a full novel. Perhaps the take-away is the selection of where to submit might be more than matching your work to what's been published in the past. I remember <a href="http://kategale.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow">Kate Gale</a> of <a href="http://redhen.org/" rel="nofollow">Red Hen Press</a> saying that it was both a benefit and a bane of university presses that the editorial staff changes yearly. Some great posts here, Joe. I very much enjoyed reading your musings. Joe, keep this in mind…you’re submitting! And you have work TO submit beyond a full novel. Perhaps the take-away is the selection of where to submit might be more than matching your work to what’s been published in the past. I remember Kate Gale of Red Hen Press saying that it was both a benefit and a bane of university presses that the editorial staff changes yearly. Some great posts here, Joe. I very much enjoyed reading your musings.

]]> Comment on A Little More About Submissions by jpon http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/17/a-little-more-about-submissions/#comment-43 jpon Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:01:27 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=92#comment-43 Great comments, all. Bottom line is that once you understand how impersonal the submission process really is, there's no reason to fear it. It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it is what it is, and writers must learn to deal with it. Great comments, all.

Bottom line is that once you understand how impersonal the submission process really is, there’s no reason to fear it. It is not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it is what it is, and writers must learn to deal with it.

]]> Comment on A Little More About Submissions by jonzech http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/17/a-little-more-about-submissions/#comment-42 jonzech Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:19:33 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=92#comment-42 Oh, and...Salman Rushdie is at once the greatest man on earth and the worst. He was married to the single most beautiful woman on the planet, Padma Lakshmi. And then they divorced. Oh, and…Salman Rushdie is at once the greatest man on earth and the worst. He was married to the single most beautiful woman on the planet, Padma Lakshmi. And then they divorced.

]]> Comment on A Little More About Submissions by jonzech http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/17/a-little-more-about-submissions/#comment-41 jonzech Sun, 18 Oct 2009 03:11:05 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=92#comment-41 Stewart is absolutely right; how many go through all the steps? Certainly I didn't. But shortly after I actually began the full process, what happened? Glimmer Train, Mirror Dance and who knows what to follow? Stewart gets a big I Told You So in his column. I still lack your discipline, Joe, but I'm working on it. Stewart is absolutely right; how many go through all the steps? Certainly I didn’t. But shortly after I actually began the full process, what happened? Glimmer Train, Mirror Dance and who knows what to follow? Stewart gets a big I Told You So in his column. I still lack your discipline, Joe, but I’m working on it.

]]> Comment on A Little More About Submissions by ssternberg http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/17/a-little-more-about-submissions/#comment-40 ssternberg Sun, 18 Oct 2009 01:40:31 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=92#comment-40 How many people say they want to write something, and then never do? Of those who do, how many never finish what they write? Of the amount who finish, how many proof and edit, and do so with some amount of expertise and ability? Of that amount, how many actually submit? Of those who submit, how many resubmit and resubmit their work into the market place? If you look at it from that perspective, then you might start to feel more optimistic about being published. Of course, it would make things more pleasant if the magazine and journal market wasn't a dinosaur waiting to be buried. How many people say they want to write something, and then never do? Of those who do, how many never finish what they write? Of the amount who finish, how many proof and edit, and do so with some amount of expertise and ability? Of that amount, how many actually submit? Of those who submit, how many resubmit and resubmit their work into the market place? If you look at it from that perspective, then you might start to feel more optimistic about being published.

Of course, it would make things more pleasant if the magazine and journal market wasn’t a dinosaur waiting to be buried.

]]> Comment on A Little More About Submissions by uninvoked http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/17/a-little-more-about-submissions/#comment-39 uninvoked Sat, 17 Oct 2009 14:06:16 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=92#comment-39 This is good advice. When I was submitting short stories, I sent out two every month. Wrote the rough draft for two new ones, and edited two more. It got to the point where I was so focused on the quality of my current pieces that I hardly noticed the rejection. Really, who has time? This is good advice. When I was submitting short stories, I sent out two every month. Wrote the rough draft for two new ones, and edited two more. It got to the point where I was so focused on the quality of my current pieces that I hardly noticed the rejection. Really, who has time?

]]> Comment on A Little More About Submissions by moondaria http://otnipenop.com/2009/10/17/a-little-more-about-submissions/#comment-38 moondaria Sat, 17 Oct 2009 13:15:22 +0000 http://otnipenop.com/?p=92#comment-38 Great post! I feel so inspired now. And aggressive. It's so weird... I don't know what exactly was stopping me from submitting before, but it doesn't feel like a big deal now that I'm doing it. And this will sound like a lie but it's totally true: at this point I don't care about rejection/acceptance. I just want to keep submitting. Another weird thing: I just sent a few stories to a former professor who is writing me a grad school reference letter. I care way more about what she thinks of my work and about getting into an MFA program than I do about getting published. I know this whole attitude won't last. I think I'm already on the plane, though, and there's no getting off in mid air. Perserverance? Let's do this thing. Great post! I feel so inspired now. And aggressive. It’s so weird… I don’t know what exactly was stopping me from submitting before, but it doesn’t feel like a big deal now that I’m doing it. And this will sound like a lie but it’s totally true: at this point I don’t care about rejection/acceptance. I just want to keep submitting. Another weird thing: I just sent a few stories to a former professor who is writing me a grad school reference letter. I care way more about what she thinks of my work and about getting into an MFA program than I do about getting published. I know this whole attitude won’t last. I think I’m already on the plane, though, and there’s no getting off in mid air. Perserverance? Let’s do this thing.

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