Since I sent a lot of work out in September, it’s only inevitable that rejections poured in during October.
Here are my October statistics:
Poetry: No acceptances to report, but a poem was published last week on reformjudaism.org’s blog. I’m very proud of my Emma Lazarus blog post, because it includes this poem and showcases the research I did while a fellow at the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati. I sent out a chapbook manuscript, Chicken Fat, to four competitions. I received nine rejections from Agni, A Public Space, Gettysburg Review, Redivider, Lascaux Review, Rust + Moth, Hermeneutic Chaos, Potomac Review, and Minerva Rising. I’m not discouraged; it’s part of the numbers game, and one of the rejections was personal. I’m at work on another chapbook manuscript, tentatively entitled The Beetle of Terezín.
Fiction: My short story, “Last Survivor,” inaugurated Lilith’s fiction blog in October. I was thrilled when my university’s provost included this achievement in his last campus-wide email. I withdrew this short story, which had been sitting in inventory for nearly two years, from a contest.
Creative Nonfiction: Nothing to report here, but I hope to begin crafting something new.
Question 4U: How is your writing going? Have you determined any specific submission strategies?
The Whole Megillah 
Barb, you are a terrific role model! Why not send your chapbook mss. to Finishing Line Press?
Yes, I’n writing mixed-genre essay, memoir, etc. Very exciting, & I’ll go to Rowe early Dec. for week-end with Mark Doty. Come, too.
Thanks, Joni. I have sent my chapbook ms. to Finishing Line Press. We’ll see what happens. I’m not familiar with Rowe. I’ll check it out.
Best,
Barbara
I admire your transparency, Barbara. It helps all of us trying to create and play the publishing game at the same time. I’ve recently read a couple good posts on rejection and the conclusion seems to be that the more you submit the more rejections and acceptances you accrue. Rejections numbers will always be higher but if you don’t submit you don’t get accepted either. Makes sense. So I agree, it is a numbers game and one needs to shoo away discouragement and keep revising and sending things out. Currently, I am marketing a new essay and entering fiction and creative nonfiction contests. Good luck and keep us posted!