I’m uncertain when short-story writers started doing this, but my social media feeds are regularly packed with posts from writers announcing their most recent acceptances.
I get it.
Writers have few enough victories that they want to stand on the mountaintop and shout to the world about every one of them. They want to celebrate, and they want us to celebrate with them, and we do because tomorrow we may make similar announcements.
I, on the other hand, rarely announce my acceptances, limiting most of my social media announcements to actual publications.
I’ve been burned so many times I’ve become leery of announcing anything until it is part of a finished product.
Early in my writing career—back when telephones were attached to the wall and social media involved postage stamps and months-long waits for responses—I told friends and family about all my acceptances.
And then anthologies were delayed or cancelled, magazines ceased publication or bumped my work from one issue to the next, and (these days) electronic publications disappeared from the internet, leaving my non-writing friends and family thinking I’m delusional.
So, rather than having to explain the vagaries of publishing, I mostly stopped announcing acceptances and now wait until I hold a physical product or have a URL I can link to before making announcements.
I’ve experienced the same dilemma from the editor’s side of the desk, when projects I’ve worked on have gotten cancelled or delayed. Sharing that news with writers who have already made public announcements about their acceptances leaves them in a similar bind. It isn’t fun.
So, should you announce all your acceptances or should you, like me, hold off announcements until you have a finished product in hand?
There’s no right or wrong answer.
And whether you announce your acceptances or wait until publication, congratulations for every one of them.
* * *
Earlier this week, Tough published my story “Family Business.”
Michael, I share your opinion. Many years ago I sold a story to a prestigious regional magazine, received my $250, told my friends—only to see the magazine go belly up before the story was published. Egg on my face.
ReplyDeleteEdward Lodi
I also don't brag in public about my acceptances except to my husband and my best friend. For one thing, one of my earliest disappointments was when you accepted my story "Drifts" for an anthology, a couple of decades ago - only then the anthology went belly up. It wasn't your fault at all, I want to emphasize that. But after that, I quit bragging until a story is actually published.
ReplyDeleteSame here, Michael. I had one story that was accepted at two different markets, both of which went down before it appeared. A third market finally picked it up and published it. That was several years ago, but I had another story due to be published last December that is now re-scheduled to appear in April.
ReplyDeleteNow I remind myself that some markets don't issue a contract until the publication is imminent. If I hear the first timbers crack, I send the story out again.
But it's frustrating. I'd say it can make you crazy, but, in my case, I'm not sure anyone would notice the difference.
I also don't generally make announcements until something is actually published. It's annoying enough to have a publication fall apart without making it public. Almost as bad is having a story left in the lurch. I wrote a story a couple of years ago in response to a call for stories inspired by a specific band. The anthology was cancelled--not that the editor or publisher bothered telling anybody that. I really like the story, but reshaping it for another market was a bit of a pain.
ReplyDeleteYup, I have that experience too. Sold to a mag for 750, that went under before they published it. Also, accepted for two anthologies that never made it to print! I figure it's a bit like giving birth. Until the book baby is born, you can't be sure...
ReplyDeleteHell, that was Melodie above!
ReplyDeleteI do announce a little bit, though I limit myself until the project is about to be published or is published. Like if it is coming out in two weeks and pre orders are up, I figure it is safe to make a big deal about it at that point. Otherwise, I don't say much.
ReplyDeleteI was accepted into a project over the weekend, got a round of edits, did my part, and kicked it back to the editor Sunday. I won't be saying much more about it until those bringing it out say stuff.
My acceptances are so rare, as is my being able to write something to even be considered, I have to say a little bit
I also wait until a publication is being released to announce. To me, that's really when it becomes "official."
ReplyDeleteDaniel C. Bartlett
I’m with the majority on this: I don’t announce my chickens until they’re hatched.
ReplyDelete