Ya know, sometimes you do it just to feel like you’ve done something as a writer. So yes, Gazpacho has been sent out to a fine literary journal because they just happened to be taking submissions and they take them via their website, and because I really, really, really would love to say I’d been published in their journal and I’ve been working on this story for two weeks and think I’ve taken it as far as it can go.
And of course, the doubts come out of hiding and giggle the very instant that "Submit" link has been clicked. Shouldn’t I have had someone read it through for me again? One last time? Did I fix those rough spots? Is there really a satisfactory resolution? Are they going to get past the first two paragraphs to reveal my depth as a writer? Are they simply going to shake their heads and just as easily as I submitted, click the "Reject" link? You never know until you try it.
The Lost Children: A Charity Anthology
And try, and try, and try…Good luck!
We all do it, Susan. How many times have I kicked myself after submitting a poem that “wasn’t complete”? Many-a-times. That’s just us, the way we’re built. It’s as normal as pen and paper.
Thanks, guys. While I’m aware of not only not sending out something that’s at its best–and that perspective changes daily–I’m also thinking of the editors who are inundated with work to read and don’t need unpolished drafts. I did work on this intensively–to the exclusion of my job, the garden, and proper dinners! Sometimes we just don’t see the flaws in a piece until it’s truly “out of our hands.”
To look at it another way, perhaps there aren’t ANY flaws… 🙂 /me keeps fingers crossed for you!
Cindy, I’m still making some of the newbie writer flaws, I’m blind through repetitive reading to see a bunch more, and not expert enough to realize the rest. But thank you, the support really helps.