I am really appreciating your method of tracking input/output and have modified my own kind of stripped down version of your spreadsheet, so THANK YOU for that.
I also know that huge dirt lot across from the Providence Place Mall! That's where they held some of the X Games back in the day! I wasn't at either of those shows, but I did go to shows there...the free WBRU shows were the JAM. Are you from Rhode Island?
So glad it's been helpful! And yes, I grew up in Warwick and was all over Providence in my youth :) RIPTA forever! I definitely was at some of those WBRU shows...glad someone else remembers that dirt lot that is now condos!
Wild! I am also from Warwick?! I live in Providence now, after many years living away from RI. It's weird to be back, but probably mostly good? I have conflicting feelings about it, as with most things. :)
Huh. I’ve never thought about getting into a selective publication in terms of “matching its theme and tone”. I always thought if your piece is good enough, it will get in. I suppose that’s a little misguided, isn’t it? I might do well to spend more time reading the magazines I want to publish in.
A piece has to be good, yes, but GOOD FOR THE AUDIENCE OF THAT OUTLET (sorry to scream, wanted to emphasize!). So it could be good for one outlet because their audience likes the topic and the way you wrote about it, but not for another, because their audience doesn't have the context to understand jokes on that topic.
You're welcome! I like to make little lists about which pieces do well from particular sites and try to find commonalities in their topics and which audience they're meant for.
That’s great advice. I don’t have that much time for reading literary magazines nowadays, not as much as I used to, so when I tried to place a story earlier in the year, I subbed it everywhere I could find. It was finally accepted somewhere this week, after 37 rejections. I suppose those could have been way fewer if I’d done proper research beforehand, but I was a little desperate, and I thought “the more the merrier”, and maybe I’d get lucky. The mag that ended up accepting it was one of those specifically looking for the kind of thing my story was.
Great advice. I loved your comment about “tired” as an excuse and simply going to bed earlier. Many times I think fighting through the fatigue would have been better spent resting.
Bruce (1st concert)! Love the input/output method! I've kept an I/O spreadsheet since you showed it in a class in 2021. Excited to try it to get into new publications that are big and scary!
I have always been a tracker. I use the very low tech method of list making. On a huge pad of blank paper numbered by completion sequence. I’m an economist after all and that’s how our brains work. I get a great (outsized) sense of satisfaction by crossing tasks off the list. Hay it works for me!
I am really appreciating your method of tracking input/output and have modified my own kind of stripped down version of your spreadsheet, so THANK YOU for that.
I also know that huge dirt lot across from the Providence Place Mall! That's where they held some of the X Games back in the day! I wasn't at either of those shows, but I did go to shows there...the free WBRU shows were the JAM. Are you from Rhode Island?
So glad it's been helpful! And yes, I grew up in Warwick and was all over Providence in my youth :) RIPTA forever! I definitely was at some of those WBRU shows...glad someone else remembers that dirt lot that is now condos!
Wild! I am also from Warwick?! I live in Providence now, after many years living away from RI. It's weird to be back, but probably mostly good? I have conflicting feelings about it, as with most things. :)
Such good advice and excellent examples. Thank you!
Hey, what novel generator class was it? I love the idea of a down-and-dirty two- or three-month class.
It was at Catapult, sadly now shut down! But the teacher I took the class from twice is now offering it independently, if you email me at caitlin.kunkel@gmail.com I can forward you the email with info. Story Studio in Chicago also offers this, as do schools like GrubStreet! I made a list of writing schools here: https://kunkeltron.medium.com/a-list-of-online-writing-schools-de962146f079
Huh. I’ve never thought about getting into a selective publication in terms of “matching its theme and tone”. I always thought if your piece is good enough, it will get in. I suppose that’s a little misguided, isn’t it? I might do well to spend more time reading the magazines I want to publish in.
A piece has to be good, yes, but GOOD FOR THE AUDIENCE OF THAT OUTLET (sorry to scream, wanted to emphasize!). So it could be good for one outlet because their audience likes the topic and the way you wrote about it, but not for another, because their audience doesn't have the context to understand jokes on that topic.
Makes sense. Thanks for clarifying!
You're welcome! I like to make little lists about which pieces do well from particular sites and try to find commonalities in their topics and which audience they're meant for.
That’s great advice. I don’t have that much time for reading literary magazines nowadays, not as much as I used to, so when I tried to place a story earlier in the year, I subbed it everywhere I could find. It was finally accepted somewhere this week, after 37 rejections. I suppose those could have been way fewer if I’d done proper research beforehand, but I was a little desperate, and I thought “the more the merrier”, and maybe I’d get lucky. The mag that ended up accepting it was one of those specifically looking for the kind of thing my story was.
This post was inspiring. I dream of being able to assess what's bugging me and then DO something about it!
I won't pretend I'm 100% at it, but getting better!
Love this. I'd of course take a page from the Business Boys™...knowing, of course, that it's likely been ghost written by a working girl.
lol yes totally!
Ooh this gives me an idea on tracking something I set as a goal to work on improving this year (titles). Going to try it!
Great advice. I loved your comment about “tired” as an excuse and simply going to bed earlier. Many times I think fighting through the fatigue would have been better spent resting.
Bruce (1st concert)! Love the input/output method! I've kept an I/O spreadsheet since you showed it in a class in 2021. Excited to try it to get into new publications that are big and scary!
I have always been a tracker. I use the very low tech method of list making. On a huge pad of blank paper numbered by completion sequence. I’m an economist after all and that’s how our brains work. I get a great (outsized) sense of satisfaction by crossing tasks off the list. Hay it works for me!