by
Michelle McGill-Vargas
I am a dog lover. For me, my poodle and Corgi are my
children. When the time came to find a place to board them for a couple of
days, I took my time looking for the right place. I insisted on a tour of each
facility I considered. I checked the crates they’d be housed in, the outdoor
pen where they’d be walked. I also wanted to know the feeding and walking
schedule. I even talked to the staff to gauge the personality of the place. My
goal was not just finding a facility to leave my dogs for a few days. I needed
to know that my babies would be taken care of once they left me.
I consider my short stories my other babies. Like my beloved
dogs, I nurture each written piece, feeding them the right amount of dialogue,
imagery and exposition. I take them around the block a few times, fielding
advice from my critique group members. And when the time comes for me to submit
them for publication, I make sure I take a look around before giving my hard
work over to just anybody.
For any writer, the submission process should involve more
than just the idea of having something published. A great deal of research is
needed to ensure the likelihood not only of acceptance by the publication but
that an audience is available to read it. Reading the submission guidelines is
just the beginning. That would be like choosing a place to board my dogs based
solely on what the building looked like on the outside. Read samples of
recently printed short stories or articles in the publication to determine if
they match the style and tone of your piece. Publication mediums—whether
electronic, print or both—should also be considered. While some print
publications have an established audience of dedicated readers, in my experience
electronic publications have the potential of being shared across several
on-line platforms, thereby reaching a much wider audience. The frequency of
publication, payment, rights, and response time for submissions are additional
items that should be researched before deciding on a potential home for your
work.
As a reader for Short Fiction Break, I’ve had the privilege
of being on the other side of the submission process. Reading work with glaring
typographical errors, missing or odd cover letters, and some well-crafted work
that just didn’t fit with what Short Fiction Break has published gives me an
appreciation for the process. I now think twice before hitting the “Send”
button on my own submissions.
Consider the importance of your project when the time comes
to submit a manuscript, poem, or short story. Consider all the time and effort
you put into creating it. Consider the love you have for your “baby.” Then
begin the work to ensure your baby will be taken care of, meaning read and
appreciated, once it leaves you.
__________
Michelle is a writer of
historical, flash and short fiction. She has published in The
Lutheran Witness, Splickety Magazine, The Copperfield
Review, and Typehouse Literary Magazine. She is also a regular contributing
author at Short Fiction Break and Noir
Expressions.
Until she makes it big,
Michelle pays the bills as a teacher of deaf and hard of hearing. She is a
member of Highland Writers Group, Lowell Writers Group and currently
serves as interim vice-president of the Indiana Writers’ Consortium.
She lives in Gary, Indiana with her husband and two babies: a
16-year-old (poodle) and a 9-year-old (Welsh corgi).
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