Source
r/writing•
stev_cowell

Anyone feel like submitting is really time-consuming?

I've written quite a few short stories, but I haven't gotten around to submitting very many to different venues. I'm pretty busy with other things most of the time, so I prefer to spend my free time writing rather than submitting (even though I know I need to submit to lots of places before actually getting something published). For me, finding venues and figuring out their requirements is the part that takes the longest.

I feel like there should be some kind of service out there for writers that automates the submission process. After all, the process of submitting is ridiculously cheap from a computational perspective, so it makes sense for some business to have mapped out a bunch of venues and do the service of submitting for writers in exchange for a small fee or small percentage of the compensation if the manuscript actually gets published.

But I'm yet to find anything like this from searching online. Does anyone know if something like this exists? I'd definitely use it if it did.

Otherwise, I'd love to hear anyone's tips for saving time when submitting.

Posted Dec 3, 2020, 3:47 AM UTC

25
KitFalbo•

Considering different sites have different requirements your best bet is to create an excel spreadsheet and use calendar alarms for sites that have windows or submit in.

It is really time consuming. Just streamline it the best you can.

8
traviud•

Submittable has a universal submission option that clones submissions for release to various publications, but I haven't used it because I like to add a personal touch to each submission whenever possible. Hell, I could probably spam a dozen submissions a day if I felt like it, but you're more likely to be read if your cover letter illustrates an understanding of what the publication is about.

Anyway, yeah, it sucks and is time-consuming but is part of the deal.

3
stevehut•

Yup, it takes time and effort.
Just like any business.
Get used to it.

3
[deleted]•

[removed]

1
Outlaw11091•

It took 2 years AFTER finishing my first novel to get it published. And, at the time, I had short stories in every literary magazine that would take them.
I can only imagine how long it would've taken had I not been previously published, but this is exactly why it's common advice to keep your day job. You're going to starve long before anyone realizes you're worth feeding.

1