A few months ago, I sat down to submit a fantasy story to Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic Medicine Show. For a good ten minutes or so, I was accosted by no less than a dozen nagging voices. Am I good enough to submit to a magazine that’s such a big deal? It’s Orson Scott Card! What are you thinking? Is this piece any good at all? Is it even slightly good? Are you insane? You are insane!
Don’t listen to those voices. Not even a little. If you’re already looking for places to submit something, you know it’s good. In those moments, let humility and fear sit in the back seat and drive right through the night.
What’s the worst that can happen? You hear nothing. You get a nasty-gram (I’ve never heard of writers getting these, but if someone’s having a bad day, even “This doesn’t work for us” can seem like a kick in the ass). Adding this tip now to my blog, I can tell you that I did not get the piece accepted. And it hasn’t stopped me from submitting more and more.
Keep driving. You’ll get there.
bohemian.on.rye 