Publications: 20 (includes fiction & articles/fillers/letters)
Competitions:
Won - 4
Runner-up - 4
Shortlist/Longlist - 21
Total entered = 87
Overall hit rate = 33 %
The wins have covered the competition entry costs but I'm not impressed with the success rate.
On closer analysis I found drama was proving far more successful than fiction. I entered one radio play competition and won, so 100% hit rate! And with stage plays the hit rate was 40%, with one win and a longlisting. Hmm, this could mean something ... though of course I entered only a small number of drama competitions.
Womens magazines:
13 rejections
1 awaiting feedback
1 awaiting feedback post some re-writes - still hopeful of a sale.
Clearly I am NOT a successful writer of womag stories. This is one area of writing I may just give up on. But the payment from some mags is sooo tempting ...
After the analysis and the teacakes here's what I've agreed with Wendy (and we plan a monthly review of our progress, which of course is NOT an opportunity to gas about writing and chomp even more cakes). To help the process I've bought a pack of coloured stars to stick above my desk displaying the goals and I also plan to stick up any successes on the whiteboard too - well it all helps!
2014 WRITING GOALS:
1. Progress the novel and have first draft completed by end of the year. (10,000 words written to date)
Monthly target: 5,000 words or one chapter
2. Significantly reduce number of competitions. Focus on the larger competitions with new stories - aiming to build a portfolio of longer stories. Enter more FREE competitions wherever possible.
3. Write more drama. Both for stage and radio. Enter the West Sussex Writers' Screenplay competition to learn more about writing screenplays (sorry - you have to be a member of WSW to enter this!)
If the above are going well ...
4. Publish prize-winning short and flash fiction stories in a collection.
Of course I'm still focused on the MA and have to build in my submissions for each semester. I'm planning a long short story for Semester 2 (starting next week), so that contributes to goal number 2.
In summary I want to continue to explore dramatic writing and try new genres. I would like to experiment more with flash fiction and push my writing boundaries as far I can and just keep improving the quality of what I submit.
Now where did LitPig stash my pile of coloured stars?
Have you set any writing goals for 2014? What do you hope to achieve?
Hi Tracy, you've had a really good writing year in 2013, and the womag stories are so hard to get right. I'm with you on wondering whether to give up though. There are only so many rejections a writer can take aren't there? But I don't think we should ever give up. 'm sure you feel the story is right, like I do, so keep on with them, but sounds like the drama, and articles are going better for you. Good luck with your writing for 2014.
ReplyDeleteIt is difficult to give up on the womags as the rewards are good. I think I will send in the occasional story which I think meets the market. Good luck with working on the novel, Susan :)
DeleteHi Tracy, you had a great year!
ReplyDeleteI guess the womag thing depends on whether you enjoy writing them, and how much you need the money! Personally, I don't really enjoy writing that kind of story. I've sent about 8 stories to TABFF in total over the last three years, and they've published two. But even though that's a good success rate, I'm not inspired to rush and write more.... I've sent around the same number to WW, but all rejected. But...if I was in it solely for the money then it would be tempting.
Like you, I've vowed to enter less competitions in 2014. I need to START my novel :-)
Your drama/radio successes are admirable by the way!
Good luck with the novel and let us know how you get on! I do find the womag stories hard to write, they just don't come to me ready formed like other genres.
DeleteHi Tracy
ReplyDeleteSo impressed with your writing success in 2013 and wish you a good 2014.
I'm still hoping to get a womag story published but have only submitted a few - all rejected. I'm waiting for one to come back and have a re-write to send off. I look forward to reading how you get on with achieving your goals.
Keep trying with the womag stories, Jan. It took me two years to get lucky with TABFF. Good luck with the story you are waiting for news on :)
DeleteAs a former teacher I have masses of stars and I'm good at making 'Well Done' star charts too! Your achievements last year were great and your goals for this year achieve able (more so than mine I suspect). Look forward to February's tea cakes... I mean goal assessment.
ReplyDeleteI should have come to you for the stars, Wendy! Clink, clink to a successful 2014 for both of us. I will really need the Feb pep talk, not making much progress apart from MA submission right now...
DeleteThat was an impressive year just gone, Tracy. It's a great idea for you and Wendy to meet up - I do that too with a couple of friends occasionally and also have the local writing group. Sounds a great idea to do more drama when you've proved you can write it. I'm only entering free comps from now on, if at all.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the free comps, Rosemary, many offer great returns. I'm so pleased to have met Wendy - it is wonderful to have a like-minded writing living so close to talk over writing topics. Highly recommended!
DeleteYou had a great year Tracy - so now onwards and upwards! I must admit I'm with you on the womags - particularly after a new year rejection from PF. Look forward to all your news.
ReplyDeleteRejection right at the start of the year is miserable, isn't it? Good luck, Tracey, with all your other submissions and thank you for the support :)
DeleteWell done, Tracy, on last year's successes and on having such a clear and focused plan for this year. On my to-do list is to do more on the book ideas I have lurking in folders on my desk.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julia, and hope you identify a project from your folders. That sounds a good idea too to keep track of your ideas.
DeleteMagazine stories is where I did best last year, so I'm going to write and submit more of those.
ReplyDeleteGood to hear you're having success with the womags, Patsy. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it! Hope 2014 is even better for you.
Delete