This weekend  I received acceptances on poetry submissions from editors at both Umbrella Factory and Gone Lawn. These poems should appear online in June and April, respectively. On the rejection front, Flashquake told me my short-short was a good concept for flash but felt under-done, and Prick of the Spindle turned down a story but muted the pain with the comment that they thought the story had heart and they hoped I’d keep working on it. Well, I’m putting that one aside for now. I have worked on it too much, and received enough comments like this to know that it’s time to take a break. In fact, I’m thinking of taking an extended break from fiction altogether. It’s become too painstaking and I don’t believe in writing (or revising) when it feels so forced.

It’s curious how word comes from editors in waves. Brief showers of communication irrigate long dry spells, before the crickets hop back in and tune up their violin legs. Sometimes I become so enthralled by the cricket music that I forget I had even sent anything out.