The Basement Office

I’m mildly miffed, although I’m not sure I have a right to be and it really isn’t a big deal.  It’s more of an “huh.” moment.

Two weeks ago I submitted a short story to Telegraph Connect, for their Primogeniture Anthology.   Now I like my story, and I believe in it.  I’m also fine if it gets rejected.

I also believe I could have worked on it a bit more.  My post here outlines some of what I should have done.

So what’s miffing me?  Can I say miffing?  Screw it, I’m saying miffing.

Well the deadline was April 18th and I met that deadline.  I went to visit the site again and basically it says  “Stories being reviewed. If you didn’t submit your story yet, please do so still. ”

What?  You mean I could have worked on it another two weeks?

One the one hand. I could have had my alpha reader read it several times.  I could have editted and polished it for two whole weeks.

On the other, two weeks COULD mean that I could have procrastinated for two more weeks.  It would have meant two more weeks of agonizing and rethinkning and rewriting.

I know myself well enough to know that I would have done the latter.    Hindsight is 20/20.

Deadlines are good.   Respecting them is the mark of a professional.  This is something I am trying to learn.   I’m not always good at meeting deadlines but this year, I’m making a point of trying.

I was wondering if I should polish my story some more and resubmit, but I will respect the deadline and go with what I have.  Sometimes overthinking it is bad too.   Who knows?  Maybe working on it for another two weeks would mean that the story loses something that makes it special.

All in all, I guess I shouldn’t be too miffed about it.  It all works out in the end.

Back to waiting.