Any advice?

[wearywanderer64]

370 days ago I sent a short story to AHMM. Still haven't heard back. I've already sent two follow up emails. Still nothing.

 

[Naomasa298]

At this stage, I would probably consider the story lost. I would submit it somewhere else, preferably somewhere with a much faster response time. I'm not sure if I would even bother to let them know I am withdrawing it, although that would be courtesy. You can let it continue to sit with them, and withdraw it only if you get a response from somewhere else.

This is probably also illustrative of the fact that you shouldn't invest so much in a single submission. Sure, submit to these long response publications, but don't JUST submit them there. Ignore the fact that they don't accept simsubs. Withdrawals are common, and expected, even if they're not liked. On its own, a single withdrawal won't disqualify you from submitting there in the future. Try to find fast venues, and order the priority and strategise in how you submit.

 

[wearywanderer64]

Thanks for the advice, Naomasa298. I assume it's failed. Maybe it slipped though the (inter) net. I've often heard submit/don't submit to more than one publication.

Thanks again.

 

[Naomasa298]

I've often heard submit/don't submit to more than one publication.

Many (but not all) genre publications say they don't allow simsubs. But authors withdraw all the time, for example, if they decide they want to submit the story somewhere else, instead. It's part and parcel of the game. Just as long as you don't do it regularly, like, every month to the same venue.

I mean, if you submit to a venue that regularly takes a year to respond, and also submit it to a venue that responds in 14 days, if the fast venue rejects it, you don't then have to withdraw it from the longer one. And if it's accepted, then just withdraw it. Caveat is that some places can be sensitive to it, but I wouldn't say most are. When you withdraw, you don't have to give a reason.

Also, it looks like AHMM *does* accept simsubs. They say:
"Although we do accept simultaneous submissions, we ask that you notify us immediately if your story has been accepted elsewhere before we’ve had a chance to read your story. We do ask that you do not simultaneously submit the same story to AHMM and EQMM. If we reject your story, for whatever reason, you are then free to submit it to EQMM (and vice versa)."

So you are free to submit it wherever else you like, even while it sits with them.

 

[wearywanderer64]

Thanks again for that info. I was really shocked at the lack of reply by them, considering how big and professional they are. And I was also a subscriber.