Daniel Kason

June 2025 Submissions Recap

During June 2025, I submitted seven stories to publications, including twice to NewMyths.com (7^th and 8^th subs), Haven Speculative (2^nd sub), Penumbric (4^th sub), The Colored Lens (9^th sub), Electric Spec (3^rd sub; 1 hold request), and The Paris Review (2^nd sub).

I also received five rejections from publications, including NewMyths.com (7^th and 8^th rejections), Radon Journal (1^st rejection), Abyss and Apex (2^nd rejection; 1 positive), and The Colored Lens (9^th rejection; 6 positive; 1 hold request).

Finally, I received one hold request from Allegory Zine (1^st sub).

After submitting to the same publication twice in a month and getting rejected both times, the hold request feels good. This is also my sixth hold request since re-starting my submissions journey in 2022, and while none have led to a publication, I’ll still take them as promising signs. Let’s see what comes in July.

July 10, 2025

fantasy, fiction, publishing, rejection, science-fiction, short-stories, speculative fiction, stories, story submissions, submissions, writing
May 2025 Submissions Recap

During May 2025, I submitted 11 short stories to publications, including Planet Scumm (1^st sub), Behind the Revolving Door: An Anthology of Choices (1^st sub), Allegory Zine (1st sub), The Cincinnati Review (1^st sub), ShortStory Substack (1^st sub), Joyland Magazine (1^st sub), The Colored Lens (8^th sub), Interzone (7^th sub), Radon Journal (1^st sub), Jerry Jazz Musician Short Story Contest (1^st sub), and Three-Lobed Burning Eye (3^rd sub).

I also received 7 rejections from publications, including Electric Spec (2^nd rejection; held for consideration), The Future Fire (3^rd rejection), Just Keep Up Magazine (1^st rejection), The Colored Lens (8^th rejection, 5 positive; 1 hold request), Interzone (7^th rejection; 1 positive), Bannister Press: The Other Anthology (1^st rejection), and Three-Lobed Burning Eye (3^rd rejection).

After receiving three hold requests in recent months, it was frustrating that none made it to publication, even though that’s how the process goes sometimes. This month I decided to get more aggressive with submissions, roughly doubling my usual number. No idea how that will pan out, but it’s worth a try. Let’s see what happens in June.

June 10, 2025

fantasy, fiction, publishing, rejection, science-fiction, short-stories, stories, story submissions, submissions, writing
April 2025 Submissions Recap

During April 2025, I submitted five stories to publications, including Amazing Stories (1^st sub), Fusion Fragment (6^th sub), The Future Fire (3^rd sub), Bannister Press: The Other Anthology (1^st sub), and Strange Horizons (2^nd sub). It’s nice to see Amazing Stories up and running again, and I was glad to get a story sent to Strange Horizons—a dream publication—during their submissions window.

I also received five rejections from publications, including McSweeney’s Quarterly (1^st rejection), Amazing Stories (1^st rejection), Fusion Fragment (5^th rejection), Fantasy Magazine (1^st rejection), and Andromeda Spaceways Magazine (2 rejections, both positive; 1 hold request). Technically, Andromeda Spaceways did not reject my story, but instead couldn’t find a place for it in the current issue, so it was released.

Andromeda Spaceways sent some promising feedback, as well. One reviewer wrote, “Wow. This might be the best story I’ve read for Andromeda Spaceways,” going on to call it an “Exceptional story.” So, even though the story wasn’t picked up, I’m confident in its quality. Someone better publish it soon.

Finally, I received one hold request by Electric Spec (2^nd submission). Diehard Daniel Kason fans might remember that I was published by Electric Spec way back in 2014, and it’s gratifying to know they are still interested in my writing.

Overall, this was a big month, with a mix of promising and disappointing news, yet still no acceptances. Let’s see what comes in May!

May 5, 2025

fantasy, fiction, publishing, rejection, science-fiction, short-stories, stories, story submissions, submissions, writing
March 2025 Submissions Recap

During March 2025, I submitted three stories to publications, including Penumbric (3^rd submission), Just Keep Up Magazine (1^st submission), and Drabblecast (1^st submission).

I also received four rejections from publications, including Lady Churchill’s Rosebud Wristlet (1^st rejection, and by mail, no less), Blackbird (1^st rejection), NewMyths.com (6^th rejection), and Penumbric (3^rd rejection). In their feedback, Penumbric mentioned that they thought “the characters were nicely developed, as was the interview and the eventual revelation of the creature.” So that’s positive, I guess!

Overall, this was my quietest submission month since I starting keeping track. But that only means good things are on the horizon.

April 10, 2025

fantasy, fiction, publishing, rejection, science-fiction, short-stories, stories, story submissions, submissions, writing
February 2025 Submissions Recap

Sorry for the delay, but I’m back. During February 2025, I submitted four stories to publications, including Electric Spec (2^nd submission since I was published there years ago), Graveside Press: Tiny Terrors Anthology (1^st submission), Abyss and Apex (2^nd submission; I received a positive rejection that stated my story was “well-received”), and NewMyths.com (6^th submission).

I also received seven rejections from publications, including Penumbric (2^nd rejection), Noncorporeal III: Nightfall Anthology (1^st rejection), Graveside Press: Tiny Terrors Anthology (1^st rejection), Reckoning (2^nd rejection), Murderfish Anthology (1^st rejection), the Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest (1^st rejection), and Spooky Magazine (1^st rejection).

Not a super eventful month, although I heard back from a lot of spooky scary publications for some reason. Hopefully March will liven things up!

March 21, 2025

fantasy, fiction, publishing, rejection, science-fiction, short-stories, story submissions, submissions, writing
January 2025 Submissions Recap

During January 2025, I submitted five stories to publications, including Penumbric (2 submissions total), the Noncorporeal III: Nightfall anthology (1^st submission to anthology series), Fantasy Magazine (1^st submission to this resurrected zine), Murderfish Anthology (1^st submission), and Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Contest (1^st submission).

This month, I received five rejections from publications, including Sally Port Magazine (1^st rejection), Electric Spec (1^st rejection, although I do have a story published there in 2014), The Paris Review (1^st rejection in many years), Augur (1^st rejection), and Uncharted (7 rejections total; 4 positive). I think The Paris Review is the first publication I ever sent a story, way back in high school with encouragement from my creative writing teacher. We won’t discuss the merit of the story I submitted.

That wraps up January. Another relatively quiet month. I’m noticing a pattern, however: I average about 5 submissions and rejections each month. Maybe this number will rise as I continue to write more stories. I also noticed that other than Uncharted, and to a lesser extent Penumbric, these are all new submission destinations for me. Is this a sign I’ve exhausted the usual suspects, or am I branching out? Probably both, I think?

Next up: February! (I know, what a surprise)

February 14, 2025

fantasy, fiction, publishing, rejections, science fiction, short stories, stories, story submissions, writing
December 2024 Submissions Recap

Compared to last month, December 2024 felt like a quiet month for submissions. Looking back, though, that wasn’t quite true. I submitted five stories to publications, including Interzone (6 submissions total), Port Crow Press (1^st submission), The Deadlands (2 submissions total), Spooky Magazine (1^st submission), and Electric Spec (1^st in a long time). Spooky Magazine looks rather spooky, if you ask me. I haven’t submitted to Electric Spec in many years, but my story, “The Family Tree,” was published there way back in 2014, and is still available to read.

This month, I also received six rejections from publications, including Hexagon SF Magazine (1^st rejection), James Gunn’s Ad Astra (1^st rejection), Interzone (6 total rejections, 1 positive), Bourbon Penn (2 total rejections), The Deadlands (2 total rejections), and Apex Magazine (7 total rejections). I’m very insulted that James Gunn didn’t like my story. Now I won’t check out the new Superman movie.

That’s it for December 2024. No big news, but I’m still submitting and receiving rejections, and still writing. We’ll see what’s next in January.

January 21, 2025

fantasy, fiction, publishing, rejection, science-fiction, submissions, writing
November 2024 Submissions Recap

During the month of November, I submitted 4 stories to publications, including Hexagon SF Magazine (1^st submission), Reckoning (2^nd submission), Uncharted Magazine (7 total rejections; 4 form letters, 3 positive), and Bourbon Penn (1^st submission). I’ll keep submitting to Uncharted until they ban me or publish me. Their choice.

This month, I received 5 rejections from publications, including Inner Worlds Magazine (1^st rejection), Escape Pod (3 rejections, all positive), Analog (4 total rejections; 3 form letters, 1 positive), Interzone (6 total rejections; 5 form letters, 1 positive), and The Colored Lens (7 total rejections; 2 form letters, 5 positive, with 1 hold request).

In terms of positive rejections, Escape Pod considered a weird story I wrote about a sentient piece of aluminum. They responded that the story “had a great big idea at its core, but we wanted more development of the character and conflict beyond the initial premise.” Escape Pod is one of the leading sci-fi podcast markets, and it would be incredible to land a story there. Meanwhile, The Colored Lens considered my take on Lovecraft’s “The Shadow Over Innsmouth,” but with my Dad jokes. They responded that they “appreciated the tone and the concept, but I think I would have preferred a tighter plot.” I’ve been submitting to The Colored Lens for years, and even received a hold request. Like Uncharted, it’s felt like I’ve come just short of landing a home for a story in this market several times, and I just need to keep at it.

Finally, this month I received two hold requests. The first is from Sally Port Magazine (1^st submission), who wrote, “You’ve got a great story here.” Second, another story was shortlisted by Andromeda Spaceways Magazine (2 submissions, with a positive rejection). The story passed through three rounds of readings, and is now being passed up to two editors. They noted that even at this stage, only 1 in 20 stories make it from the shortlist to acceptance. Both publications will need months to make their final decisions, so I probably will not hear back anytime soon. Regardless, I haven’t received a hold request in a while, and having two in one month is incredibly promising. This is good motivation to keep writing and submitting.

And that wraps up November. Still no acceptances, but this is my most encouraging month yet, with several positive rejections and two hold requests. Hopefully December will bring even better news.

December 24, 2024

fiction, publishing, short-stories, submissions, writing
October 2024 Recap

During October, I submitted 4 stories to publications, including The Paris Review (my 1st submission there in many years), Augur (1st submission), Blackbird (1st submission), and Apex Magazine (7 total submissions). I’ve never been able to crack the Apex Magazine formula, despite it being one of my most submitted-to markets. Maybe this time will be different?

I received 6 rejections from publications, including my 5^th form rejection from Fusion Fragment, as well as my 1st from DreamForge, Jersey Devil Press, Pseudopod, and The Dark Magazine. More positively, Uncharted (7 total rejections; 4 form letters, 3 positive) wrote that they “enjoyed my story” and “found much to admire in [my] work.” I’ve been trying to crack this market for years, and it’s felt like I’ve come close several times. Hopefully I’ll land a story there soon!

Since I’ve just started these recaps, I have no idea if this was a quiet or active month. Either way, this recap will provide a baseline to understand my progress in future months. With any luck, good news is on its way.

December 13, 2024
Monthly Submission Recaps

This blog will be devoted to recording my short story publication journey. Since taking a break from writing to finish my PhD and sort out my life, I have been writing steadily since 2020, completing 8 short stories that are ready for publication, with more on the way. None of these stories have been published so far, but I’ve received many positive rejections and hold requests.

However, the submission grind can be tedious and taxing. My hope is that by recapping my submissions and responses monthly, I can hold myself accountable, while demystifying the process for others.

Stay tuned for the October 2024 submission recap, followed by November 2024. From December 2024 on, expect to see my recaps monthly.

December 4, 2024