Check out my interview with Celestial Echo Press for my story, The Only Real Thing, which appeared in their anthology, Behind the Revolving Door, an Anthology of Choices (Volume II), November 2025.
The interview is available on the Celestial Echo Press Facebook page. Read it here.
I began sending out “Something Sensational” in October 2023. After just over two years and twenty-four submissions, it is set to be published in Mobius Boulevard, Issue 32, in June 2026. This story has a fairly long submission history, but with not quite as many ups and downs as others, like “The Only Real Thing” (Celestial Echo Press, 2025). In that first year of submissions, I received 11 rejections, as well as two pieces of personalized feedback:
“Our Associate Editors enjoyed this story, and passed it up to the Assistant Editors. About 10-15% of submissions reach this stage. This story had a very interesting situation, but we thought too many details about the situation were unexplained or withheld for too long for our tastes.”
“The story is well written, and I like the balance between Tessa and Claire. The ending didn’t quite work for me, though. The core of the plot, to me, feels like the dynamic between the two of them, not the creature. The ending with the focus on the creature doesn’t quite seem to fit.”
By now, I know that personalized feedback means the story has merit, so I was encouraged to continue. While I appreciated the comment about the ending to the story, and saw where they were coming from, I never considered altering the story. To me, the ending is what makes the story so powerful. So, onward, then.
In the next year of submissions, I received an additional eleven rejections from publishers, along with plentiful comments:
“While the investigation for the alien algae was an interesting angle, readers did not find that the aquatic life in question appeared early enough for what we were seeking in this anthology.”
“I really liked most of this story–I thought the characters were nicely developed, as was the interview and the eventual revelation of the creature. However, I thought some of it, especially toward the end, seemed a little too easy, somehow, or maybe a bit quick; the creature is able to feed off the phone’s dim light, which is cool, but then everything else sort of happens in a flash. It also feels a bit distant, suddenly, as though the style/PoV has changed slightly.”
“Daniel, nice work here. While not one of our selections, we look forward to seeing more from you in the future. Keep this one in circulation and best of luck finding the right market for it.”
“This story joined 56 others – out of 300 total submissions – in the second round of reads as I planned the magazine table of contents. But with only 5 or 6 slots available yours didn’t really fit the flow of this issue.”
Lots of promising comments here. Some more criticism of the ending, which I filed away for later in case this story wasn’t close to being accepted. “Something Sensational” made it past the first round in at least one publication, but probably more. Again, something I’ve noticed after logging all these submissions: when I get specific comments like these, and especially when publishers hint that the story came close to acceptance, that was a sign that good news might be coming my way.
Finally, on December 7, 2025, Dark Horses Magazine offered to accept “Something Sensational” in their sister magazine, Mobius Boulevard, in Issue 32 (June 1st). I can’t wait to see the story in print, and hope you’re looking forward to it.
During January 2026, I submitted ten stories to publications, including Mystic Mind Magazine (2nd sub, 1 withdrawn), two to Parsec Short Story Contest (2nd sub, 1 withdrawn), Three-Lobed Burning Eye (4th sub), Permanent Flux (1st sub), Trollbreath Magazine (2nd sub), foorafaw (2nd sub), Strange Horizons (3rd sub), Escape Pod (4 subs, all positive rejections), and Uncharted (8 subs, 3 positive rejections).
This month saw the highest number of submissions since July 2025. Why the uptick? Part of this has to do with my withdrawing a few stories and resubmitting new ones (the reason for that is below). The other part is that I started submitting a short story as a reprint; specifically, “Never and Always,” originally published by readshortfiction.com in 2015. “Never and Always” is no longer available online, and is perhaps my strongest story from that original batch of publications from 2011-2015 (before I got back into writing and started this blog). So, why not? I’m also toying with sending out “Dark Creation,” my very first fiction publication (Indigo Rising Magazine, 2011), since it is similarly no longer available in print or online.
I also received five rejections this month, including The Daily Tomorrow (2nd rejection), Permanent Flux (1st rejection), BAM Magazine (1st rejection, 1 positive), ShortStory Substack (2nd rejection), and Trollbreath Magazine (2nd rejection)
One publication said of my rejected story, “This story joined 56 others – out of 300 total submissions – in the second round of reads as I planned the magazine table of contents. But with only 5 or 6 slots available yours didn’t really fit the flow of this issue.” Sounds like I got close!
Finally, some fantastic news. This month I received two story acceptances. Penumbric Speculative Fiction (5 subs, 1 acceptance) agreed to publish my story, “Pest,” in an upcoming issue. This is the 5th story I’ve submitted to Penumbric. I’ve always admired how they provide detailed feedback upon request, and I am thrilled to have finally landed a spot in one of their upcoming issues. Second, Ink Alchemy Books will be publishing my story, “The Lifecycle of Star Stuff,” in an anthology called Xeno, about non-human perspectives. Expect dedicated blog posts on both these stories in the future. Which reminds me – I still need to write one up on “Something Sensational.”
With three additional stories set for publication this year, things are looking up! Only three unpublished stories remain before they’ve all found a home.
During December 2025, I submitted four stories to publications, including Total Quality Reading (1st sub), the Writers of the Future Contest (1st sub in many years), Penumbric (5th sub), and Dark Horses Magazine (1st sub). I haven’t submitted to the Writers of the Future contest since I started keeping a record in 2022, but I did earn two Honorable Mentions many years ago.
I also received two rejections from publications, including Haven Speculative (4th rejection) and Lady Chulchill’s Rosebud Wristlet (2nd rejection).
Finally, more good news. Dark Horses Magazine has accepted my story, “Something Sensational,” for publication in their sister magazine, Mobius Boulevard, most likely in Issue 32 (June 1st). Expect a full write-up of the story’s submission history in the coming weeks.
With the holidays, this was predictably a slow month for both submissions and rejections, but the story acceptance makes this a big win. I have five remaining short stories out for submissions, but I’m considering submitting previously published stories as reprints. I’m also hoping to write new ones as soon as I have breathing room between larger projects.
During November 2025, I submitted five stories to publications, including The Daily Tomorrow (2nd sub), Gavagai (1st sub), The Future Fire (4th sub), DreamForge Magazine (3rd sub), and Haven Speculative (4th sub).
I also received three rejections from publications, including Fantasy Magazine (2nd rejection), foorafaw (1st rejection), and DreamForge Magazine (3rd rejection; 1 positive).
I appear to be slowing down with my submissions, but for some stories, I’ve already exhausted most of my preferred options. But rest assured, I’m keeping my eye out for when others re-open, and for new opportunities. Until then, we wait and see.
In the meantime, two of my stories, “The Only Real Thing” and “The Shadow Over Jordan Lake,” were recently released, so I’m going to enjoy these successes and use them as motivation to keep sending out stories.
You can read my short story, “The Only Real Thing,” in Behind the Revolving Door, an Anthology of Choices (Volume II).
If you’re interested in learning more about the story’s submission history, I have a write-up of its publication journey over at my blog.
You can read my short story, “The Shadow Over Jordan Lake,” in Black Cat Weekly, Issue #215.
If you’re interested in learning more about the story’s submission history, I have a write-up of its publication journey over at my blog.
Apologies for the delay!
During October 2025, I submitted six stories to publications, including Fusion Fragment (8th sub), foorafaw (1st sub), DreamForge Magazine (2nd sub), Meetinghouse (1st sub), Amazing Stories (3rd sub), and ShortStory Substack (2nd sub).
I also received six rejections from publications, including Trollbreath (1st rejection), Fusion Fragment (8th rejection), DreamForge Magazine (2nd rejection), Metaphorosis (5 rejections; 2 positive; 1 hold request), Bog Matter Magazine (1st rejection), and McSweeney’s Quarterly (2nd rejection).
The rejection from Metaphorosis, who sent a hold request back in August, means I no longer have any stories on hold by publishers. But as a result, I can send more stories out there. I will be held back no longer.
After a few slow months, we’ve returned to something close to my average for submissions and rejections. I’m hoping to keep the numbers consistent, since I do not have any new stories to put in circulation (still working on larger projects).
Finally, my story, “The Only Real Thing,” is set to appear in Behind Revolving Doors: An Anthology of Choices, Volume II, by Celestial Echo Press, on December 1st, so look forward to my announcement then!
During September 2025, I submitted three stories to publications, including Trollbreath Magazine (1st sub), Fantasy Magazine (2nd sub), and Xeno (1st sub).
I also received four rejections from publications, including Allegory Zine (1st rejection; honorable mention), Haven Speculative (3rd rejection), Just Keep Up Magazine (2nd rejection), and Uncanny Magazine (5th rejection; 1 positive). The rejection from Allegory Zine did state that the story would receive an Honorable Mention, even though it didn’t make the cut.
Another quiet month, which has to do with shifting my writing focus to larger projects. But when the right publication is open, I will continue submitting. Soon, I will start seeing my accepted stories in print, which should be great motivation to continue writing and sending out stories.
“The Only Real Thing” was the first story I wrote after taking a break from writing. “The Shadow Over Jordan Lake” is much more recent. It began with a writing prompt: a man takes a 23 and Me only to find out he is part Fish. I wrote the first draft in January of 2024, revising it over the next seven months. Along the way, it went through some title changes, including “Lakefront Property” and “The Shad Over Jordan Lake,” before I finally settled on the current title. By July, the story felt complete and ready to go.
In all, I sent “The Shadow Over Jordan Lake” to 15 publications over the course of 1 year and 1 month before it was accepted. This might sound like a lot, but compared to the journey of “The Only Real Thing,” this was a cakewalk. Here is some of the feedback I received in positive rejection letters during that time (I am leaving out the names of the publications because I did not ask their permission):
“The story is cute”
“We really enjoyed your story, but we’re sorry this isn’t the right story for us right now. We did find much to admire in your work, though, and we hope you’ll send us more to consider soon.”
“I appreciated the tone and the concept, but I think I would have preferred a tighter plot.”
“Your assured writing and intriguing concept pulled us in with this one, but in the end we felt that it didn’t quite fit the needs of the magazine, so we have decided to pass on it. We wish you the very best of luck in placing your story elsewhere.”
After just over a year of submitting the story, I finally got the request from Black Cat Weekly to publish it. Now “The Shadow Over Jordan” is set to appear soon, possibly in October. I will post a link to the issue when it is released.
Daniel Kason