A little more than a week after completing the 3-Day Novel Challenge, I find myself faced with multiple contest possibilities and zero (I mean, nada!) time. I won’t know how “Call Me Vic” does in the 3-Day Novel Contest until January, so that work is off the table and cannot be submitted elsewhere (or it would invalidate my entry in the contest.) I’ve prepared a tale called “Morning” for Writer’s Digest’s Short, Short Story Contest, and will be submitting my horror short story “Underneath” (which I believe is technically a novelette) to Glimmer Train. I had initially intended to submit “Underneath” to WEIRD TALES, but GT has a $2000 grand prize, so I’m tossing it in their ring first.

The problem is, I would love to get a few more things out there – but there are so many contests with deadlines in September and October, I’m not sure where to start. To add to the confusion, I often wonder if I should try my hand at literary fiction. I mean, I tend to be Captain Genre, able to leap any genre topic in a single perfect bound (bookbinding humor,) but I know that devotion to genre work limits my options for submissions and contests. Plus, I’ve never considered myself the Great American Novel type – writing out prose in script over a latte at Starbucks with the rest of my vegan friends. I doubt anyone will ever think my work belongs in a classroom, but that isn’t what I’m aiming for. I just want to entertain people with a fun story, you know? So what do you think, dear reader? Should I try my hand at something more mainstream, or stick to my genre guns? I await your input.

J