I Waited 1,106 Days for Publication — Then I Gave Up

Why do Publishers Leave Writers Hanging?

“We’d love to publish your writing on our podcast. Please send us a recording.”

This message arrived in my inbox back in August 2021. Joy! My 300-word fiction Satellite of Love had already been published by Flash Flood in the UK, but this publisher could send my work into the stratosphere.

The acceptance came from a leading podcast that features some of the best-known short-fiction writers in the world. Back then, the podcast was in its first season, and I rejoiced at getting in early. What opportunities could it unlock?

I recorded my story and sent it in.

“Perfect,” they said. “No edits needed.”

I don’t think the podcast’s listenership is in the millions, but my work would have featured alongside George Saunders, Dave Eggers and Meg Pokrass. At the very least, the episode would have featured at the top of my writing CV.

As a short fiction writer with over 100 publishing credits, I’m used to waiting, and the world of publishing can be slow. Some of my work took over a year to see the light of day, and I currently have a story that’s been in a magazine’s ‘when the time is right’ pile for 2+ years.