Barely Hidden Irony

One of the funny things about publishing is that nearly everyone involved—from writers themselves, to editors, sales people, service providers, web designers, readers—has an interest in words. (I promise you, this statement is not reductive.)

For example, I use an internet service that helps me keep track of where and when I send stories into the world. The service, duotrope.com, also tells me about sketchy markets to avoid, contests that might appeal to me, and publications that might match my story.   It's a nifty tool, especially if you are submitting a lot of stories to a lot of publications.

But to my wordy point: let me share this little gem from Duotrope:

This is a partial screen grab from a story submitted somewhere in 2020, and which I just recently updated as "Never Responded."  This is a LOT less uncommon than you'd think. A roaming black hole in the publishing universe swallows many a hope, dream, and story. 

But note, if you will, how the designer of the page labels that date when I say the publication "Never Responded."

​It's not the date Accepted or Rejected. It's the Capitulation date. I have capitulated, which means "to cease resisting" or "to give in." 

Someone behind the scenes at Duotrope is absolutely slaying it.