Getting tough

One result of being less stressed at the moment (no packing, no day job) is that I’m focusing a little more on my old stories and their status. So last week I asked one magazine that’s had a story for six months if they’ve made a decision yet, and I told another that if they don’t respond soon (they’ve missed the publication date—which isn’t that unusual—and haven’t responded to two inquiries, which I’ve learned is a serious red flag), I’m going to take it back.
This week, I hope to start checking for fresh markets for the stories I’ve had sitting on my laptop because I didn’t have time to submit them.