Thursday, February 11, 2016

The Right Match by Shannon Fay

From the February 15, 2016 issue

**Whoops. I seem to have skipped the Feb. 8 issue. I'll get on it next week.**

Tagline: Jeff thought he was on the right path, but Cupid had another plan!

Observations: Bravo, Ms. Fay for a really different story, and not just because it was from the man's POV. As has happened before, I'm smacking myself in the head for not thinking of a plot involving a date gone wrong which turns into a matchmaker story.

I seriously had no idea how Fay was going to make this story end up happily. The date was so stupendously awkward, but that's what makes it so wonderful when she drops that plot twist on us.

I have nothing else to say about this story. It was fabulous.

Other stories by Shannon Fay

Photo credit: British Mum via Flickr Creative Commons

15 comments:

Pat said...

I also loved this story. I've been following Shannon Fay's stories in WW since the about 1990. Her stories are always great.

I was surprised you didn't add twist to the labels after you mentioned it.

Anonymous said...

I agree wholeheartedly with Kate -- awesome plot twist, and fabulous story! :)

Maria

Tamara said...

This was one of the best WW stories I've seen.

Sandy Smith said...

I also thought it was such a different story with a great plot twist. I was also trying to figure out how it would turn out OK.

Anonymous said...

Really enjoyed this story. I've always thought Mrs. Fay was a good writer. The plot twist was really good!

Hope this is alright to post here, but I was wondering if Women's World sends confirmations now that they have gone to electronic submissions. Sent something to them last Wednesday, but never received confirmation if it made it through.

Thanks in advance.
Andi

Mary Jo said...

One story I sent a couple of weeks ago brought an electronic confirmation. I have sent one or two submissions since then and received no confirmation. I guess they are still working on it. I certainly hope they arrange to confirm receipt of all submissions; otherwise, how would we know?

Tamara said...

I didn't receive confirmations either. What really concerns me is whether the two I sent snail main prior to this shake-up will fall into the no-response-unless-accepted rule. I guess I'll give up after six months for those, one in October and one in November.

Mary Jo said...

Tamara, my understanding is that Patricia will read everything that comes over her desk. Snail mail or email, you may be getting a nice check very soon.

Betsi said...

Tamara, I believe Patricia said she won't be sending out rejections even on the snail mail submissions. She sent me an email last week and said she hadn't received the manuscript I snail-mailed on 1/20, and asked me to email it. (Unfortunately it was a 4th of July story, and they don't need the long advance submission time anymore -- I hope she'll hang on to it until the time is right.) If I were you, I'd email anything you sent by mail since the beginning of the year.

And Andi, her auto-reply is working erratically, but if your email didn't bounce back to you, it almost certainly made it to Patricia's inbox.

Tamara said...

I will do as you suggested, Betsi, and email the January submissions; will give up on the snail mail submission from October and soon the one from November at the four-month mark. I guess we can't avoid the transition-time befuddlement.

Anonymous said...

Thank you Mary Jo, Tamara and Betsi,

That makes me feel better knowing I'm not the only one that hasn't heard back. I appreciate you guys comments.

Couldn't help but smile at Tamara's comment about "transition-time befuddlement."

As writers it becomes necessary to develop a thick skin, so to speak, but it would still be nice to know that the work we spend so much time trying to perfect, has at least been received, and properly reviewed. Even if rejected in the end. A simple form letter would do the trick!

Also, since there is a difference between the email address "unpublished writers" must submit to, versus the address published Woman's World writers submit to, I'm really hoping that they will be given equal consideration. Makes me wonder.....

Okay, sorry to ramble. Now, time to cook dinner. The natives are starting to get restless! LOL :)

P.S. I'm loving this blog!

Andi

Betsi said...

Andi, I do understand what you're saying. If I hadn't been published I'd probably have the same fear. But I've had 10 years experience with WW, and I've seen many, many new names. This past year in particular seemed to have a lot of first time authors. I think you can trust that your work will be given a fair shot.

Tamara said...

I'm not aware of separate addresses for unpublished authors. Can someone tell me?

Betsi said...

The addresses begin with either fictionpro or fiction, Tamara. I assume you've been subbing to fictionpro.

Kate Willoughby said...

Woman's World is extremely open to new writers. The only thing they want is A GOOD STORY. While I think Patricia might be looking at her FictionPro inbox more frequently, it's my belief that she only does so because those authors have been vetted already and have a track record. However, I am 100% certain that should she find a gem in the Fiction inbox, she'll snap it up just as easily. Also, I don't think that just because a writer has sold a story to WW means all their stories will be accepted. We maybe have a foot in the door, but that's all, as far as I can tell.