I Accidentally Submitted the Same Piece to the Same Literary Journal Twice
Because the literary journal submission process is hard and stuff.
Preface
I wrote the following after I realized I’d accidentally submitted the same piece to the same literary journal months apart, and after I had applied, interviewed, and accepted an adjunct position teaching at the university that published that journal. Between the interviews, job offer, and trying to determine their policy on faculty submissions, I had a very hard time wrapping my head around what I’d done. I’m doing my best to not delete it from here; I’m trying to be more open with myself to edit in public and get out of the habit of completely destroying writing that doesn’t work out.
It served as the basis of my email to the journal’s managing editor well enough, so it served its audience and purpose. It goes in the win column.
Dear Literary Journal,
I’m so very sorry for accidentally submitting to you twice. At the end of April, I submitted a short story to ten journals; I remember forcing myself to find ten. After about four hours, I succeeded in finding ten open calls for fiction that accepted stories over a thousand words. After typing up the cover letters highlighting my current teaching role, working into the middle that I also hold an MBA degree outside of my creative writing credentials, and paying the still-surprisingly-unaffecteed-by-inflation submission fees, I closed the browser, finished my bourbon, stood, and let me body topple over onto the day bed that was covered only by a single blue-fiber blanket three steps away from my computer desk.
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In August, I opened the submission manager again, and noticed I submitted the same story to another journal in June. I immediately recalled the sensation of feeling like I should submit the story to a few more places now that the spring semester had ended, and that it was probably a sensation I’d felt back in June. First, I was confused as to why I’d only submitted it tone more; I remembered the feeling being quite strong and I thought I’d have found a few more. Then I noticed the journal I’d submitted the story to in June was a journal I’d already sent it to back in April. I have no idea what happened that day in June. I can only plead temporary stressed-out-writer-post-2025-election.
I assume your editor has been sitting at his or her desk since June holding their hands to their sides of their head, pressing gently into themselves, rocking a little, but not too much because that would look crazy. They’re wondering why in heaven’s sakes I, Eric Shay Howard, submitted the same piece twice to the same damn journal–I mean like what in the hell was I thinking?
I don’t know. I’m so very upset by it, almost irrationally so. If I had a therapist, I’d talk about it with them for sure. Like, who am I to submit the same piece twice to the same damn journal? Is it because of my mother?
Here’s my MFA, still in its holder. It’s been propped up on my dresser against the wall for one year. You can take it. I’m giving it to you. I’m sorry. I don’t deserve it. I don’t know what I’m doing, and I never did. Please don’t tell the folks over at Current Second Best Journal about this; after I wait out the storm of fury and shame for a few years, I’d like to send a piece to them.
Best,
Eric Shay Howard (he/him)
