The word count function in our submissions system is there for a reason. Please don't fib to me when you use it. The limit is 4000 words. I have this much time to read stories during a given week, and rarely more. I read Firebox entries first, generally, because we publish one a week and I like to keep ahead of myself by a month when possible. Alicia generally reads in order. That's it for fiction readers right now. Other stories get read after that, and in order of submission, generally. but it's entirely annoying to plan for reading a series of say, near-max stories, author-identified at 4000 words or less, when the actual wordcounts vary from 3300 to a whopping 7000 words. I think to myself, regarding these submitters, otherwise fine and upstanding citizens I'm sure, who do you think you're fooling?

I just want to plan better, read more quickly, and so on. Help me do so, and don't for the love of whatever frickin' god you do or don't believe in, send me another 7000-word story. I'm not going to read it well, if it all, now. I don't want to be impatient. I like you all. I can't do this without you. I wish we were bestest friends and could pass a bowl around and howl at the stupidity of publishers who don't recognize our sheer genius, drink cheap beer and lay illegitimate kisses on one another until we all become exhausted or puke into the forsythia. I really do. Just, a little attention to the guidelines, please?

And if you find me unfair, feel free to say so. Comment below.