Once you have sent in your submission, you should receive a reply acknowledging receipt of your e-mail. Read the submission guidelines closely because many publishers will tell you upfront what their turnaround time is. An acknowledgement of receipt usually takes a day or two at most, and it’s simply an e-mail that says they received your submission.
If you’re submitting stories to multiple publishers, it’s a good idea to keep a spreadsheet to track your submissions. List the publisher’s name, the story you sent, the date sent, and the date(s) you expect a reply, based on the turnaround times found on the publisher’s website. It is not unreasonable for an electronic publisher to reply to a submission within two weeks, though some take four or six weeks. Some publishers may respond to an e
