How to Revise a Short Story: What Editors Look For — Trish L. Rodriguez | Ep 101

You can spend months polishing a short story and still wonder: Is this actually ready to submit? In this episode of the BuildWriting Podcast, I talk with Trish L. Rodriguez, writer and Editorial Director of Philadelphia Stories, about what editors actually notice when they read short fiction—and how writers can revise their work more effectively. Trish explains why an editor can often tell within the first 200–250 words whether a story is working, why point of view and structure should come before sentence-level polishing, and how to know when you need another revision—or simply need the courage to submit. We also explore feedback, literary magazine submissions, writing contests, rejection, speculative fiction, building a writing community, and the “lingering meaning” that makes a short story memorable. If you're revising a short story, preparing to submit to literary magazines, or trying to become a stronger fiction writer, this conversation will help you look at your work through an editor’s eyes. Join the BuildWriting Newsletter Get writing prompts, publishing tips, creative reflections, and behind-the-scenes notes for writers. 👉 https://buildwriting.com/newsletter/ Connect With Trish L. Rodriguez 🌐 Website: https://www.trishlrodriguezwriter.com/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tljrod/ 💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trish-rodriguez-530aa7226/ Philadephia Stories: https://philadelphiastories.org/ Chapters 00:00 What Editors See That Writers Often Miss 01:04 How Trish Became a Writer and Literary Magazine Editor 03:27 Why Trish Writes Speculative Short Fiction 05:08 How Do You Learn to Become an Editor? 06:18 Revising a Short Story Without Over-Editing It 08:37 What Editors Look for in the First 200 Words 10:02 When Writers Try Too Hard to Hook the Reader 12:08 How an Editor Diagnoses a Short Story That Isn't Working 13:48 Why You Should Fix Structure Before Polishing Prose 14:54 What Makes a Short Story Stand Out in Writing Contests? 19:39 A Practical Short Story Revision Process 22:24 How to Know When Your Story Is Ready to Submit 24:52 When to Stop Revising Old Writing and Move On 25:09 How Literary Magazines Build Writing Communities 27:18 When a Short Story Wants to Become a Novel 30:18 Discovery Writing vs. Outlining a Novel 32:10 Writing to Discover Something Outside Yourself 33:11 Rapid-Fire Writing and Submission Advice 34:10 The One Quality Every Great Short Story Needs 34:40 Where to Find Trish and Philadelphia Stories 36:08 Closing Thoughts