As a person who is currently reading fiction in order to make recommended reading lists and nominate for awards, I can tell you with heartbreaking certainty that AN ABSOLUTE ELEPHANT-HERD-TON of outstanding fiction will not make it onto any lists because there is SO MUCH OF IT.

There is so much of it. SO MUCH.

Even if you had a fabulous piece of fiction pub'd this year , it might not make any lists. This does not mean it is bad or not worthy.

It is true that some writers / zines / stories have a greater likelihood of getting read, and getting nom'd.

I feel like my job as a reader and reviewer (& as a person who has been included in groups that help create reading lists and looong lists for awards) is to try to lift up some of the smaller zines. I nom a lot of stuff from the big zines, but I def. think reading widely is key.