"Market Reports" folder from the Science Fiction/Fantasy message board.
Subject: Market Reports (Science Fiction)
Author: THopeB
Uploaded By: THopeB
Date: 7/26/1996
File: Market Reports folder (164495 bytes)
Estimated Download Time (17541 baud): < 2 minutes
Download Count: 24
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This is an archive file of the "Market Reports" folder from the Science Fiction/Fantasy message board. The postings date from 3/1/96 to 7/10/96; enjoy!
7/26/96 2:06:08 PM Opening ÒSystem Log 7/26/96Ó for recording.
Subj: Re:SF Amy
Date: 96-03-01 17:12:43 edt
From: Spudlink
Posted on: America Online
<So, you are a split personality person.>
Few people know our good Amy is married to Zaphod Beeblebrox, too. At night, the four of them play bridge.
Subj: Re:SF Amy
Date: 96-03-01 23:45:19 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Nothing wrong with bridge.
Subj: Bantam response...and a ???
Date: 96-03-02 00:26:30 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
I sent a query to Bantam for a science fiction novel and got a positve response in 7 days. Although the manuscript was rejected about 2 weeks later, the letter was not a form letter. It was a personalized letter from the editor who read it. He liked the novel, was quite complimentary, but explained that they did not have room on their "crowded list" for it at this time.
I've been told that, as rejections go, that's a "good" one. My question is, does that mean I could resubmit it (or something else) at a later date?
Also, Is anyone going to Conduit in Salt Lake City in May?
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-02 12:33:47 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Yes, Kris - I should think the door would be open and you should definitely continue to market this book to other houses.
And to you, incorrigible one, don't you remember I told you Zaphod and I played ON the bridge? Beam me up, Scotty.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-02 12:51:42 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kris,
That is a good response!!!! I didn't know they could write letters at Bantam.
Gail
Subj: Response Times & Rejections
Date: 96-03-02 22:14:57 edt
From: Zahrima
Posted on: America Online
I was glad to hear that Century just takes their time with manuscripts. I was beginning to wonder if someone ate it. As for other response times, I keep a notebook which includes the day I sent the manuscript off and the day it returned to me then calculate the exact number of days.
A few people posted earlier on about MZB rejections so I thought I'd share - I send MZB one short story a month (all so far have been rejected) and compare the length of time it took and grade of rejection letter with each. It's kind of a hobby of mine. I intend to send her a short story every month until she either A: Publishes something or B: Tells me off. It's my opinion that persistence usually leads to success.
Stephanie :-)
Subj: Re:Response Times & Rejectio
Date: 96-03-02 23:23:51 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
> It's kind of a hobby of mine.
Hmmm, so that's what you do for FUN. Interesting.
Subj: Lost an online service!
Date: 96-03-03 22:54:00 edt
From: WJaKe
Posted on: America Online
Well, I hope folks will start posting response times and other interesting SF world stuff over here. The fine folks at GEnie lost themselves a customer last week. I finally gave that place the boot, after they doubled the rates. Amy, you don't think any less of me, do you dear?
WJaKe
<sigh> Only 3 online services, plus the net. What will I ever do with my time now?
Subj: Re:Response Times & Rejectio
Date: 96-03-04 00:04:05 edt
From: Zahrima
Posted on: America Online
>>Hmmm, so that's what you do for FUN. Interesting.<<
I know, it's kind of pathetic. It's not the only thing I do for fun, of course. But it keeps me out of trouble. :-)
Subj: Response Times
Date: 96-03-04 01:52:02 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Here are some recent response times ( all in days. If it was MZB, numbers would indicate weeks)
Absolute Magnitude - 17,20,22,11
Asimov's 115, 119, and 120 on a Letter to the Editor, which was responded to with a scribble in the sidebar someone whose first name did _not_ rhyme with Pardner.
Mag of F & SF 45, 16
SF Age 16, 11, 8, 8
Fantastic Worlds 32
Subj: Re:Lost an online service!
Date: 96-03-04 10:01:23 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I'm thinking I ought to go too, Jake. The hostility/paranoia level over there isn't very nice sometimes. You ought to see the SFWA cats. But I've met a lot of great people, too. It's hard to decide.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-04 16:29:51 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
Kris:
That's not a good rejection, that's a GREAT rejection. You should be patting yourself and your manuscript on the back, then get it out the door post haste to the next market on your list. Also, if you have another manuscript you think might fit Bantam, get that one out to the editor who sent you the wonderful turn-down. Those kinds of personal contacts are damn hard to make, so don't take a chance on wasting this one. Go for it!
Lee
Subj: Re:Lost an online service!
Date: 96-03-04 21:30:35 edt
From: WJaKe
Posted on: America Online
Hostility in the SFWA cats?!?!?! Horrors! <Actually, I've never been there, so what would I know!! <g>
Actually, I thought the new owners of GEnie treated us users poorly, so I opted to vote with my feet, er pixels, er whatever!!
WJaKe
P.S. And yes, I do miss some of the people there!
Subj: Re: The Market List, March
Date: 96-03-05 12:34:14 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
The March version of The Market List is done and available from the web page
http://users.aol.com/marketlist/, and will be available in the AOL Writers Club submission/guidelines library in the next few days.
You can also get it attach-mailed by dropping a note to MarketList and specifying Windows or ASCII version.
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-05 17:13:38 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
Thanks for all the encouragement everyone!! And Lee, I'm trying to learn how to do short stories for a contest right now. I don't have another manuscript or I would jump on your advice! Thank you! the only other manuscript I have going is the sequel to the one that was turned down.
Thanks so much for the encouragement!!!
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-05 17:51:32 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kris,
Quick, write a summary and a chapter or two for a new one and send it. I have a friend who only does that. She won't write anything unless they want it.
Gail
Subj: Re: The Market List, March
Date: 96-03-05 17:52:38 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
I got mine, thanks. Will read through in a day or two. I hope this is as lucky for me as the last one.
Gail
Subj: Re: Pirate Writings
Date: 96-03-06 11:30:58 edt
From: ETogneri
Posted on: America Online
Response time 9 days with a nice comment, but a rejection.-----Elaine
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-06 19:15:34 edt
From: JPMcEwan
Posted on: America Online
Dear MaraWayne,
I thought that publishers expected you to have the complete novel in hand, ready to send, when you tempt them with sample chapters. At least, several say that in their Writer's Digest listings, so I assumed it was true of the others, too. I'm very interested, because I have recently completed sample chapters and a plot outline, but have been (mostly) only sending it to agents.
Jamie
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-06 23:02:22 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
As to Gail's suggestion to do an outline and a couple sample chapters, alas, our experience in the past 11 years has proven out that virtually every genre house we (or our agents) have approached may want to see first a query, then an outline and samples, and then the full book, but they want to know from the outset that the novel's already written. Even multi-multi-published friends of ours, some of whom have been selling novels on outlines and samples for years, have recently been told, "Sorry, but we need to see the whole thing now." They always cite tighter markets, higher costs, and publisher downsizing, but frankly, I think it's just one more way they can eat their cake before they even pay for it. This is one of the big reasons that we've switched more and more to nonfiction books -- Networking at Writer's Conferences sold to John Wiley & Sons based on a cover letter, outline, synopsis, and 52 written pages. AND we got the first half of the advance before we'd even written another word of the book. Our next nonfict -- This Little Writer Went to Market -- is sitting on an editor's desk as cover letter, outline, synopsis and no writing sample except a copy of the Networking book, since we intend the marketing book to have the same smartass flavor. No word yet, but our editor was extremely eager about the idea, so we're hoping.
Lee
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-06 23:51:26 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
I know, I know. I wouldn't necessarily do it myself, but on the other hand if I had some positive interest, I might try with a partial and a query. If there's some encouragement then you can write the novel. Otherwise you wind up like me, with seven or eight perfectly publishable novels sitting on your hard drive (and no contract in sight). But, as I said, this woman I know will NOT write the novel without a nod of interest.
Gail
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-07 11:26:20 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I've heard of several writers who pitch their work that way, Gail. It is possible. You hear not for first novels, but if you've got a track record . . .
> Amy :)
Subj: Pirate Writings
Date: 96-03-07 11:28:53 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Brian Plante just sold a weird little ghost story, "Daddy's Home," to this magazine.
So hang in there, everyone!!!
> Amy :)
Subj: Tomorrow
Date: 96-03-07 11:29:44 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Tomorrow: like, 8 days with a bullet.
A.J. still not saying he is closed or anything.
So . . . I'm saying this is still an open market.
> Amy :)
Subj: Submit your stuff to me!
Date: 96-03-09 14:57:31 edt
From: Leeville
Posted on: America Online
I am seeking up-and-coming writers for my small publishing company. If you would like additional information and submission forms, please e-mail your postal address to Leeville. We accept various formats (poetry, short stories, essays, etc.) and various topics. We do not charge any fees for submission or publication. If you want to get your work in print, I hope to hear from you soon.
Subj: Re:Response Times & Rejectio
Date: 96-03-10 11:25:39 edt
From: RRMallory
Posted on: America Online
Stephanie:
Actually, that's what MZB likes. She has stated that she's always amazed that good writers give up after getting a few rejections from her. I haven't quite figured out if she just wants more MSs to chew up and spit out or if she's serious, but if you send enough and pay attention to her reasons for rejection (also send enough SASE to get the MS back, because she likes to write on them but won't return them unless you pay) then you'll probably get on her good side one day.
I'm always amazed at the stuff she rejects that's similar to stuff she's written...
Rickey
Subj: Re:Response Times & Rejectio
Date: 96-03-10 12:02:12 edt
From: KatrynK
Posted on: America Online
I don't even think MZB (or anyone) bothers reading everything. the 2 submissions I made to her came back with comments that made NO sense at all. I suspect it's a kind of game.
Subj: Re:Response Times & Rejectio
Date: 96-03-10 12:42:32 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Yeah,
It's kind of like banging your head against a wall. (It does feel good if you stop.) With a lot of these megalomaniacs, I don't see the point. Once someone has been nasty, move on to other markets. You can come back to MZP, Crank, and the other nuts (if you're so obsessed) once you've established a name for yourself.
Gail
Subj: Loons and Lakes of their Own
Date: 96-03-10 17:44:46 edt
From: KatrynK
Posted on: America Online
Why bother with people like MZB? Is MZB's zine really so wonderful? I found a lot of stuff there juvenile and *ordinary*. Let the loons swim in their own lakes. There are many lakes.
Subj: Re:Loons and Lakes of their
Date: 96-03-10 22:29:05 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
There are many loons.
Subj: Re: Asimov's and Analog
Date: 96-03-11 11:58:34 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Asimov's and Analog have been sold to Penny Press. Business as usual, according to Gardner Dozois. Editorial addresses will remain the same until June or July, when they will relocate to Manhattan.
Subj: Re: Asimov's and Analog
Date: 96-03-11 21:57:19 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Ellery Queen and Alfred Hitchcok Mystery Magazine(s) were also sold to Penny Press. (Interesting.)
Subj: Fantastic Collectibles. WARN
Date: 96-03-12 19:56:10 edt
From: Armii
Posted on: America Online
Does anyone have a phone number or real address (not a PO box) for Ray Bowman at Fantastic Collectibles?
Let me tell you the story why I'm asking. Nov. 94 I sent a story to Mr. Bowman which was promptly rejected. Mid summer 95 Mr. Bowman's magazine sponsered a contest using the premis in my story. Well you can't copyright ideas so, oh well. Jan. 96 He printed the winners and my story was one of them. It was printed with out my permission and with my knowledge. I would have never known, but It was just chance that the professor I study writing with last summer saw the magazine and wrote to congratulate me on my first sale. After writing to Mr. Bowman and not receiveing a reply I sent a certified letter. A month latter it was returned unclaimed. Had I actually entered the contest I should have recieved payment, as of yet I have received nothing. I have been in contact with the SFWA grievance board, and they said they have had other complaints about Fantastic Collectibles. I have registered the story with the copyright office in Washington. If anyone can help me out with a house address or a phone number I would appreaciate it. If you can't help me at least avoid Fantastic Collectibles, it is a subscription only magazine and if you don't subscrib you may never know if they use your story.
Please E-mail me as I seldom have time to use the message boards anymore. Oh and hi Spud, Amy, it's been a long time. I see you both are still burning up boards. Hows the writing going?
Armii
Subj: Re:Fantastic Collectibles. W
Date: 96-03-12 23:08:37 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Wow. That's megadisgusting. He should be shot. I sent a story and then a letter asking about a response--and no answer to either. But this is not uncommon. In fact, it's very darn common. I hate anyone who could do this to a writer!!!! As if we don't have enough problems It's easy enough to take advantage of us without sinking to such depths.
Subj: Re:Loons and Lakes of their
Date: 96-03-13 02:14:19 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
...and a great many writers are both! <G>
Lee
Subj: Re:The Market List
Date: 96-03-13 12:20:53 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
The March version of The Market List is now in the Writers Club library under the submissions/guidelines/contests category, in WinHelp and ASCII. Over a hundred markets this time around.
Day to day market updates are posted to the web page at http://users.aol.com/marketlist/
Subj: Re:Fantastic Collectibles. W
Date: 96-03-14 11:21:58 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I don't have this address, Armii, but you've raised a stir on GEnie -
I think John Rosenman was about to post it so check on the
Speculations board there or on the Market Reports board.
If you can't do it (I don't know if it was you or a friend posting
with this on GEnie) I'll get it and post it here.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:SF Amy
Date: 96-03-15 16:50:50 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
"Nothing wrong with bridge." Unless of course, it is a bridge too far... (okay, so it's been a long day....)
I will dig out my publishing database, and try to post most of the recent response times.
<speaking of split personalities...> I remain,
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-15 16:52:52 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
That is a good response, mine from Bantam told me to get an agent as they were not accepting unagented novels at that time (sigh), but it was a form letter.
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Fantastic Collectibles. W
Date: 96-03-15 19:14:51 edt
From: Armii
Posted on: America Online
it wasn't me on Genie, didn't know I even had friends there <G>.
But glad to hear it's getting around.
Armii
Subj: Re:Fantastic Collectibles. W
Date: 96-03-15 20:57:21 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Armii,
I've told your story to both writers and agents and there were varying satisfying ideas for vengence.
Gail
Subj: Armii's bad experience
Date: 96-03-16 14:37:26 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Armii -
They were talking about revenge ideas there as well. What a dumb thing for those people to do!
> Amy :)
Subj: Manifest Destiny
Date: 96-03-17 07:46:45 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
This may not be news to anyone but me, but Manifest Destiny Science Fiction Magazine has apparently met its destiny. I received a letter this week (dated Jan. 2) that read MDSFM and Hobaugh Publications are "ceasing operations." Alas, another fine market...gone.
By the way, Wicked Mystic has started working through their backlog. I received a rejection letter (sob, sob) on a submission from December.
That's all,
TheZump
Subj: Solar magzine
Date: 96-03-18 22:32:12 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
10 days--a pass--only this solar sytem (pleasant rejection)
Gail
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-19 15:58:25 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
>>Quick, write a summary and a chapter or two for a new one and send it. I have a friend who only does that. She won't write anything unless they want it.
Gail<<
That's a great idea! Thanks! I'll give it a whirl :)
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-19 16:09:43 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
In response to LeeSpratt's comments, maybe I won't try that.... I can write a novel *very* quickly, but what if it doesn't go so smoothly and the idea doesn't pan out? I'd hate to waste someone's time.
I'm going to change a couple of things on my novel then send it off to Tor (I'm a bot of a perfectionist :) )...I'll let you know what happens! Also, I need to locate an agent. I think that might help. I found one through th Internet, but I don't know anything about them. Anyone know something about a Catherine Cronin or Oasis Literary Agency?
Thanks!
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-19 16:16:14 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
>>That is a good response, mine from Bantam told me to get an agent as they were not accepting unagented novels at that time (sigh), but it was a form letter.<<
Alisane,
I've decided to hunt for an agent now. Are you having any luck? An author I know told me something interesting, though. I told him about my response from Bantam and he said they are having some internal turmoil right now. He said that the editors are having lots of trouble getting their recommendations approved. Just some food for thought for everyone.
Thanks!
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-19 23:49:25 edt
From: JLynn9
Posted on: America Online
How long have you had yours out at TOR? I'm went there last month- wondering how long they take to get back, any ideas?
I outline, write 50ps, send it out --then finish while I wait for an answer--I'm th type to stick to the outline- revise later.
Subj: Re:Tor
Date: 96-03-20 20:01:16 edt
From: RWBates560
Posted on: America Online
Tor requested my novel (following the standard queries), kept it for 4 months, then rejected it saying they couldn't buy first novels.
Subj: Asimov's
Date: 96-03-26 19:29:53 edt
From: CrawfordJS
Posted on: America Online
Form letter in just a little over two months. I'd heard the standard was three.
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-03-26 23:08:25 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Yes: 53 days - Asimov's - a nice, encouraging letter ! (no frigging waaaayyy)
Let's see: Pirate Writings (sent because a friend sells there) - 12 days - note no
Keen Science Fiction - virtually instantaneous response - no, ltr.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-27 04:16:55 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
JLynn,
Mine isn't at Tor yet, but will soon be. Any ideas on how long?
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-03-27 04:20:28 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
Wait! Tor doesn't do first novels???? I hadn't heard that!!
:) Kris
Subj: Tor
Date: 96-03-27 14:26:05 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
I haven't heard that Tor has given up on first novels. They might be making it harder to get one read, i.e., they don't want it coming in over the transom without an invitation, so you might need an agent or a response to a query letter. Check Writers Markets or Locus.
Steve
Subj: Stories and Ballads (poetry)
Date: 96-03-27 19:48:06 edt
From: ShaunaSkye
Posted on: America Online
STORIES & BALLADS POETRY ANTHO:
This is the basic run down:
We accept submissions beginning April 1 through the last day of June.
Poetry should tell a story of some kind. I lean toward the fantastical, tragic tales of love,
exotic locals, beautiful language, etc. No straight free verse, please. Read the classic poets for ideas: Coleridge, Poe, Wordsworth, etc. Or for someone more recent, J.R.R.. Tolkien! Keep the poetry under three pages.
Our print run will be under 1000, with a minimum of 300 if no one's buying. Email
submissions are welcome <ShaunaSkye@aol.com>. Please include a cover letter, bio, your phone number, address, and email address (if you have one). Poets will receive two contributor's copies but may purchase additional copies at half price.
Nat Whilk Press, 6334 South Long, Chicago, IL. 60638
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-03-27 20:33:24 edt
From: CrawfordJS
Posted on: America Online
It was a heartwarming letter. Sort of multiple choice:
We rejected your story because:
A) Your story sucks,
B) You can't write English, or
C) Somebody else's story sucked less than yours does.
Poetry. ;)
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-03-28 11:15:16 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
They ARE still using that form letter then.
> Amy :)
Subj: Century
Date: 96-03-28 18:50:17 edt
From: JPMcEwan
Posted on: America Online
Just heard from Century on an October submission. It's awfully nice that he gives comments. Not very positive comments, in this case, but I deserved them for that particular story, I'm afraid. (Trying too hard to be "literary.") Does it mean anything at all when he says "please try us again," or is that boilerplate?
Jamie
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-03-29 03:06:30 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Aren't Gardner's form rejections beautiful? For those who haven't seen it, here's the high points:
. . .for your general information, though, most stories are rejected because they lack a new idea or theme . . . The odds greatly favor this being the cause of this rejection.
Another common cause (all too common, we're afraid) of rejection is the obvious lack of basic English compositional skills on the part of the author. By this we mean the author has misspelled or misused everyday words, and/or mispunctuated same. . .
Finally, your story may have been rejected not because it lacked a new idea, or was mispelled, or mispunctuated, or because the writing was not "professional" enough, but simply because it failed to rise above the other 849 seen that month.
At the risk of possibly voiding my chances of ever selling to Asimov's, let me say that if I was ever suicidal and standing on a ledge over Manhattan, and Gardner came to talk me down, that it might go something like this:
"Listen, I've seen all this before. If you're going to jump, don't make the same mistake others have by flailing your arms and legs all the way down. Form is everything. And don't squeal, or yell, or whimper either, I've seen that too. If you're really going to do it, make sure it's a perfect swan, straight into the hood of that Beamer. And if it's not, don't expect me to stick around to watch."
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-03-29 03:08:06 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Just kidding Gardner . . . aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! SPLAT.
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-03-29 11:23:13 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
LOL, Chris!
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-03-30 00:38:07 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
I've gotten that one. In fact, several times. I just got an acceptance from Keen Sci Fi. I'm not sure how long that took--not long though. I go a couple of rejections from Clancy O'Hara at Pulp Fiction magazine.One was probably two months. The other was probably a month. He doesn't bother to tell you which story he's rejecting. All we can do is buy loooottts of stamps. I did get a rejection from Tor--a form letter--but this was on a mystery. Probably took a couple of months.
Gail
Subj: Re:Chris
Date: 96-03-30 00:41:29 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
You make me laugh. But tell me, why do they hate us so? Is it because we're the ones with talent and they aren't? (I'm not trying to put words in your mouth.)
Gail
Subj: ABO's Back!
Date: 96-03-30 03:51:01 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
Well, it look like Charles Ryan has "officially" completed the long road back. I got the new issue in today's mail. I've only read the editorial (where he explains the circumstances behind the delay) and a couple of columns.
I'm glad to see Aboriginal again, and I hope it stays awhile. :-)
Jim
Subj: SF Age -- Lightning!
Date: 96-03-30 20:39:16 edt
From: CrawfordJS
Posted on: America Online
New record for me -- form letter from Science Fiction Age in six days mailbox to mailbox.
Well, at least their rejection was softer than Gardner's.
Subj: Re:SF Age -- Lightning!
Date: 96-03-30 21:37:07 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
That's all we ask for: a kind rejection.
Subj: Re:ABO's Back!
Date: 96-03-30 23:23:22 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Wondering if the new Abo is a double issue as promised, and if anyone has a recent reponse time for them (or remembers what it was before).
--Christopher
http://users.aol.com/marketlist/
Subj: Re:ABO's Back!
Date: 96-03-31 00:12:57 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
Yes, it was a double issue just like before the interruption. 10 stories, Ryan's editorial, the Crazy Alien, 2 book columns, a science column, guest column by David Brin, author/artist profiles, and lettercol. The only thing I can find missing is the personal classified from the aardvark. Promises to be the first of 4 "doubles" this year.
Stick this thing in a time machine and send it back a couple of years and nobody would have noticed the stoppage. It the good ol' Abo. :-)
Jim
Subj: Re:SF Age -- Lightning!
Date: 96-03-31 14:45:53 edt
From: CrawfordJS
Posted on: America Online
LOL! Well, I'd be lying if I wasn't asking for a nice sale, too.
Heck, I'd even take a rude sale! ;)
Subj: Re:SF Age -- Lightning!
Date: 96-04-01 01:04:56 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Scott is fast, as others have often noted. He DOES read everything, I believe. I know of no "first reader" at SF Age.
> Amy :)
Subj: The DragonFang
Date: 96-04-01 20:10:30 edt
From: TheDFMag
Posted on: America Online
Hi folks
The DragonFang, a recently revived small press magazine, is now accepting submissions for fiction, poetry and artwork in the fantasy/sci-fi/horror genres. Fiction up to novella length, poems up to 100 lines and black and white artwork up to 8 1/2x11 original size. Response time will be about 1 month. Pays in copies for publication (2 for fiction, one each for poetry and artwork).
You can send submissions via e-mail to TheDFMag@aol.com. Text files must be in .txt format for DOS and Windows and Word 6.0 (or earlier) or SimpleText format for Macintosh. Artwork should be saved as .gif, .pict or .tiff files.
Snail mail submissions can also be made to: 2627 N. Carriage Lane, Chandler, AZ 85224 ATTN: Pete Schwartz. An SASE sufficient to return your original work must be included.
Please feel free to e-mail with any questions. Publication date for Vol 2, Issue 1 will be late fall (Sept/Oct) 1996.
Feel free to repost this notice in any and all appropriate forums. Thanks! (And get writing!!!!)
Subj: Story in June Issue
Date: 96-04-01 21:04:17 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I think it must be the "new writers" edition mentioned in the most recent F & SF, but "Jonny Punkinhead" will be in the June issue of F & SF, publication date May 1.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Story in June Issue
Date: 96-04-01 21:45:50 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
If you are in the June F&SF, I will actually read it. I may not buy it, but I'll be sure to stand in the bookstore (or sit) and read your story.
Gail
Subj: Re:Story in June Issue
Date: 96-04-02 01:12:19 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
GAIL! Surely there could be a cutout or "tearoff" copy for 50 cents or something . . .
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Story in June Issue
Date: 96-04-02 17:42:51 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
Or I could just read over someone's shoulder.
Gail
Subj: Report Times
Date: 96-04-02 19:55:06 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
FYI:
Other Worlds -- Received a response to a short story submission from this market within about
two weeks (asked me to send it back in six months if not sold for reconsideration...)
Blood and Midnight -- Received a response yesterday to a short story submission sent on March 19th (ACCEPTED!)
Grue -- Still waiting for a response on a manuscript submitting back in October -- has anyone heard anything from this magazine in the last six months?
That's all,
TheZump@AOL.COM
Subj: Re:Report Times
Date: 96-04-02 20:25:46 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Yay Zump on Blood & Midnight! (Is that Blackknight or . . . ??? . . . in the DF/Horror workshop?)
> Amy :)
Subj: Re: Keen Sci Fi
Date: 96-04-04 07:35:56 edt
From: Jeremy95
Posted on: America Online
Mara, congrats on your sale! But... I haven't heard of Keen SF... could you fill us in a bit on that one?
- Jeremy
Subj: Crank!
Date: 96-04-04 15:24:09 edt
From: ETogneri
Posted on: America Online
I sent a request for writer's guidelines and got a subscription form instead. Does anyone know if this is a common practice of this magazine? I don't want to waste another two stamps to try again, if so.
Subj: Re:Crank!
Date: 96-04-04 18:48:52 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I don't know if it's a common practice or not, but it sounds like a mistake...
If my memory serves me right, there wasn't anything extraordinarily special about the Crank guidelines and remember: this is the guy who brags he's never bought anything from the slush pile yet, so weigh your alternatives.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re: Keen Sci Fi
Date: 96-04-04 20:59:53 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Thanks, Jeremy, here's the scoop:
Teresa Keene, Editor
Keen Science Fiction
1481 Lidstrom Road East
Port Orchard, WA 98366
You may submit a regular ms, or mail me a 3.5 diskette formatted to
Wpwin6.0 or 5.5. She's also on Prodigy and if you want the E-mail addr, I'll give it to you. It's vague as to payment, but naturally, as a true artist, I'm above all that. (I'm looking to a bigger payoff in the long haul.)
Gail (Hayden)
Subj: Re:Crank!
Date: 96-04-04 21:01:16 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Crank is cranky. You might as well waste your postage on just sending the story. (Look at Chris's Market List to catch the profile.)
Gail
Subj: Re:Crank!
Date: 96-04-05 02:02:37 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Crank!
Brian Cholfin, Editor
P.O. Box 380473
Cambridge, MA 02238
3,000 to 10,000 words
Published quarterly
Pays 10 cents/word
From the Guidelines:
The holy grail: individual literary style; unique, vivid imagination; ideas of scale
and depth and originality that push the boundaries of the genre.
Web Page: http://world.std.com/~bmpress
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hope that helps.
--Christopher
The Market List http://users.aol.com/marketlist/
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-04-05 18:01:58 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Kris,
I had a big bite from Drake Lit, but haven't heard from them since I sent MS and SYN. I know Drake is legit (at least they used to be), but am having a little too much of the waiting blues.... Good luck.
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Extended abscence
Date: 96-04-05 18:15:40 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
BTW, I finished the SF spy thriller in case anyone wondered where I went...
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-04-05 21:06:25 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Alisane,
That's why God invented multiple submissions.
Gail
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-04-06 10:31:56 edt
From: EllysW
Posted on: America Online
<Finally, your story may have been rejected not because it lacked a new idea, or was mispelled, or mispunctuated, or because the writing was not "professional" enough, but simply because it failed to rise above the other 849 seen that month.>?
Actually says that they're going to publish the other 849 seen that month, I think, or at any rate that yours was smack at the bottom of the batch, as was that of your neighbor who received the same letter . . .
<Obvious lack of basic English compositional skills,> my butt.
(Sorry, I never pass up a chance to crank about Asimov's. Don't know what my problem is, really.)
Cheers.
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-04-06 11:13:17 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Chris!!!!! <G>
It is funny, isn't it?
I told Nick a couple of weeks ago: I cracked Asimov's and got a real letter, not this form letter.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Asimov's
Date: 96-04-06 12:18:33 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
EllysW
Don't worry about it--we all love to complain about the snooty "name" magazines that will soon just be dying to publish the same story they rejected a few months prior after we have the NY Times bestseller 26 weeks in a row, number one, millions coming in, interviews on Letterman, agents calling, top publishers ringing the bell, the ex-boyfriend wondering why he ever made such a mistake as to leave me, the boss amazed at how much he'd underestimated me... Oh, sorry, I lost it there for a moment. Actually, I'm a quiet, homespun type, dreaming about life in rural Montana where I could make carved wooden boxes for a living, grow parsnips, ride a bicycle into town... Woops, I got lost again. Sorry.
Gail
Subj: Multiple submissions
Date: 96-04-07 09:58:59 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Yeah, I know, but when you have about ten of them out there, and none of them get back to you in three or more months, it is still a drag..... :-(
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Multiple submissions
Date: 96-04-07 11:12:40 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Alisane,
If you have that many out there and are waiting three or more months, I would take it as a good sign because a few of them are very fast in returning stuff they don't want. That may mean it's passed a first reader. I take it you have covered most of the market with your submissions since there are only about 13 or 14 primary places to submit. Why not send the remianing three or four? Did you send partials? Full manuscripts?
Gail
Subj: Re: The Market List
Date: 96-04-08 17:01:52 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
An April update has just been posted in the Business of Writing library. The WC library manager also agreed to move the January and March versions to the BoW library, where earlier versions had been posted (thanks again, Barbara), so it will no longer be found in the Submissions/Guidelines category.
The April update includes the same articles as the March version, but with updates to specific markets and new market listings. There are just over a hundred markets this time around.
Thanks to everyone who has forwarded updates and related market information.
Christopher
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Market List http://users.aol.com/marketlist/
Subj: Crescent Books
Date: 96-04-08 17:09:00 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
I would appreciate any information any writers might have on this new publishing house. Particularly if you have sent them samples of your work or been in contact with them regarding submissions. Some writers have voiced concerns to me, and I've seen similar problems mentioned in Scavenger's.
Thanks in advance.
--Christopher
Subj: Re:Crescent Books
Date: 96-04-08 19:36:34 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Thank you, Chris. Keep us posted. Gail
Subj: Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 15:59:10 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Keen SF - 7 days - sale.
First issue to be published 4-15-96 -
and howdy do - I guess we'll both be in it, Gail!
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 16:34:39 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Wow, Amy--but she couldn't read my disk, so I don't think it'll be this issue?!!!??? 4/15? She's been away for a week, so are you sure????
I'd like to be in an issue with SF Amy though--impress the family.
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 16:52:49 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
This is very exciting.
I may be tooo!!
Waiting to see the mail in the next few days.
The Keen Editor IS A TRIP.
Did you guys all get personal invites??
I sent something out ASAP. You must have too. <G>
Smart lady .
Kathy
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 17:53:51 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kathy,
Yes. But where did she get my (your) address????
She seems like a normal person though.
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 20:11:07 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
She faxed the acceptance to me this a.m., Gail - I suppose she's back!
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 20:12:09 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Where the addresses came from? I thought she got mine out of the SFWA directory. That would make sense, eh, as she sent it right after the directory came out.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 23:27:19 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
Yes, she's back, and you're right. She said 4/15. Maybe she meant she's sending it out to the printer 4/15. I hope she can read the file I sent her as an attachment. (I have language problems, like Word vs. WP and antique versions of both.)
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-09 23:28:23 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
She didn't get mine out of SFWA because I'm not in there. Maybe she was reading the boards and sent messages to people who wrote funny entries.
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-10 16:54:26 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Surfing the boards - she said - waaaay back too, cause I haven't been on for a while.
Nothing like a letter FROM an editor <G>
Got results didn't it ?? :)
See you guys in the April issue.
Hope you don't mind a newcomer like me rubbing pages with you <G>
'Feels good.
Kathy
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-10 20:32:56 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kathy,
Yes, but it makes you restless for the next acceptance. Why is that mailbox empty?
Gail
Subj: Sword and sorceress
Date: 96-04-11 02:59:31 edt
From: Caerdale
Posted on: America Online
Hi,
Does anyone know whether Marion Z. Bradley will be reading this year for a new Sword and Sorceress?
Thanks,
caerdale
Subj: Re:Sword and sorceress
Date: 96-04-11 16:40:28 edt
From: Canus66
Posted on: America Online
Right now! I believe the reading period is open from April 1 - May 15. Get writing!
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-11 16:47:34 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Why is the mail box empty?
Didn't send out enough manuscripts to get a rejection everyday I guess <G>
I think Steve Perry is the only one I know of to do THAT <G>
Kathy
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-04-11 22:15:00 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kathy,
Sometimes you send out a ton of stuff and nothing comes back anyway. Like the last few days.
Gail
Subj: Re:SASE's and responses
Date: 96-04-11 22:59:39 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
. . .And sometimes you send out tons of SASE's for guidelines and get burned on those too. Waiting four months for a submission response is bad enough; waiting even a month for a GL request is ridiculous. Open envelope. Insert GL. Close envelope. Mail.
I think I'll put together a list of "Most embarassing Guidelines Response Times" to accompany a general submission response time list.. **Top of the list**, Horizon's SF--for eating two seperate IRC's and STILL no response after five months. (There's a general post about them on the web page -- they haven't been responding on manuscripts, either.)
Christopher
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Market List http://users.aol.com/marketlist/
Subj: Re:SASE's and responses
Date: 96-04-11 23:06:07 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
If they can't read a request for a gl, how can they read a story? I also always wondered why it takes several months for a magazine to read a minimystery of 250 words--clearly marked "minimystery" on the envelope. Just read the damn thing. It takes one minute, tops.
Gail
Subj: Re:Multiple submissions
Date: 96-04-12 18:34:13 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Mostly Synopsis and first three chaps, but a couple full ms (where the market says that is what they prefer). Trouble is, one wants a ten page syn, and another wants a three, and another wants just one page.... sigh. I wish there was some sort of standarization... (that is the engineer in me speaking)
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Multiple submissions
Date: 96-04-12 19:14:43 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Alisane,
That's interesting. I just give them a standard package. Synopsis--usually six or seven pages double spaced and stapled, enticing cover letter, and a couple or three chapters. I know Chris will be dismayed when I say I never read guidelines.
Gail
Subj: Re:Multiple submissions
Date: 96-04-13 11:35:17 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Never read guidelines?!
Gail, since you're making consistent sales, it looks like summaries of the market requirements can sometimes be enough. I know that recently, more of the semi-pro markets are adding useful little tidbits to their GL that _can_ save you the round-trip postage. Stuff like "I hate cats", "no more time travel stories", etc.
But I'm not one to argue with sales. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it.
--Christopher
Subj: Re:Multiple submissions
Date: 96-04-13 13:11:29 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
But I do read The Market List.
Gail
P.s. The last sale is never enough.
Subj: Worlds of Fantasy & Horror
Date: 96-04-13 20:16:32 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
W of F & H - 32 days
A George Scithers letter. George went into some detail about the story, which is pretty rare for me.
> Amy :)
Subj: Plot
Date: 96-04-13 20:41:56 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Dec. 27 to April 13--you count it. The ladies were sweet and liked my writing, but I guess I goofed. The story makes fun of the Fundamentalists. The editors are they. Oh well.
Good for you, Amy, the comments, that is.
I "sold" a children's western to pink chameleon--no money.
Gail
Subj: Aberrations, and others...
Date: 96-04-14 21:16:42 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Aberrations -- sent March 19, rec'd response dated 4/10 (a form letter, but with some helpful constructive criticism thrown in at the end)
Night Terrors -- also sent March 19, rec'd email response 4/13 (reject w/kind words)
Outer Darkness -- sent Feb. 28, rec'd response dated 4/8 (a hand-typed letter, very complimentary, but a rejection nevertheless)
The Future of History (Anthology) -- sent Feb. 1, rejection letter rec'd 4/13
Notable Novellettes -- sent Dec. 14, manuscript arrived back on my doorstep 4/13 after visiting two states; it never did find its destination -- if anyone knows if this market has a new address, I'd appreciate the info!
That is all,
TheZump
Subj: Where did they go?
Date: 96-04-14 21:20:44 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
I have had stories floating in the following markets since October:
* Starblade
* Grue
* The Flummery Press
* The Widow of the Orchid
I sent queries last month & have not yet received a response. Does anyone know if these markets are still around?
Thanks,
TheZump
Subj: Re:Aberrations, and others..
Date: 96-04-14 22:35:14 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
In re The Future of History. I finally got a personal rejection from the guy--only to find he's kind of dumb. Polite though. Don't think I'll send anymore stuff to him. Waste of postage for the sophisticated. Its Carr, right?
In re Notable Novellettes--I've been vaguely wondering what happened to my submission of many months ago, now I guess I have some idea. I wasn't too hyped about it since they don't pay much for the length of the ms etc.
Subj: Re:Where did they go?
Date: 96-04-14 22:37:38 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Never heard of any of those markets, to tell the truth. But I have to say that no one ever seems to respond to follow-up queries. I guess if they couldn't quite get to the ms., they can't get to the follow-up response. Sad but true.
Gail
Subj: Re:Where did they go?
Date: 96-04-15 00:55:36 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
I haven't picked through all my info, but I'm 99% sure Grue has been pronounced dead. Starblade and The Flummary press I believe to be gone as well, but I'll have to dig through my 'heap' to be sure.
Christopher
Subj: Re:Where did they go?
Date: 96-04-15 01:08:11 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
. . .back from the heap -- Chris Baugher, formerly with The Flummery Press, reported recently that he was no longer associated with the magazine. Their e-mail address is dead, I'd guess the same is true of the market.
Starblades most recent address was c/o Stephanie O'Rourke, POB 400672, Hesperia, CA 92340. A GL request I sent there almost six weeks ago has not come back.
Grue has not responded to mail in almost a year--at least that was the report in a recent Scavenger's Newsletter.
Subj: Re:Where did they go?
Date: 96-04-16 05:55:46 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Thank you all for this information...I'm rather suprised about Grue, since I purchased an issue dated Spring 1995 off the newsstand at Barnes & Noble last summer. Oh well, I guess I should know by now that there is no such thing as a permanent market.
TheZump
Subj: Harlan Ellison news
Date: 96-04-16 08:31:27 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
George Martin reported on GEnie yesterday that Harlan Ellison had suffered a "fairly serious" heart attack and was taken to Cedars-Sinai hospital, where he had a quadruple bypass operation. That's all I know - except this is a very good hospital, so he is in good hands.
> Amy
Subj: Del Rey
Date: 96-04-16 22:56:59 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Should anyone be able to find his/her way to this board--which is highly unlikely--let it be known that I am the living proof that Del Rey does reply to writers. Of course I did submit my partial and query in October of 1994, but the editor did not have to spend actual postage on mailing it back. And that tasteful form letter, too, was appreciated. "We just are too busy to actually acknowledge your existence" or something along those lines. I can hardly wait to submit again. Or, if I do wait until 1998, I might get a reply in the year 2000. Hmm, there's a plan.
Gail
Subj: Re:AOL Writers Area
Date: 96-04-16 23:29:13 edt
From: MarketList
Posted on: America Online
Top ten ways for AOL to alienate science fiction and fantasy writers in the Writers Club area:
10 . Give the Writers Club area a facelift and replace everything with grayscale.
9. Give seperate areas to Romance writers and other genres, but force sf/fantasy writers to navigate the maze to find useful topics.
8. Keep using graphics on the Writers Club page that never seem to cache. We just love the
extra wait.
7. Put uploaded files into unusual sections of the library.
6. Do anything that is completely unintuitive.
5. Erase entire topics just when they start getting interesting.
4. Don't consolidate topics like SF Market Report and Market Reports SF/F, or anything followed by expanded, expanded again, and expanded yet again.
3. Leave all those beautiful Spam messages lying about. Especially the one from the agency that appears in every single one of the expanded and expanded yet again topics.
2. Don't ever offer any SF or Fantasy contests, or short-short genre contests for free online time.
And, the #1 way to alienate writers in the Writers Club message center: Move the topics to a next to impossible to find, backwoods area while things are under construction, so none of us can get a message fix.
; ) Just a late night rant from someone with a bit too much caffiene in the blood.
Subj: Re:Del Rey
Date: 96-04-16 23:39:16 edt
From: MarketList
Posted on: America Online
If you hurry and send a new manuscript right away, you could get the first of the new "Year 2000" commemorative rejections, written with the same nurturing prose as the classic form rejections of the 90's.
While supplies last. ; )
2 years, Gail? Do they even have the same editor?
On a happier note, anyone else out there attending WorldCon? And should we get together and plan a "Hubert", the writer nominated award for most insensitive professional editor? It will be a huge gold peach that just happens to bear a striking resemblance to a horses posterior if viewed from a certain angle. Anyone want to take a shot at listing the criteria to win?
--Christopher
Subj: Re:Del Rey
Date: 96-04-17 16:04:15 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Gail!!! Boy, that's a response time, isn't it?
Well, at least, as they say, "the boards are fixed."
> Amy :)
Subj: WorldCon
Date: 96-04-17 16:05:37 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I'm going to WorldCon - in case anyone else is. I think I'll be doing some kind of something for AOL folk at some point there . . . <G>
> Amy :)
Subj: Editor Quirks
Date: 96-04-17 16:06:50 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Believe it or not, I finally got that MZB manuscript back - after almost a year.
She wrote all over it! The thing is, I can't decipher her handwriting. I can read the copyediting marks & corrections, but the handwriting?
"ZZrrrkgnli Miglay!!" etc...
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:AOL Writers Area
Date: 96-04-17 17:11:18 edt
From: TPG5
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
Never apologize for being right.
Gail
Subj: Re:Del Rey
Date: 96-04-17 17:12:34 edt
From: TPG5
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
They say the boards are fixed, but are they?
Gail
Subj: Re:Del Rey
Date: 96-04-17 17:13:20 edt
From: TPG5
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
I shouldn't complain--it was really only a year and a half. It just felt like two.
Gail
Subj: Re:Editor Quirks
Date: 96-04-17 17:14:53 edt
From: TPG5
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
I guess MZB felt you should Mrzlrrres asndre frehend. Of course, she may not be right.
Gail
Subj: Never Apologize?
Date: 96-04-18 02:21:11 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
Never apologize for being right?
Not married, are you . . . ?
Steve
Subj: Re:Never Apologize?
Date: 96-04-18 11:59:25 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Steve,
I stand corrected. Women should never apologize for being right. Men are never right. That actually is obvious. Editors are always right from their POV, but we can always criticize them behind their backs.
Gail
Subj: Here it is!
Date: 96-04-18 12:58:40 edt
From: Weakethics
Posted on: America Online
Wow. I feel like I have been wandering in the desert for a week and finally staggered into an oasis. I was wondering if SF/F editors conspired to remove this topic. Despite their best efforts it is still here. Take that MZB!
SF AGE 12 days round trip. No go.
Subj: Re:Never Apologize?
Date: 96-04-18 14:02:37 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
Ah. Maybe you are married, you seem to have the correct attitude for it.
8D . . .
Subj: Archived folder
Date: 96-04-18 15:10:28 edt
From: THopeB
Posted on: America Online
I've archived this folder and uploaded it to the Message Board Archive library. The postings date from 9/27/95 to 2/28/96.
I'll be archiving this folder on a regular basis so that you can download it as a library file.
Any questions, let me know!
Tracey, Writers Club
Subj: Re:Archived folder
Date: 96-04-18 16:17:23 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Thanks, Tracey.
Steve - what if I do that story about Neanderthals? Would you like to help me with the research? <G>
It's a joke!! A joke!!! I'm just ribbin' ya.
Don't you know the wife is *always* right? No point in even discussing it.
> Amy :)
Subj: Where is my place?
Date: 96-04-18 17:22:29 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Where is my place???
Oooh, I had been getting big britches. Talk about excited. They have been raving about the F & SF cover for the "new writers" issue on GEnie. Boy, what a great cover. Boy, it's "new writers" so no names on the cover to interfere with this fantastic illustration.
I'd been getting more and more excited. It would have a beautiful cover, a really classy cover, just something I'd be so thrilled with.
It's a scary clown in a Nazi suit.
God's hand came down, and he pressed the top of my head very gently and I have now been put firmly back on earth and into my place. You, my dear, the classy cover woman, are an SF writer and you need to just deal with the UUUUGGGGLLLYYY CLOWNS IN NAZI suits.
> Amy :)
Subj: Backpedaling
Date: 96-04-18 20:22:51 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
OK,
I looked at the cover again. It's shocking and it's still a scary Killer Klown in a Nazi suit, but it's actually a very good piece of artwork. Quite daring for F & SF.
OK,
so, I'm not upset any more. I'm not going to cut it out and decorate my living room with it, but it's not a bad cover, it's actually a very good cover, just like they said.
It scared me to DEATH!!!! And I'm not even scared of clowns, like my husband.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Where is my place?
Date: 96-04-18 21:23:58 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
Nazi clowns mean big sales. Next to drawings of sexually adventurous...I mean adventurous and intelligent women--Nazi clowns are the biggest SF draw in the book. You've got it made this time, Amy. All of America is watching you.
Gail
Subj: Scary clowns
Date: 96-04-18 23:30:20 edt
From: Mlindholm
Posted on: America Online
Dear Amy,
Everybody is secretly afraid of clowns, no matter what they say. For years my daughter secretly believed that Ronald McDonald was a vampire. We lived on an island in Alaska, where we received television, but had no McD's. So the commercials were incomprehensible to her. Just a big pale faced man with huge red lips. She used to run out of the room when the commercials came on.
Truth is definitely stranger than fiction.
M
Subj: Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 00:42:48 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I know - clowns are about the scariest thing there is.
We watch "Rugrats" all the time, and the little frightened guy on it, Chucky, is terrified of clowns. He also talks in a hushed, horrified tone about "the scary guy on the oatmeal box." That is the most hilarious show! Mike wasn't sure what he meant and I said, "I'm sure it's the Quaker Oat man." Imagine what that kid thinks of Col. Sanders? What a relief for children everywhere that it's just "KFC" now.
I've read most of the stories in the issue. I feel kind of intimidated and scared, though I've become accustomed to Mr. Klown (I think it's supposed to be Hitler). I feel simple and unsophisticated. I guess I am.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 02:10:24 edt
From: Spudlink
Posted on: America Online
<It's a scary clown in a Nazi suit.>
Amy, it comes as a complete surprise to me that they'd put Pat Buchanan on the cover of F&SF...
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 13:26:53 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
Now there is an idea somebody should pick up and run with. Ronald McDonald as a vampire. Oh, the possibilites . . .
Yes, I know wives are never wrong. How do you think I've managed to stay married for thirty years?
Steve
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 20:25:09 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
You're a sweetie, Steve.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Scary clowns
Date: 96-04-19 20:32:50 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Ronald is kinda scary.
Gail
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 20:34:05 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
Simple and unsophisticated is a good ploy. Great marketing technique. Keep it up.
Gail
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 20:34:57 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Spud,
No. You got it backward. Pat Buchanan is a Nazi in a clown suit.
Gail
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 20:35:50 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Steve,
You probably used the phrase, "Yes, dear, you're right" at least ten thousand times?
Gail
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-19 20:37:27 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy, I heard a nasty rumour that you're sweet. Is that true? Should you make Teresa take it back? Did you and Kathy get your issues? Kathy, are you out there? I can hardly wait to read this stuff. That was QUICK.
Gail
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-20 01:38:02 edt
From: Spudlink
Posted on: America Online
Gail, you have it right, too. I confess I was distracted, dreaming about meeting Bob Dole, Tom Snyder, and Richard Nixon together in a dark alley. They were all wearing Barney suits less the heads. Cliver Barker later optioned that dream from me and promised to direct.
Rumor has it Amy is going to retire to the Bahamas now that she has made the NYT Best Seller List... Danielle Steele and Steven King, look out. Amy will autograph copies of that issue of F&SF at Worldcon for only $50 plus California sales tax. Look for her in the alley next to the Anaheim Hilton wearing a fluorescent muu-muu and a sandwich sign saying "The End is Neigh - Buy Now!"
no, no, no, Amy -- we all love you.
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-20 11:23:14 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Hi Gail:
Well, I think Teresa is pretty sweet. I told another friend that I had a good feeling about Keen SF as a new magazine because Teresa was light-years ahead of most of the other small-press people. She sent out those individual invitations for writers - she has also commented to me that she's glad I got Keen SF in SPECULATIONS because the quality of her submissions went up - I think her letterhead and contracts and all look very clean and professional for someone just starting out. She is paying as much as she can afford. She seems to know what she wants and it is a specific market niche. I think she's got a good chance at making it.
I can't wait to see it - hoping it's a "treasure."
> Amy :)
Subj: Spud So Mean
Date: 96-04-20 11:23:58 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Spud:
I'd never be caught DEAD in a muu-muu.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-20 12:24:24 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Hell, I have to run to B&N and view that issue now. As I say, I don't want to buy it--since that would obviously give Kris and spouse a much cushier life. They never bought anything of mine. Why should I buy something of theirs? Besides I'm cheap. Sorry, Amy.
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen
Date: 96-04-20 12:26:15 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy, Yes, and Teresa obviously knows good writing when she reads it. That's what I like best about her. Actually, I don't have anything else to send her under 4k, except for one short short that she probably won't like since no one else has--except me and my friends.
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen
Date: 96-04-20 20:23:07 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Hi Gail:
(1) the June issue of F & SF isn't on sale until May 1, I don't think - so gawking at the Klown won't work just yet . . .
(2) I LOVED your story in Keen SF. Really classy & I laughed constantly. It's very original - and well-written. I'm glad it's in Keen, but also wondering why one of the bigger magazines didn't pick it up. To me, it was very enjoyable and different. Kind of like Clockwork Orange with a sense of humor.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Keen
Date: 96-04-21 00:30:21 edt
From: MarketList
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
Agreeing with you about Keen. . .
The fact that Theresa hit her target date for publication places her light-millenia ahead of many other semi-pro and small press publications.
This has been a slow couple of weeks for market news--has anyone had a recent response from Aboriginal, or have a response time from their last incarnation to use as a yardstick?
--Christopher
Subj: Re:Spud So Mean
Date: 96-04-21 07:15:41 edt
From: Spudlink
Posted on: America Online
Amy: <I'd never be caught DEAD in a muu-muu.>
My gosh, you're so right! I amend my earlier statement: Amy will appear at Worldcon not in a muu-muu and a sandwich sign, but rather, ONLY in a sandwich sign.
Charles Brown will no doubt cover the event for Locus. :)
Subj: Re:Keen
Date: 96-04-21 17:29:17 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
You ARE sweet. I'm honored to be in an issue with you and your dinos and cannibals--a fun story. Let's do it again sometime soon.
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen
Date: 96-04-21 17:30:23 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
I had a one month response from Aboriginal in its previous life, but am past that time now so I guess things have slowed down.
Gail
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-21 20:29:05 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Sorry it has taken me so long to reply - I am sooo cheap.
Yes I got my issues yesterday and LOVED ALL the stories - I think that is a first for me.
Do I have a big head or what.
Rubbing pages with you guys is great.
Hope to do it again.
Kathy
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-21 22:19:43 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kathy,
Right. It's fun being in an issue with other onliners. I like your story's character...
I'm cheap, too, but I'm addicted.
Gail
Subj: Re:Klown Terror
Date: 96-04-22 08:44:10 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Kathy!
I guess I'm pretty slow - I enjoyed your story as well. Very good characterization & dialog, esp. in the beginning.
> Amy :)
Subj: thanks
Date: 96-04-22 16:58:37 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Don't give me too many pats. You may be used to this, but it is wonderfully new to me.
You know how tough it is going to be when that next rejection comes ??
The higher you get the farther you fall <G>
I'll be licking my wounds in the near future I suspect.
I have a story in Asimov's slush right now, and from what you folks have said, his rejections make MZB look nice . AACK Forewarned is prepared..
I suppose
that will only be a few short weeks coming. <sigh>
I shall bask while I may <G>
Kathy
Subj: Re:thanks
Date: 96-04-22 19:30:28 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kathy,
No one's rejections make MZB look nice. Genghis Khan was a sweetheart of consideration compared with MZB.
Gail
Subj: Re:Acceptances
Date: 96-04-22 20:28:23 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
I've heard two recent cases (one firsthand, one a very close secondhand) where identical stories that had been previously rejected by pro markets were accepted back at the same market after one story was resent with new writing credits, or where the writer gave the story to the editor at a conference (Clarion).
Anyone else have any firsthand experiences with this "It's not always how well you write, but sometimes who you know" phenomenon?
I've always wanted (purely as an experiment) to have a well-published author submit a story by an unpublished writer (with the writers permission of course) and see what the response would be. The story would of course have to be salable, and said well-published author would have to a) know in advance that the editor's sense of humor was such that he would not be forever blackballed from submitting there again, or b) not really care.
it would be interesting to see. . .
--Christopher
Subj: Re:thanks
Date: 96-04-22 20:33:01 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
????MZB?????
Whut? Huh? It was very nice, considering I couldn't understand the comments.
<G>
It's the form letter rejection from Asimov's which is so noxious. Once you graduate to a "real" letter, Gardner seems courteous & professional. The form letter would discourage anyone.
But if you get it, Kathy, just file it. I hope you listed credits on your cover letter - I think that's what gets you out of the "slush" at Asimovs/Analog - though Stan Schmidt obviously read & responded to the very first thing I wrote and sent out when I started writing again 3 years ago. I think they have a 1st reader from Hell there. I used to feel like the culprit was Ian Randal Strock, but I don't think so. He's certainly gone and the situation continues. I honestly don't know who it is and I haven't attempted to ask, but I think it's a weenie with a bad attitude.
I got the scrody form letter rejection "you can't spell, your grammar stinks, etc..." from Asimovs for the story which is in F & SF which is a GOOD story and was commented on wherever it was sent, often or usually with "you will sell this elsewhere, etc..." I had just sent the story - no cover letter or anything. I wonder if the nasty first reader ever sends anything on to Gardner. I find it hard to believe that Gardner D. himself would have read my story and rejected it with the scrody form letter. He honestly seems like a decent guy and no different from any of the other editors in that he is willing to work with new/newer writers -- but I REALLY don't think he sees/looks at true slush which would explain situations like good stories from unknowns getting the scrody letter. This would also explain the "Gardner only buys from friends" rap, which I've heard ad nauseum.
SO! Whatever you/we/us can do to get ourselves out of the slush is what we need to do, and I think in the case of Asimov's, a cover letter listing any pro credits, SFWA membership, etc... which will tip off 1st Reader from Hell to pass story on to Gardner is the ticket.
So far, I only know of one editor who DISLIKES cover letters, A.J. Budrys - and for him, he gets a scary pink sticky note from me. <G> (he's my bud)
I had sworn off on them but I think I may have hurt myself - I've been doing real good with the cover letters since January. If not sales, then obviously someone took me seriously enough to respond fairly quickly and with a professional approach. And all with simple cover letters with applicable credits.
> Amy :)
Subj: Ghengis
Date: 96-04-22 21:27:51 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
You mean you've never gotten a foul form letter from MZB? I am in awe.
Gail
Subj: Re:Acceptances
Date: 96-04-22 21:31:00 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
I do agree with you. Don't think it's sour grapes, think it's reality. My friend told me to put phony credits on my submissions, but of course I can't. Your experiment would be fun. Send as two authors--one very credentialed and one not--doesn't really have to be a real person, actually, as no one is in touch with the entire field.
Gail
Subj: Re:Scary clowns
Date: 96-04-22 21:32:29 edt
From: AMiller662
Posted on: America Online
But which is scarier, Ronald or what they put in Happy meals?
Andy
Subj: Re:WorldCon
Date: 96-04-23 02:29:17 edt
From: Jeremy95
Posted on: America Online
>>I'm going to WorldCon - in case anyone else is.... >amy
I'll be out there. Came out for ConFrancisco in '93 and kinda got addicted...<G>
>> I think I'll be doing some kind of something for AOL folk at some point there . . . <G><<
Let me know how plans are going for that... and if you need any help, or whatever...
- Jeremy Bloom
Subj: Re:WorldCon
Date: 96-04-23 10:04:37 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Thanks, Jeremy. I think some of the SFWWers will go on one day, so maybe we'll do something on Saturday, or something like that.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Del Rey
Date: 96-04-23 15:16:23 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
Mara --
You sent yours to them in October 1994? Yikes! I sent mine October 1995. I guess I have another year to wait :)
Thanks!
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Never Apologize?
Date: 96-04-23 15:19:15 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
>>Never apologize for being right?
Not married, are you . . . ?<<
That's funny, Steve!!
I'm sure my husband would sympathize :-) (J/K!)
:) Kris
Subj: CONduit
Date: 96-04-23 15:27:09 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
If I've asked this before, I apologize :)
Is anyone going to the CONduit convention in Salt Lake City (May 17-19)? It'll be my first convention and I'm going on the advice of an author I met. Their writer's workshop is suppose to be excellent.
So, anyone going? I'd love to meet some AOLers there!
Take care all!
:) Kris
Subj: Re:thanks
Date: 96-04-23 15:37:52 edt
From: Skrewtaype
Posted on: America Online
At least you got a rejection letter! I sent a manuscript to DAW recently, and when they (I assume) rejected it, there wasn't any communication included whatsoever. Just my manuscript. I expected a rejection (I premied on the manuscript rather badly), but I thought the lack of ANY sort of communication was a little rude.
Oh well.
:-)
Subj: Re:CONduit
Date: 96-04-23 20:33:07 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
At the risk of being forward, I'm certain that Charlene Hannah (C2H) is doing something to do with that convention, also Julia & Brook West, whom I know from GEnie.
I can ask Julia & Brook on GEnie, and I hope Charlie reads this board - she used to.
> Amy :)
Subj: Amy's story in F&SF
Date: 96-04-24 05:01:41 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
I read Amy's story in F&SF today. Definitely worth a look. Congrats, Amy! :-)
KKR goes on at length in her editorial about editors' attitudes toward new writers. It's quite illuminating for aspiring newbies like myself, although I have heard much of the same before. She pretty much says the same things as the ASIMOV's rejection -- that most of what she gets isn't even in English, much less begins to tell a story. However, the awfulness of the slush makes finding the gem that much sweeter.
I find myself encouraged that the slush is so bad. I KNOW I can at least string a few sentences together in SOME coherent fashion. It's just a matter of learning enough of the craft to ratchet myself past those last few percentage points. [Amy, can I borrow some of your style to go with my ideas? [[Well, maybe some of the ideas too! :-) ]] ]
Despite the cranky *pose* of her editorial (anybody want to bet that she catches heat from those who don't *get it*?), on my first submission to F&SF, KKR scribbled a note in the margin of the reject about my wandering point of view. It was a very small comment to a very large story (19K words), but I DID learn a lesson from it. Maybe someday I'll get a chance to thank her when she accepts one of my stories. :-)
BTW, I've always gotten a kick out of MZB's rejections. She's stated several times in her magazine that if a writer can't handle a little rudeness and come back with something better, than he/she should probably try something else. It looks like she believes her own copy a little too much, though! If I have something mildly appropriate (so far, I've just never gotten around to writing the cutesy type of story she seems to like from first-timers), I'll happily send it in, if for no other reason to complete my collection of her *form* paragraphs. (In 3 rejects I've had "No point", "Point's too obvious", "It's Science Fiction", and "It's too gruesome.") (Anybody wanna trade? :-)
Anyway, I'm babbling now. Everybody, get your paws on a copy of F&SF and read Amy's story!! It's a powerful little tale that WILL stick in your mind. Again, good work, Amy! Keep it up.
Best,
Jim
Subj: Re:Amy's story in F&SF
Date: 96-04-24 10:28:15 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Jim sent me a nice letter and now this!
Can you imagine my beer and refreshment tab at WorldCon? I'd better hit "Liquor Barn" or whatever right now.
> Amy :)
Subj: Halcion Delusions
Date: 96-04-24 17:12:13 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Has anyone every had any experience with this magazine? Does anyone know if it's still around?
I'd be interested to know if they are still in business & how long their response time averages.
TheZump
Subj: Response Time
Date: 96-04-24 23:25:52 edt
From: Weakethics
Posted on: America Online
Nice rejection letter from Pirate Writings ("solid," "tight," "no thanks you bum" -- made up that last one) 14 days round trip. I'll try them again.
Subj: Encouragement
Date: 96-04-25 13:55:33 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
For those of you who don't know, if you are getting personalized rejections, you are most likely in the top 10% of submissions. Editors don't have time to bother with many and if you are getting such, you are knocking on their door . . .
Subj: MZB
Date: 96-04-26 21:12:04 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Jim,
My one MZB submission received the "It's too grusome" response. Funny because there was NOTHING gruesome about the story. She also wanted to know "what was the point, anyway?" so she's not only rude, but I don't think she "gets" anything slightly subtle--it wasn't that subtle.
Gail
Subj: Re:MZB
Date: 96-04-27 06:37:31 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
Gail,
To some extent I must say I deserved what I got. The first story was a short-short I submitted under the geas of an editorial dare. I *think* I remember her writing something about "if it has space ships in the first paragraph, it isn't Fantasy, and I won't buy it." This is possibly from an intro to a Sword and Sorceress story. I put space ships in the first paragraph. She didn't buy it. :-)
This is where I got the "SF" paragraph (duh), and the "Too much obvious message for the length. It would be more honest to hire a hall." paragraph. I still can't figure out what my message was; I just thought it was a cute little story.
<<Shameless Plug Alert!!>> <Shameless Plug Alert!!>>
[[You can see the aforementioned story "Crystal Wasteland" at my website.
URL=http://members.aol.com/pinkworld/index.htm
To find the story without getting lost, replace "index.htm" with "crystal.htm"]]
Ahem... may I continue?
[[Certainly :-) ]]
Thank you. Anyway, the next was the "Gruesome" one. There was really only one act of senseless violence toward the end, but then again, it *was* set in Rwanda. (The hallucinegenic state I was in when I made THAT submission decision is much too long to go into here.) Rachel Holmen (managing editor) did scribble a note on the bottom specifying how the violence lacked a storytelling point, and on that she was right. Nobody else who read that version got the point either, so I did manage to learn something for subsequent rewrites (as it happens, I'm taking a break from working on this story right now).
At least I knew I probably had their attention, so I sat down to write a piece tailored for the market -- short, cute, and with a twist. Moreover, I included a subtle message that I thought an editor might appreciate by squeezing a Bloated Fantasy Trilogy's worth of adventures into 1400 words. I like it, and in some ways it's my best work -- for what it is, it's exactly the way it should be. The question is, was it good enough?
MZB didn't think so. "I am sorry to say this story fails to make its point. You must have meant something, or you wouldn't have written it -- but you didn't communicate it. Best Wishes, MZB"
Oh well. :-) My middle-of-the-road position on this is that it may be rude, but I don't take it personally. I do wonder how she picks those paragraphs for the rejection, though (dartboard? 1-20 for the corresponding paragraph, outer bullseye for personalized rejection, inner bullseye to buy?). I'll keep submitting to her when I get the chance, and I certainly wouldn't turn down an acceptance. But if that's not to be, then at the very least, I'm getting a good supply of "poor suffering writer me" stories for cocktail parties. ;-)
So to try to make this rambling epic (talk about bloated) relevent to this folder, the moral of this story is to NOT do any of the things I do in the above. Read the publication (I actually have the whole set of mags and S&S's), then get the guidelines (I did), then FOLLOW them to the letter and submit something appropriate (oops).
Best,
Jim
Subj: Re:MZB
Date: 96-04-27 10:42:40 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Jim,
I checked out your home page and the Crystal World story. I think it's adorable. MZB missed a good one by being too rigid about her own rules. I think you should continue to send it around. And have a little more self-confidence.
Gail
Subj: Re:MZB
Date: 96-04-27 19:25:23 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
Thanks, Gail,
I have bounced it off of a few other markets already, but it didn't stick. Don't worry about my self confidence. While I understand I have a lot to learn about writing, I KNOW I'll eventually hit pay dirt. :-) Despite what I said above, both "Crystal Wasteland" and the other short-short, were in my opinion both appropriate for her magazine, and better than a lot of what does make it. The Rwanda story is more of an ASIMOV's/F&SF type piece, though Realms of Fantasy might also work.
Plugging away with the rest of you, :-)
Jim
Subj: MZB on Web
Date: 96-04-27 19:34:56 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
And now for something completely different -- A Market Report. ;-)
Marion Zimmer Bradley's Fantasy Magazine is on the WWW.
URL=http://www.wel.com/user/mzbfm/
Subscription info, submission guidelines, manuscript guidelines, MZB's advice to new writers, additional author info, the whole ball of wax. This is a nice little site, which considering that the Publisher, Rachel E. Holmen, is a serious computer geek (see her home page) isn't surprising. What IS mildly surprising is how MZBFM beat a lot of SF magazines onto the Web. :-)
Jim
Subj: on Web
Date: 96-04-27 21:33:31 edt
From: Wendie Old
Posted on: America Online
Just a note of caution.
Don't try to sell first rights of any story that you have already put on your web page. Posting it there or anywhere on the internet constitutes publication and you may now only sell second rights. -w
Subj: Re: on Web
Date: 96-04-28 05:25:07 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
Thanks for the warning. I already knew that (I have an article on my site discussing that issue), but it does bear repeating.
Recent court cases (don't ask me which ones, I don't know anymore) have affirmed that public posting ANYWHERE online equals being PUBLISHED, so as Wendie said, there goes your first rights. Many of the magazines also explicitly state that they won't accept such stories.
Don't upload them to an AOL library, keep them off of web sites, and don't even archive them at an FTP site unless you know you won't be trying to submit them professionally. I think I remember one of Amy's posts about the SFWW talking about how since the stories are distributed through email, that the first rights are protected, which is correct.
I only posted that one story on my site because 1) I had already submitted to every pro mag I thought might be interested, and 2) It's one of the lighter pieces in my inventory, so I'm not too worried about what may happen to it now that it has been converted to electrons (easy to copy, easy to distribute).
As always, best to know about these things before they bite you.
Jim
Subj: Wanted Artists and Writers..
Date: 96-04-28 19:54:52 edt
From: TobinOlin
Posted on: America Online
for new anthology series called "Creatures of Fantasy" published by TaleSmyths Entertaiment. We are looking for Poetry, short stories, and artwork (comic book and illustrative) that features the various denizens of fantasy realms(Undead, Elves, Goblins, Fairies, Dragons, etc.) Please write for guidelines if you are interested in this new look at classic creatures. Write to: TobinOlin@aol.com.
Subj: Re:MZB S&S
Date: 96-04-29 13:30:41 edt
From: Canus66
Posted on: America Online
I recently submitted two completely different stories to MZB's Sword and Sorceress antho, and received exactly the same response: to paraphrase, the story didn't have the right feel for the anthology. Anybody get a different response? I'm dying to know if there is more than one two paragraph rejection letter for Sword & Sorceress.
Thanks!
Subj: Realms of Fantasy
Date: 96-05-02 11:16:26 edt
From: JPMcEwan
Posted on: America Online
Submitted July of 95, just got rejection letter: "Please excuse the long delay in my response -- I'd hoped to be able to send you a personal note, but finally realized time would not permit that."
For a form reply, a pretty nice one.
Subj: Re:Realms of Fantasy
Date: 96-05-02 11:43:01 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
I'm still waiting on a GL request sent over 12 weeks ago. You expect to lose a few SASE's to the smaller markets, but it's a real pain when it's a pro magazine. But I guess if a typical GL request comes back in a week and the typical response time is 8 weeks, this might just be average for RoF considering the previously posted response time.
Subj: Re:Realms of Fantasy
Date: 96-05-02 21:32:50 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Soneone said that Shawna had been ill and had surgery this year.
Gail
Subj: Re:Realms of Fantasy & SFAge
Date: 96-05-03 05:41:10 edt
From: FoxBrick
Posted on: America Online
Both are published by some wildcatting entrepreneurs, so cashflow problems could cause added confusion atop any health distractions.
We'll see if Penny Press (the Dell magazines sale is a confirmed go?) can keep the old Davis fiction quartet going strong...
Sympathy to Amy on no cover blurb...my story in TOMORROW was a last-minute insertion into the issue with the Ellison story and the Yerka cover, which didn't fit the usual TOMORROW cover format, so Every other writer's name was on the cover of that issue but mine (the artists and I were "Others").
Pitch to everyone who can't get enough SF email (at least you can flash-session it! cheaper than online reading/responding!), try subscribing to SF-LIT@LOC.Gov, the Library of Congress's SF message board. Some lively, some fun. Goto internet links, look it up under sf...
Subj: Re:Realms of Fantasy & SFAge
Date: 96-05-03 10:41:25 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Fox,
That was probably the last Tomorrow issue I've thoroughly read. I can't take A.J.'s pedantic taste. "Tomorrow readers are a difficult and selective audience." <G> I am selecting to . . . not read it!
Which was your story? I'm sure I have that issue around.
> Amy :)
Subj: Toad Hall
Date: 96-05-03 17:10:36 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
I sent a query for my SF spy thriller to Toad Hall, and now I am wondering if it really is full of TOADS? They sent me a form letter (I hope by mistake) saying they weren't interested in CHILDREN's NOVELS..... But they did request that I pay book editors to review the novel before sending it on..... FAT CHANCE!!!! I will be taking business elswhere, hopefully to someone who really represents SF instead of just saying so in the "Insider's Guide..."
I wonder if any others out there have had a similar experience with them or other agents who use similar tactics? I suspect it is the "outsider's brushoff..."
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Toad Hall
Date: 96-05-03 20:07:58 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Alisane,
I will pass on your comments to the guy who edits Insider's Guide. He loves these toadbits... I mean, tidbits. I did have a somewhat similar experience, by the way, when I sent a manuscript to a "publishing house"--can't remember the name right now, something unremarkable--and wound up getting an "offer" from an agent who was just dying to represent me. Of course he only had a partial of my novel in hand so hadn't read the whole thing, etc. I didn't take the trouble to reply. I think he was looking for $200 upfront. I can't imagine an agent representing an author whose novel he has never read--much less never having spoken to the person. Thus was it ever.
Gail
Subj: Artemis
Date: 96-05-04 10:43:40 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Artemis - 45 days - no.
Looks like there may be a real magazine here though heaven knows what it will be like. Seems like Ian Strock wants Asimovs-type pieces written about "near-future, hard SF on the moon." I don't know how many of those Allen Steele can do a month. <G>
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Artemis
Date: 96-05-04 12:48:33 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
I submitted a moon story to Artemis. It's part of a whole scientific community thing. I thought my story was good and well-researched, but I got a few factual quibbles. Also, the magazine was first operating under another name out of the midwest--I think it's in Brooklyn now--and they never responded to my submission there. I queried and got a return on that from the post office. So, I wouldn't write a moon story just for them, anyone. But if you happen to have one lying around, I guess it's worth a shot. (I happened to have one lying around.)
Gail
Subj: SMFS
Date: 96-05-04 12:52:23 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Well, for any of you who also happen to write mysteries--some known and unknown authors have formed the Short Mystery Fiction Society on the Internet that right now takes the form of a daily digest. Since I know there is a lot of genre crossover, I thought I'd post here. The Website where you can get the info on the group and about subscitbing is: http://members.aol.com/Mystfield/SMFS/Index.html
Gail
Subj: Re:SMFS
Date: 96-05-04 20:41:15 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
I checked my files. The other magazine was also Artemis--spomething like Artemis Project Magazine. It was in Ohio with a different editor. They must have moved it, I guess. When I submitted again in January, I got that response in a week or so. There must be more submissions now.
Gail
Subj: Re:Artemis
Date: 96-05-04 22:17:03 edt
From: WJaKe
Posted on: America Online
Amy;
The Artemis Project, of which Artemis Magazine is a part, is an organization that is devoted to a privately financed lunar colony. Their guidelines, last time I read them, specifically stated that they were looking for stories that would show what life on the Moon would be like and so forth. It almost seems like you would have to write a story specifically tailored to them.
WJaKe
Subj: Sword & Sorceress
Date: 96-05-04 22:49:21 edt
From: AMiller662
Posted on: America Online
I haven't submitted this year, but I sold a story to MZB for S&S 13 (out in July I believe). An associate called me with the acceptance. Besides the fact that I did write it for the guidelines, I also used a "new" idea, or at least MZB thought so. I won't say what, since I want you all to buy a copy (Hey, it's my first real royalties deal :) ), but the story is called "Patchwork Magic" and is under my full name, P. Andrew Miller.
Andy
Subj: Re:Sword & Sorceress
Date: 96-05-05 10:40:43 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Andy,
Great!! Congratulations. Good sale.
Gail
Subj: Re:Sword & Sorceress
Date: 96-05-05 12:38:54 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Good news, Andy!
{misunderstood about Artemis post - I'm not sure the expectations for the level of writing at Artemis fit with the narrow guidelines of type of story which are allowed. I think he's going to run out of good stories fairly quickly if his standards are as high as he says *or* he's going to have to be a little more flexible about the topics}.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Artemis
Date: 96-05-05 23:10:56 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy, I think you're right.
Gail
Subj: CRANK!
Date: 96-05-06 16:40:12 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
An extremely fast response from CRANK! I sent my manuscript on April 25 and got a wonderful form rejection letter on May 6th. HMMM, was it that bad?
TheZump
Subj: Re:CRANK!
Date: 96-05-06 19:51:50 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Bryan Cholfin, as has been reported here before, has said he's not yet bought anything from the "slush" pile - so don't feel bad.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:CRANK!
Date: 96-05-06 20:22:26 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
No, you should feel bad. Amy is just trying to be the good mother. You should feel absoluteluy wretched, as should we all. We're writers. We're scum. And don't you forget it.
Gail, who is far lower than dirt
Subj: Mag. wants bizarre works
Date: 96-05-06 21:35:29 edt
From: Smudge21
Posted on: America Online
Implosion: A Journal of the Bizarre and Eccentric, a small (5,000 circ.) but nationally and internationally distributed, quarterly magazine, is always looking for:
* short fiction
* photography
* artwork
* poetry
* non-ficton (travel pieces to bizarre places, interviews with notable odd people, first-hand experiences, etc.)
E-mail for complete guidelines/rates/deadlines/gardening tips, or simply e-mail your submission if you think it truly belongs in a magazine with the words "bizarre" and "eccentric" in its title.
Thanks for the interest.
--Dave Bauer
Publisher, Implosion
PO Box 533653
Orlando, FL 32853
Subj: The Market List #5
Date: 96-05-08 01:47:38 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
The May version of The Market List has been posted to the web page for download:
http://users.aol.com/marketlist/
Just the WinHelp version at the moment, though the ASCII version should be posted Wednesday.
Christopher
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Market List http://users.aol.com/marketlist
Subj: Re:The Market List
Date: 96-05-08 09:11:17 edt
From: AHDN64
Posted on: America Online
Tried to access site but was forbidden. ?
Mitz
Subj: Re:The Market List
Date: 96-05-09 07:33:37 edt
From: AHDN64
Posted on: America Online
Found it. Got it. Good.
Mitzi
Subj: Keen Science Fiction
Date: 96-05-09 21:15:18 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Happy Happy, Joy Joy!
I received a response on a submission sent to Keen Science Fiction on April 25 -- my short story has been retained for publication, hopefully in the May issue! The name of the story is "Babel."
ALSO
I received a letter from GALAXY recently on a submission saying that my story had made it "this far in the slush pile," but that the magazine's guidelines had changed AND that the magazine is NOT soliciting stories at this time. Thought I should pass this info along.
GALAXY also has a new Internet address: Galaxy@oro.net.
That is all,
>Lee
Subj: Re:Keen Science Fiction
Date: 96-05-09 21:55:15 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Great news, Lee!
Thanks for info on Galaxy, also. I fear they are completely moribund.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Keen Science Fiction
Date: 96-05-09 22:17:48 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Lee,
Congratulations. I look forward to reading your story. I'm subscribing to her magazine, so I will read it.
Gail
Subj: Re:Galaxy
Date: 96-05-09 22:19:01 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Lee,
Galaxy did that to me, too, about six months ago--after holding my story for 8 months. I was really ticked off.
Gail
Subj: Re:Galaxy
Date: 96-05-10 14:30:41 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
Galaxy has been dying since I sold my first story there in 1978. Throughout
most of that time it did pretty well on the racks and through subscriptions, but its fate was mostly tied to other magazines owned by the same folks, i.e., they used the Galaxy income to pay for the other 'zines, and thus it always struggled.
Lately, most of what it has been using consists of reprints for stuff it already owns, or stories written in-house. The guy running it, Eugene (E.J.) Gold, is a nice enough fellow, used to publish a 'zine called Wings 15-18 years ago, and is an artists, a Sufi and a great hustler. I like him, but I wouldn't hang a lot of hope on getting published from the slush pile at the current Galaxy incarnation.
Steve
Subj: Re: Keen Sci Fi
Date: 96-05-10 15:44:47 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
Thanks for the plug, Gail, but remember, my new address is:
Teresa Keene
Keen Science Fiction
907 W. 17th
Spokane, WA 99203
And I pay one and a half cents per word upon acceptance....Not vague, Gail, you little devil, you. (Gail is teacher's pet)
T. Keene
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-05-10 15:48:21 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
By the way, this is the first time I've looked at this board and it is a complete coincidence that so many of the contributors to this board have been accepted! Too wierd! You must believe me . . . I got none of you from this board! Also that I've gotten a couple hundred submissions so far and yours were picked because you were among the best. Wow, I'm really tripping to see all of you here. Dear writers!
T. Keene
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-05-10 20:08:36 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
What a sweetie!
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Galaxy
Date: 96-05-10 20:17:39 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Steve,
I actually know Mr. Gold, too. I also like and admire him. This is simply the way he does things--for secondary purposes.
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-05-10 20:20:13 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Well, Teresa, so you tracked us to our lair. I'm glad you put your address in there since I failed to so miserably.
Gail
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-05-11 10:25:59 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Tracted us to our lair
LOL
How fitting..
Now we shall have to be carefull about what we say - don't want to be giving a certain editor a big head,,, or do we <G>???
Gotta love her.
See you guys in print.
Kathy
Subj: Re:Keen SF
Date: 96-05-11 11:12:14 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kathy,
Yes, we can't say too much behind her back now that we've been caught.
Gail
Subj: S&S and MZBFM
Date: 96-05-14 02:46:43 edt
From: Caerdale
Posted on: America Online
Every rejection I got was different - including the dreaded "liked this one, kept it till the last minute", but also the harsh comments "Where is it going" or "old gimmick".
So far never sold to S&S, but got one story in last winter's issue of MZBFM and felt on top of the world. Funny thing is I felt that was not one of my best stories, but heck, who am I to complain??
I finally admitted that what she said in one of her editorials is true, just keep sending her stories. It worked for me.
Wishing luck to all of you.
Beatrice
Subj: MZB on web??
Date: 96-05-14 02:48:16 edt
From: Caerdale
Posted on: America Online
Tried and never could retrieve it. Has anyone managed to check out her web site? Let me know.
Beatrice
Subj: Encouraging Rejections from
Date: 96-05-14 13:26:48 edt
From: Ceyjo
Posted on: America Online
What a neat board!
Since the beginning of the year, I've had several "encouraging rejections" from the following:
Worlds of Fantasy & Horror: ave response time @35 days...invitiation to re-write
Realms of Fantasy: response time @40 days, personal rejection
Terra Incognita: Less than 30 days response for two different submissions...another invitation to re-write and re-submit. Jan Berrien Berends, the editor, has proved quite willing to help with personal comments.
About that re-submit thing...I'm not clear on the etiquette of re-submission. When I re-sent the fixed up (I thought) story to WoFH, George Scithers sent me a scathing little commentary, since I didn't tell him why I was invited to re-write the piece, nor what I did to improve it.
My question now is...will I become The New Writer Clod if I re-re-submit that piece to him taking his advice...the letter neither encouraged or discouraged such a course of action.
I'd appreciate any advice, suggestions....this would be my first sale, which would be kewl. :)
Thanks,
J.
Subj: Re:Encouraging Rejections fr
Date: 96-05-14 16:00:24 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
OK, J - you had a specific invitation to rewrite from George Scithers?
George Scithers is a darling man.
Rewrite the story to the best of your ability. Certainly weren't comments given the first time around? Like "redo this part" or a plot suggestion???
You can never hurt yourself by resubmitting when a rewrite has been requested. So, I take it, the second time around was rejected???
Oh, heck. Write down what you did to rewrite and WHY. Respond to any specific questions or concerns he had. Resubmit it with a nice SASE and write a courteous, specific and businesslike cover letter. Explain exactly where you went wrong, just as you did right here.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Encouraging Rejections fr
Date: 96-05-14 18:11:52 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
J.
Go ahead, resubmit. Shows your enthusiasm.
Gail
Subj: Re:Encouraging Rejections fr
Date: 96-05-15 09:04:55 edt
From: Ceyjo
Posted on: America Online
Amy & Gail -
Thank you, thank you, thank you! This really is a helpful board, esp. through the enthusiasm & interest of the two of you!
Joyce
Subj: Re:Encouraging Rejections fr
Date: 96-05-15 13:38:59 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away, George Scithers (then at _Asimov's_) sent a story I submitted back with some things he wanted to see fixed. I fixed them and he bought the piece -- and it became my first sale. He's a good editor and if he's making suggestions, at least consider them.
Steve
Subj: Worlds of Fantasy and Horror
Date: 96-05-15 17:28:47 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
I saw Worlds of Fantasy and Horror on the newsstand a couple of days ago, so another hiatus has ended. :-) It's dated Summer '96, and I think Summer '95 was their last issue.
The editorial explained the usual litany of cash flow problems and rising costs (paper and postage), and cautiously hoped that this is now all behind them.
Welcome back!
Jim
Subj: The Editors Strike Back
Date: 96-05-15 17:46:29 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
OK, I've seen three editors discuss this in their mags, and one editor talk about it here on AOL, so I'll mention it here for no particular reason.
Kristine Kathryn Rusch of F&SF, Shawna McCarthy of RoF, George Scithers of WoFaH (in the newly released issue), and John Ordover, one of the Star Trek editors at Pocket Books (in the Star Trek Club on AOL), have all basically said that a *strong* majority (phrase mine) of material in the slush pile is essentially unreadable.
Personally, I'm not surprised, but I'm sure the people that submit *those* stories are. :-) I'm waiting to see what kind of reaction they will get to their editorials. (The response to John Ordover's comments were extremely positive from potential writers encouraged to give it a go.)
To paraphrase the bunch of them, if you can write clear, grammatical English, you are well into the top have of the pile. If you manage to convey a story with a beginning, middle, and end, you're right there in the short stack. If you can make that story compelling, you have a darned good shot at making it.
I find this very encouraging, myself. I KNOW I'm at least past the first two criteria, I just need to push myself to create something in that last category.
Just some observations,
Jim
Subj: Re:Encouraging Rejections fr
Date: 96-05-15 20:19:40 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
See . . . Steve told you so. <G>
I think George Scithers is pretty darned good, too. Years ago before I quit writing time #1, I was brave enough only to send one thing out and I sent it to George Scithers. He sent the nicest, most detailed rejection letter back. I never forgot that.
> Amy :)
Subj: Slush Pile
Date: 96-05-15 20:21:47 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I think it's difficult to guess what an editor may want and I think it may be counterproductive to try to do so, especially for people just starting out.
I am doing better going my own way. It is up to them whether they like it or not.
I want to make the quality as good as I can, the storytelling as skillful as possible.
You realize it's whether they LIKE it or not or feel the readership will LIKE it. Something GOOD will always sell. Eventually.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:The Editors Strike Back
Date: 96-05-15 21:13:31 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
Leave it to certain editors to call most of their submissions "unreadable." As an editor, I've found that to be totally untrue. Perhaps some stories have a few typos. Perhaps some don't have an exciting twist at the end. Perhaps some are slightly lame. But "most" are "unreadable?" Give me a break. Those editors have been at it so long that they're totally burned out, and should quit and go back to their writing careers. Plus, I have a sneaking suspicion that they just don't want the writers to get any kind of sense that they are actually important in any way. You know, the entire publishing industry relies on the writers, who are ironically treated like turds!
Teresa Keene, Keen Science Fiction
Subj: Re:Slush Pile
Date: 96-05-16 00:07:50 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Ya gotta write what ya gotta write. If you're an interesting person, your stuff will sell. If you are highly charged internally, your stuff will sell. In ma umble opinion.
Gail
Subj: Re:The Editors Strike Back
Date: 96-05-16 00:10:48 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Ms. Keene,
You are kerect. Those darn editors are trying to put us down. They are plum arrogant. (And probably jealous, too.)
Anonymous
Subj: Re:The Editors Strike Back
Date: 96-05-16 01:30:39 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
Yikes, did I do this? :-) First, is what I perceived from these editorials different than everybody else's take on them? I certainly don't want to put words in their mouths when the items in question are readily available in the respective mags.
I did want to bring it to everybody's attention that there is a slew of these comments coming out at the same time (and I'm not even counting MZB's regular comments along the same lines).
What I'm getting from all this is a *very* desperate plea for MORE people to try their hand at writing. Even if the first attempts are in this *unreadable* stack, if you keep at it, you should move steadily up toward the top.
I did detect a little peevishness at the very small minority of submissions that are totally unprofessional (I do think they all made the distinction), but that's a separate issue.
I am surprised, though, that when this topic comes up, the people that this type of statement certainly DOESN'T apply to, are the most vocal against it (again, I have to emphasize that it may all just be my interpretation of others' words). I've seen the same thing in regards to the form rejection slips, particularly the ASIMOV's example. I know these sweeping statements don't apply to my own writing, so I just ignore them.
So once again, if you've seen the original comments, what are your opinions? This is a rare phenomena when so many editors bare their souls to readers and writers, and does deserve comment.
Best,
Jim :::diving for cover::: ;-)
Subj: Re:The Editors Strike Back
Date: 96-05-16 10:14:44 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Teresa's comments are to the point, James, even though she's just starting out and hasn't gotten jaded yet. <G> That's nice. I believe the major magazines receive 50 or more submissions a day. Obviously, all of those are NOT getting published in the magazine.
I've said it before, the story which is in F & SF was rejected by another magazine with one of the few form rejection slips I've ever received. I don't think that magazine reads "slush" with any sense of desire or purpose. The F & SF story got detailed rejections from all other magazines to which it was sent, the majority of which said "I think you will sell this elsewhere." I believed in the story and I knew it was a good story. Most of those magazines were of equal or higher quality to the one which bounced me with a form rejection. The form rejection didn't bother me but it told me something about that market - giving an honest and fair comparison to all the others. (And if you don't know which one it is, you'll find out for yourself.)
There is definitely a slush hierarchy which you follow, by which time you reach the end of the trail(as editors have pointed out to me) you are no longer in the "slush."
"Slush" is stories from (1) unknown authors; (2) cranks; (3) beginners.
There are many things you can do to move yourself along in the slush hierarchy until you eventually escape the slush. Most important is to write well and tell a good story (but an inattentive editor or first reader - or college guy like the one who was working for Ellen Datlow - can easily bypass an excellent story. After all, he's probably got a stack of 100 ms. and he might not like your name! Might not like the title. Might think it's another type of story from the title than what it actually is, etc...). Also important is to be consistent and persistent. Submit regularly, target the magazines you enjoy reading the most and always make the best presentation possible for yourself.
I think it's very rare that an editor buys a first submission from an unknown writer, even if it is good. They are looking for consistency and the ability to produce a body of entertaining work, not just one good story. However, submitting good stories will get you noticed, because I got the most encouraging letters when I started again 3 years ago. It certainly was *not* a good story, but it wasn't miserable-sucky like most real slush. Hand-typed letter from Stan Schmidt, etc... I knew that these people did care and did want to see good work from me which they would then buy.
> Amy :)
Subj: The Market List #5
Date: 96-05-16 11:34:23 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
The May version of The Market List has been posted to the business of writing library.
A slew of new markets and updates this time, plus the usual articles, reviews, and an editorial rant about some of the recent scams being perpetrated in the writing field.
Some day to day market updates have already been posted to the web page at:
http://users.aol.com/marketlist/
--Christopher
Subj: Unreadable (long post)
Date: 96-05-16 12:16:26 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
Having done a little editing myself for a publisher I would rather not name, I can tell you that when your house gets six or eight hundred mss a month, it is unfortunate that most of them are not publishable. You can actually _read_ the words (most of 'em), but the stories are rife with such bad grammar, spelling, a lack of story telling ability (i.e., no beginning, middle and end, no understanding of conflict or resolution, etc.) that they are beyond repair.
My experience is that perhaps 10% of the submission are of a quality that make them publishable. And out of that number, let's say 60-80 for our purposes here, the publisher can only buy maybe 10-20, depending on the needs of their schedule.
A lot of people want to write but they have not equipped themselves with the necessary tools to do it at a professional level. A beginning might have a terrific idea but not the skill to render it, and most editors simply don't have the time to coax a beginner along until they learn what they need to know. It makes more sense, timewise, to select one of the stories that meet all your criteria -- good idea, well-written, pays attention to the needs of the market. (It is amazing the number of people who don't read the guidelines. Editor says, "No sword & sorcery fantasy" and the would-be writer sends in a Conan pastiche. Or instead of sending in a story on standard size white paper, print on one side and double-spaced, they submit it on yellow onionskin, single spaced. Or handwritten on lined paper. It happens all the time.)
These kinds of things eliminate a bunch of folks right off. Like I said before, if you're getting handwritten rejection notes, you are halfway there . . .
Steve
Subj: Re:Ideas
Date: 96-05-16 13:33:19 edt
From: Canus66
Posted on: America Online
On the flip side of this debate, a great deal of the time editors receive stories that are well crafted, in proper ms. format, ect., but tell the tale of The Phantom Hitchhiker (which always ends 's/he died on this road ten years ago on this very date!!!) or The Mad Slasher (. . . and on the back bumper of the car they found . . . a hook!), or the Vampire Hooker (He met her in a bar, and the first feature he noted was her alabaster skin) or a variety of other stories you would think *everyone* had heard before. In a genre that's been around for such a long time, lack of familiarity can be lethal.
(by the way, Mr. Perry, I enjoyed seeing you on a panel at World Horror 96--or was that the guy from Journey?)
Subj: Re:Ideas
Date: 96-05-16 19:16:25 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
That was you in audience?
Steve
Subj: Re:The Editors Strike Back
Date: 96-05-17 18:45:58 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
Thanks everybody for responding.
First, like I said before, I just find it interesting that this has all come out in a rather short time. I still wonder what is prompting the comments from the editors, but I think I have an idea.
This is the message *I* am getting from them (my words entirely):
Most of what we get is fundamentally flawed and obviously not publishable. We're letting you in on this secret for a reason. Please pay attention to the basics of English, writing, and submission procedures. If this is all you do, you will easily put yourself past a very large proportion of the material competing for our attention. This makes it possible to evaluate the next stage, storytelling. By paying attention to this detail and learning the techniques through experience and feedback, you can reach the highest echelon. At this point you have a serious shot at getting published. Please keep at it because we desparately NEED new writers.
I haven't read *slush* (unless you count slogging through some of the fiction posted here on AOL), so I take them at their words on all of this. Consider me encouraged by what they said.
However, I was surprised by the initial negative reaction. I wasn't looking to set them up to be knocked down like that. It appears, though, that those type of comments are aimed in another direction, since two of the three editors in question have been highly praised thoughout this (Kristine Kathryn Rusch, and George Scithers ((actually the editorial in WoFaH isn't attributed, so it could be GS and/or Darrell Schweitzer)) ).
That's why I looked to have people separate general comments about editors out from responses to the particular editorials. There may be those that deserve the vitriol, but I haven't seen a finger pointed strictly at these three (Shawna McCarthy being the other), or for what they have said.
Anyway, I just wanted to clarify my side of this. If anybody cares, Amy's outline of how to go about this business is exactly what I follow. My first round of submissions may have fallen into the slush (the techniques of storytelling being my obvious early weakness), but I have worked to learn whatever lesson exposed by each effort. I feel confident that anything I submit now or in the future will be worth considering. If I keep doing that, I'll get published.
After all, these editors need me. :-)
Best,
Jim
Subj: slush
Date: 96-05-18 22:49:55 edt
From: AMiller662
Posted on: America Online
I edited for Pandora for about a year and received a few unreadable manuscripts which I hoped were from youngsters -- that's where a cover letter helped. I gave a lot more advice to those I thought kids wrote. But the editors mentioned earlier were all from large magazines. Teresa, wait until you show up in the Writer's Market. You will probably start getting your share of the unreadable manuscripts. As for guidelines, it doesn't surprise me at all -- I get it all the time from my students.
Andy
Subj: New Market List web page
Date: 96-05-19 23:38:00 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
There's a new URL for The Market List, at the new mirror site:
http://www.greyware.com/marketlist
For those that have reported problems with accessing the page, or downloading the WinHelp or ASCII file from the page, this should do the trick.
Greyware also offers free web pages to professional writers, and hosts the SFRT Bolthole newsgroup.
Christopher
Subj: Bones & Mythic Blue Corn
Date: 96-05-20 16:27:41 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Response times:
Bones -- 26 days; handwritten note on cover letter (a kind rejection)
Mythic Blue Corn -- 26 days; personalized response (another kind rejection)
That's all,
Lee
Subj: other mags
Date: 96-05-20 23:55:53 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Heard from Pursuit in about a week--a nice personal note--he's basically looking for stories of a perfect future world.
White Knuckles--about two months--want horror, suspense, mystery, mostly horror.
Echoes--a literary magazine--a nice personal note--about three months.
(All rejections, if you haven't guessed.) I got an acceptance from The Fifth Di... in about a week but he sent me an issue and his editorial says he's not accepting submissions again until January. (?)
Gail (Hayden)
Subj: Unpublishable Redux
Date: 96-05-21 01:56:13 edt
From: Skrewtaype
Posted on: America Online
I sent a manuscript in to Harper-Prism last year that was unpublishable. It was, after all, the first serious writing I had done in... uh... a long time. :-) The rejection notice I got was kind, (though I didn't realize it at the time) and encouraging (which I did realize.) After rereading the manuscript recently, I am flabbergasted that: 1. They took the time to read through the whole thing, and 2. that they were as encouraging as they were. Point of story is, KEEP ON WRITING! I am. And getting better all the time. (In my humble opinion.) Eventually I will rewrite that first book, because it is a good story, just not well told. (Awful structure, and lots of minutia of life not germane to the story line.) Live and learn. :-)
Subj: Thanks to everyone :)
Date: 96-05-21 16:15:22 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
I just wanted to drop a note of thanks to everyone on this board who gave me advice on attending my first convention (Conduit). I learned much, made some great contacts (& friends!), and had a ball!
I have been holding on to my first short story, not sure if it's good enough to submit for publication. Well, it placed 3rd at Conduit, with 1st and 2nd going to a well-published short story writer. I didn't know I was competing against professionals, or I probably wouldn't have sent it! Fred Saberhagen made the final decision, which thrills me even more.
So, I think I'll do some brushing up and finally get it sent off :) This convention helped me SO much. Thanks again!
:) Kris
Subj: The Fifth Di...
Date: 96-05-21 19:27:06 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
I'm a little confused as to whether The Fifth Di... is still accepting submissions, so don't let what I said stop you from sending things.
Gail
Subj: Sinister
Date: 96-05-26 09:20:30 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Response time from SINISTER MAGAZINE: I received an answer in about 2 weeks on a short story. They are looking for harsh fiction; gore is great as long as it is accompanied by a plot (rejection -- good and close, but not quite).
Anybody have any idea what CEMETARY DANCE's response time is these days?
Thanks,
Lee
Subj: change over
Date: 96-05-26 09:30:34 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Anybody have a guess how long it is going to be to hear from Asimov's now?
I sent something to them in March. Should I figure it will sit 'nie on forever' during the changeover
or do you think it will be business as usual, and I will hear fron them in the next month?
Kathy
Subj: Re:change over
Date: 96-05-26 11:54:00 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I thought Asimov's was doing better on response times lately - 50 days or so.
However, they will have a new address
AS OF JUNE 22, 1996
ANALOG and ASIMOV'S
are moving to
1270 Avenue of the Americas 10th Floor
New York, NY 10020
> Amy :)
And congrats to my buddy Brian Plante who just made his first major market sale to ANALOG!
Subj: Re:change over
Date: 96-05-27 09:21:37 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Are both Magazines keeping their names or will they be combined
or are they dunping one like TSR did.
??
Thanks for the address change notice -
Is it in the new Marketlist that way ??
If not we better bug Chris - He just loves these constant changes, I am sure.
It gives him something to do in those spare moments <G>.
<G> I almost signed this Mom - I am "chatting" with my daughter at the same time as I am writing this. - If I ever do that , please forgive me, I havent lost my mind ( well, maybe for a second :)
Kathy
Subj: Re:change over
Date: 96-05-27 11:14:01 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Hi Kathy:
As far as I know, there ARE no other changes except the address.
The new owners, Penny Press, appear supportive & it is a family business.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Feedback
Date: 96-05-29 18:33:22 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Wanted for new web page:
Feedback from writers on the markets. Everything from response times, sales, praise, and problems.
The info is going into a new page that will be accessible from the Market List web pages at
http://www.greyware.com/marketlist and http://users.aol.com/marketlist, and updated on a day to day basis (like the new markets and market updates section of the main page).
Info is posted anonymously, so don't worry about offending (or kissing the behind) of an editor with your feedback.
Also wanted: Reviews of semi-pro and small press zines. We now receive many sample copies and forward them to our new reviewer, but are always looking for outside reviews of magazines we may not have seen.
Query to MarketList here on AOL.
--Christopher
Subj: Re:Feedback
Date: 96-05-29 19:06:51 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I'll do a review of Keen SF.
Isn't that ethical? <G>
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Ethics?
Date: 96-05-29 20:59:07 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
>>Isn't that ethical? <<
Since when have ethics had anything to do with this business? <g>
Actually, a review of the April Keen ran in the May version of TML, and I just sent off the May Keen for another review. Upcoming reviews include The Urbanite, TransVersions, The Fifth Di. . ., The Sixth Sense, Fortress #1, Zone 9, Freezer Burn, Lost Worlds, Fantastic Worlds, and White Knuckles. So far so good. July is going to be a big issue for reviews.
Also, I just managed to crack the new SFRT in Exile Newsgroups on Greyware. The AOL news grabber won't access it, so you have to download Free Agent (in the library, and about 13 minutes at 14,400), and then it accessed perfectly. Great info from recognized names in the business.
Anyone heard back from this quarter of the Writers of The Future contest yet?
--Christopher
The Market List
http://www.greyware.com/marketlist
Subj: Re:Ethics?
Date: 96-05-30 10:15:28 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Free AGENT!@!!!!!
Thanx, Chris
- WOTF??? I think they are really slow since Claude took over. Nobody on GEnie has said a peep.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:WoTF
Date: 96-05-30 11:57:49 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Who is Claude, and who did he take over for?
Christopher
Subj: Re:WoTF
Date: 96-05-30 15:36:37 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
I can't remember Claude's last name right now - very French - and he has an accent, but he became the contest coordinator after Leslie, who was very nice and very prompt. This last quarter, I believe. Didn't you get your response late, and I never got my postcard and got my response very late? Leslie used to write little messages on my postcard.
Claude called and wanted my bio and a picture. He seemed to think my story would be in the book. I told him "no way" because that story was Jonny Punkinhead and I'd already talked to Dave Wolverton about it. It caused quite a stir because he was apparently asking for all finalist pictures & bios even though some of us, like me, placed out of it by virtue of a sale. Confusion because he didn't talk to Dave Wolverton until after he made his calls, not before.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:WoTF
Date: 96-05-30 16:43:58 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Actually, my last submission came back after about 12 weeks (usually a good sign) but there was no response at all in the envelope.
This quarter, I included a cover letter addressed to Dave Wolverton with an extra SASE, asking for a note about how the last story did. I was hoping for a letter along the lines I received for my story that made the quarter finals (but not the final selections) a couple quarters ago.
So far, no response on that letter at all. (Another SASE down the drain).
This seems very unlike the contest as it used to be. In the GL, it says you can send in a SASE at any time for the results of the last quarter. It also says all entrants will be notified of the writers that sat on the judging panel. I've yet to receive such a list.
Of course, I still think this is the absolute best contest for new writers, regardless of any wrinkles at the moment. Considering the pay for the winning entries, the payment for printing in the anthology, the circulation of the anthology, and the workshop, there's not much out there that can compare.
I'm tempted to call Claude and ask him how to get in touch with Dave via voice or e-mail. I wanted to run an interview with him about the contest anyway. Maybe he's moving on to something else?
--Chris
Subj: Re:WoTF
Date: 96-05-30 22:50:45 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
No, I think Dave is still doing everything as usual. I think the bottleneck is in the office.
> Amy :)
Subj: Cemetary Dance Response Time
Date: 96-05-31 13:13:46 edt
From: Ceyjo
Posted on: America Online
Zump -
Just got a form rejection (exceeding word limits) in about 2 months from Cemetary Dance. They are, needless to say, quite firm on that 5,000 word limit. <g>
Subj: Re:change over
Date: 96-05-31 16:03:59 edt
From: RDowney203
Posted on: America Online
I sent two pieces to Asimov's - one on April 2, the second on April 11. Received both of them back on May 3 - form letters - no thanks.
Randy
Subj: Re:Response Times
Date: 96-05-31 16:13:20 edt
From: RDowney203
Posted on: America Online
Asimov's: 31 days and 23 days
Pirate: 38 days
Daw: Turnaround time 30 days for complete ms
Del Rey: Submitted Complete ms May 1995. Finally got frustrated and sent a letter in April 1996, withdrawing the ms from consideration, and submitted it to Daw. Received it back from Daw in a month, then a week later, got the ms back from Del Rey with a rejection form letter.
Randy
Subj: Re:Response Times
Date: 96-06-01 13:05:26 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Asimov's in under 31 days? Sounds like they're getting ready for the move. I wonder if that response time will grow ever shorter as it gets closer to June 22.
--Christopher
Subj: Re:Response Times
Date: 96-06-01 13:29:15 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Randy: cheer up and keep submitting things.
Thank you for posting the info.
Was it the gnarly Asimov's form letter? Don't take it seriously. Burn it in effigy if you like.
> Amy :)
Subj: RE-re-re-submit
Date: 96-06-01 16:03:49 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
And resubmit again, editors like writers that are into submission... ;-) In fact, they prefer them on their knees. Anywho, any invitation to re-write and re-submit is free liscence to bug the crap out of them in my book.... ;-)
Alisane the InSane
P.S. Congrats to all you newly published writers and to those who are re-published (okay so the re-re thing is getting out of hand... ;-)
Subj: Re:Thanks to everyone :)
Date: 96-06-01 16:15:31 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
YEA KRIS!!! That's outstanding!!!
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Eclipse & Haunts
Date: 96-06-01 16:31:52 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Reporting Times:
Eclipse -- 43 days; Reject, but a VERY helpful one; the editor (Kiirenza Lockhorn) pointed out a few inconsistancies and offered some great advice in a typed letter.
Haunts -- 35 days
Lee
Subj: Twisted
Date: 96-06-01 22:03:54 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Report Time:
Twisted -- 36 days, responeded via e-mail
Lee
Subj: RE-rejected, dejected
Date: 96-06-06 18:25:51 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Ejected again, sigh.
Daw, 28 days reject
Roc 20 days reject
Trillium 20 days reject
Agents: Woodside asks for $150 evaluation fee (fat chance)
Susan Potter: didn't even keep the query letter (do they even read them?) 14 days reject.
Maybe I should stick to the short story market, sigh.
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:RE-rejected, dejected
Date: 96-06-06 21:24:27 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Alisane,
Don't stick to the short story market--keep plugging away with the novels. (That's an order.) Persistance counts. Laura Gilman just moved to Roc. I wonder if she's the one who sent the rejection? I hear they've been overstocked with fantasy--if yours was fantasy. There are other publishers out there, etc.
Gail
Subj: Re:RE-rejected, dejected
Date: 96-06-07 01:35:26 edt
From: Skrewtaype
Posted on: America Online
Woodside's fees have gone up? They only asked me for 75! And told me how wonderful it was. Humm, was I a little suspicious? Susan Protter rejected me too, so I know how you feel. "Not for us" was the comment, I believe. Keep yer shoulders straight and chin up!
(Gee, and I thought it wuz just me! )
Subj: Re:RE-rejected, dejected
Date: 96-06-08 06:24:16 edt
From: JamesAB5
Posted on: America Online
For those who don't know:
Woodside is probably the the most (in)famous spammers on the Internet. The guy, John (James) Lawrence (Leonard), gets a new account at an Internet provider like AOL, throws HUNDREDS of posts around the Usenet (and AOL, when he's here), gets kicked off that service, then moves on to another one. He's even looking for writers on off-beat topics such as (and this is probably the *least* bizarre) rec.arts.textiles.markeplace. Most writer's groups are on to him so he usually, but not always, avoids them.
If you see the name Woodside, RUN AWAY! It's nothing but a well-documented scam. There's even a small group of writers on misc.writing who have a bit of fun with keeping up with his activities. If you see a post here on AOL contact the area host or AOL staff so they can remove the post and cancel his account (again).
Of course, just follow the good advice of not paying anybody to read your work unless you know EXACTLY what you are getting for your money and you won't have to worry. Even then, think thrice before doing it.
Best,
Jim
Subj: MaraWayne
Date: 96-06-08 10:13:51 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Yeah, you're right, I will stick to the novels, I like it too much... ;-) And, yes it was Laura who sent the reject. I got one from Peter Stampfel for my SF with a curt note (No Simuls), but at least it was a note... Now that my MS has made the ten point round, I may send it back to him and maybe hold my breath for a bit....
Screwtape,
It wasn't just a "not for us", it was absolutely nothing. They just took the ms and shoved it in the return envelope without even reading or keeping the query..... Talk about rude...
Jim,
Yeah, they tried a different name with me, but the letter came back with the Woodside letter-head. Anyway, I have always lived by the axiom that if they think it is good enough, they will invest time in hopes of a return. It makes the agent more eager to sell your work, because they stand to gain much more by it. I have always been more than suspicious of agents that charge reading/evaluation fees. Thanks again for the re-inforcement of my beliefs.
Alisane the InSane (patiently waiting for the new batch of rejects while rewriting, developing new stories and novel plots, and being a general nuisance.)
Subj: Re:MaraWayne
Date: 96-06-08 20:09:43 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Alisane,
Hey, what better do we have to do? We don't bowl... (Can't throw a discus...) Might as well write fiction and get treated like dirt.
Gail (Hayden)
Subj: ViperBlue
Date: 96-06-09 13:08:21 edt
From: AMiller662
Posted on: America Online
I sent an e-mail submission and received snail-mail response in two weeks.
Andy Miller
Subj: Response Times, various
Date: 96-06-10 16:18:32 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Terminal Fright -- 12 days, "Vampires are *almost* an automatic reject here...
Adventures of Sword & Sorcery -- 46 days, form letter w/some notes...
Sorcerous -- 10 days, ***no longer accepting unsolicited poetry***
Dreams and Nightmares -- 9 days, brief note
Lee
Subj: Re:RE-rejected, dejected
Date: 96-06-11 02:30:23 edt
From: Skrewtaype
Posted on: America Online
And so my suspicions are confirmed. Let's see, hmm, ten desperate writers respond a week and he gets 1,500 dollars for doingnothing at all. A major parasite.
Subj: Re:MaraWayne
Date: 96-06-11 02:31:16 edt
From: Skrewtaype
Posted on: America Online
My manuscript came back from Peter with no rejection notice whatsoever. At least you got a note! :-)
Subj: Donald Maass
Date: 96-06-11 18:52:43 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Literary agent, 13 days round-trip, says he's swamped with already signed projects.
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Thanks to everyone :)
Date: 96-06-12 23:42:41 edt
From: Glittrstm
Posted on: America Online
Thank you Alisane!
i can't tell you how much I appreciate the support and encouragement from this board!
:) Kris
Subj: Re:Unreadable (long post)
Date: 96-06-13 15:21:33 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
True, true, "unreadable" and "unpublishable" are two separate things...
By the way, I receive (already! With only my third issue out!) about 200 mss a month, but am undaunted! This is the perfect job for someone who wished as a child, in the middle of that Walter Farley novel, that she could READ for a living some day!! Teresa Keene
Subj: Re:response times
Date: 96-06-13 15:33:41 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
As a writer I've noted the following response times over the past six months:
Belletrist Review: 2 mos
Potpourri: 4 months (and that was with an acceptance)
Asimov's (last summer) 3 months
Asimov's (now) 3 weeks
Byline: 2 months
Analog: less than 1 month
The Mag of F&SF: 1 month
Aboriginal: 1 month
Tomorrow: 9 days!
Silver Web: 2 weeks
The Sun: 3 months
Amelia: 1 month
Ansuda: 12 days
Sci Fi Age: 7 days
Yes, all of the above mentioned mags take Sci Fi . . . I've learned not to limit my submissions to strictly "Sci-Fi" mags . . .
Just putting my 2 cents in!
Teresa Keene
Subj: Re:response times
Date: 96-06-13 17:28:22 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Dang!!!
You're going, GIRL! Hang in there, Teresa.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:Sword & Sorceress
Date: 96-06-14 13:39:19 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
Congratulations, Andy!
Lee
Subj: Re:Keen Science Fiction
Date: 96-06-14 13:42:24 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
Lee:
Great news, and thanks for the Galaxy tip. BTW, if anyone has seen the first (I think) electronic issue of Galaxy, there should be a story called "Lesser God" by Chris Prentice (actually our writing student and dentist, Denny Bershaw). It's an hilarious story, and I would recommend it for your reading pleasure.
Lee (the other one)
Subj: Re:The Editors Strike Back
Date: 96-06-14 13:58:08 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
As Jim pointed out, the standard line in our industry is that probably 90+% of what's submitted is immediately rejected for a variety of reasons. If you write clearly, follow the (ridiculously simple) formatting guidelines, and handle your correspondence and dealings with editors in a professional manner (whether or not you've made a nickle on your writing yet), you're already way ahead of the pack. I stood in the office of one of our editors a number of years ago and read a selection of her submissions received that day, including one handwritten in blue ink on purple paper (I wish I was kidding) and another that was scrawled on a postcard: "I have written the perfect book for you. Send me $50 and I will pay someone to type it." Yes, these things do happen.
My personal experience with other people's slush came about 5 years ago when Spratt and I ran the annual writing contest for our local writers group. Our guidelines were simple, straightforward, and stated in words of fewer than three syllables. The submissions we received ranged from no entry fee (in an astounding number of cases), to no address or name anywhere on the submission, to handwritten or typed with sloppy writeovers on every page -- sometimes every line. Sadly, since we were volunteering in an effort to help encourage new writers, we really suffered over these miscreants, trying every way we could to render the submissions judgeable. We of course vowed to never again take on such a disaster, and I have only sympathy for the editors we deal with, knowing something of what they face. I don't know how they do it.
Lee
Subj: Re:Unreadable (long post)
Date: 96-06-14 14:01:42 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
While I shared some of the "publisher who shall remain nameless" experience from the writing side, I suppose I should also confess that we arm-twisted Steve to judge one leg of our competition, too. Poor dear long-suffering soul that he is. (And yes, I'm back, Steve!)
Lee
Subj: Re:change over
Date: 96-06-14 14:06:37 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
Don't worry, Kath -- if you haven't lost your mind, what are you doing here? Besides, we never would've become such great buddies if you were hung up on a little thing like sanity!
;)
Lee
Subj: Re:Unreadable (long post)
Date: 96-06-14 14:12:32 edt
From: LeeSpratt
Posted on: America Online
>>This is the perfect job for someone who wished as a child, in the middle of that Walter Farley novel, that she could READ for a living some day!!<<
All right, Teresa, what were you doing, eavesdropping on my childhood? ;)
Lee
Subj: Thirteenth Moon
Date: 96-06-14 16:06:23 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Response time from Thirteenth Moon (poetry submission, three poems) -- 134 days. The editor apologized several times for the delay, stating that there was quite a backlog of submissions. Another kind and personal rejection.
Lee
Subj: Spratt's Back
Date: 96-06-15 04:39:13 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
Glad to see you are alive and still able to type, Lee.
I haven't heard from Denny since he shipped his ms to Ace. Didn't want to ask . . .
Steve
Subj: Re:timelines
Date: 96-06-15 12:21:45 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Okay, I don't know if it's the pubs or the P.O., but sometimes things just go out and never return.
Fer instance, sent a ms. to Non-stop 10/9 and a query on 5/24. What happened?
Sent something to Amelia, which usually answers within 3 months, on 12/27 and a query on 5/24. Do other people have this problem? Like a few pubs never seem to answer you? Ones that have responded in a fairly reasonable time previously? After a response time like that from Non-stop, with no answer to a query, I have to write them off. I think that's fair... Maybe it's a postal thing...
Gail (Hayden)
Subj: Post Office
Date: 96-06-15 12:40:22 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
Gail
Don't give up on someone who has responded well before.
I deal with the Post office on a daily basis.
I have a FIRM conviction there is an insane postman somewhere that is insulating his house with my mail.
I have sent the same person matreial through the mail up to 4 time before I successfully have managed to get it there. I have had it take 3 weeks to get a letter sent from 3 miles away.
So don't give up,
The more you use the USMail the more often you run into the insane insulating postman.
Kathy
Subj: Aberrations/Wicked Mystic
Date: 96-06-15 15:00:58 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
Response times:
Aberrations -- 50 days
Wicked Mystic -- 7 days!
Lee
Subj: Re:Hang in there!
Date: 96-06-15 19:37:03 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
Amy . . thanks for the positive note...(Hang in there!) that's sweet . . . except, er, I'm not sure what I'm suppose to hang in there for! I hate to brag (yeah right) but I've published about a dozen shorts in the past year, won the 2nd quarter '95 Masters Literary Award, have a book coming out this month, was a contributing editor at a newspaper until recently . . . well, actually, I SHOULD hang in there!! Because after all that work still nobody knows who I am! AARGH! <G> Teresa
P.S...What's it all about, Alfie?
Subj: Re:Unreadable (long post)
Date: 96-06-15 19:39:37 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
Lee . . . LOL! How about that Island Stallion??? What a stud...Teresa
Subj: Re:timelines
Date: 96-06-15 19:46:45 edt
From: Scullydame
Posted on: America Online
Some mags that never responded . . .
(You probably all know that they're out of business, and I'm, as usual, in the dark)
Magazine When I sent the piece
Grue 3/95
The Aguilar Expression 10/95
Cemetery Plot 10/95
Doppelganger 1/95
Midnight Zoo 1/95
Ball Magazine 10/95
Non-Stop 12/95
Bohemian Chronicle 10/95
Dark Tome 7/95
to name a few. And I keep my Market Guide as up to date as possible. Is it just me, or would it kill going-out-of-business mags to scribble something on the coverletter and stick it in the SASE I provided (that's costly in all these cases!) and let me know they're out of business, overstocked or whatever? Are they using all the postage they've kept for their own nefarious purposes? I have a message for them, if any read this . . . fold my ms in three corners, sit on it, and twirl. Teresa
Subj: Re:Hang in there!
Date: 96-06-16 11:37:11 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Teresa,
Yes, T., we know who you are... But you didn't tell me you had so many shorts published or that you won an award for 95!!! Don't keep those secrets. Blab the news all over town. And I am waiting to see your book...
Gail
Subj: Re:Post Office
Date: 96-06-16 11:39:05 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Kathy,
You're probably right. It's that darn post office guy. Well, I'd rather he keep my mail than pick up an Uzi and... well, you know... keep the mail, fella. But I wish he'd let me know which pieces he's using to furnish his home.
Gail
Subj: Re:timelines
Date: 96-06-16 11:42:26 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Teresa,
Or mark the outside of the envelope you sent "Return to Sender" so we get back both the ms. and our SASE. (I'm not that cheap, but it wouldn't hurt.) Anyway, I think it's not they're rude, they just don't have the intelligence. Well, so you didn't get a response from nonstop either. That means it may not be Kathy's crazy postal guy...
Gail
Subj: Re:timelines
Date: 96-06-16 13:54:03 edt
From: EKathy
Posted on: America Online
While we are griping..
How about the magazines I sent SASE's to for guidelines and never got them ?
I KNOW they are still in business - I sent a ms any way and got a rejection.
another one sent the guidelines 6 months after I requested them. I got a rejection from that one before I got the guidelines.
I don't think they are always very strong on the organization lines - can't be good at everything I guess.
Subj: Re:SASE responses
Date: 96-06-17 11:54:44 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Kathy wrote:
>>How about the magazines I sent SASE's to for guidelines and never got them ?<<
Tell me about it. I send out about five SASE's a week just to keep up with new markets and make sure what I do have stays current. The number of SASE's I've been burned on is huge, and my response rate on IRC's is about 10%. If I don't hear back after two, and I've heard other writers report the same, I write off the market. Otherwise, I'll give them three chances, waiting at maximum 60 days between. Then bye-bye, off the list.
--Christopher
http://www.greyware.com/marketlist
Subj: Re:timelines
Date: 96-06-17 12:05:45 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Teresa --
On those markets your listed for no response, I believe all of them are dead. Grue, Doppelganger, Midnight Zoo, etc., with the exception of Dark Tome. I know they have an active web page, but not sure if there's an e-mail link. I have their page linked from mine, I'll have to check for the URL.
As for Non-Stop, this is probably the only market I've ever trashed online. Mostly because of their attitude that if you didn't like what they print, you are ignorant and uninformed (they stated as much in one of their editorials, in not quite as kind words, either). Several writers have reported no response on SASE's for GL, manuscripts, and queries. I guess the attitude couldn't keep them afloat.
--Christopher
Subj: Re:Grue
Date: 96-06-17 13:12:53 edt
From: Canus66
Posted on: America Online
Actually, didn't Grue just come out with a new issue?
Be that as it may, Peggy Nadramia is notoriously slow at responding. I know a guy who's been waiting two years for a response from her (at this point, you think he'd give up, but some folks are tenacious).
Subj: Re:Grue
Date: 96-06-17 17:06:46 edt
From: TheZump
Posted on: America Online
The last issue of Grue I am aware of was issue 17 which came out in Spring 1995. I'm pretty certain that they have faded away...
Lee
Subj: Re:SASE responses
Date: 96-06-17 20:25:03 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Gee, you guys make me happy I don't send for guidelines. I'd go ballistic. I can't stand it when someone is that disorganized.
Gail
Subj: Re:response times
Date: 96-06-19 13:59:09 edt
From: Clarise451
Posted on: America Online
Thank you very much Teresa! I read in a market guide it was 3-4 days. Today is the fifth day since I sent out my 1st story ever and I was freaking out cause a rejection letter didn't come! (At least my Fantasy and Science Fiction came. I'd die without Ray Bradbury)
Subj: WoTF Contest
Date: 96-06-20 14:33:15 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Has anyone heard back yet on this quarter of the Writers of The Future contest?
--Christopher
Subj: Submission Guidelines
Date: 96-06-20 22:46:30 edt
From: BobaFet538
Posted on: America Online
I sent a request for submission guidelines to Asimov's and it took them over a friggin' month to send me one. I'd like to know the guidelines for a few others, Sci Fi Age to name one of them, but it's such a pain in the a*s to wait around for these things. Is there a list somewhere online that I can download with the guidelines? If not, I sure would be interested in starting one. It would save a lot of people a lot of hassle that could be spent on more productive activities.
Subj: Re:Submission Guidelines
Date: 96-06-21 12:17:10 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
You can download The Market List from the business of writing library. There are GL summaries for about a hundred markets. Grab it in WinHelp format if you use Windows, ASCII otherwise. Or I can attach mail it to you if you like.
The info is accurate as of May 1st, and the July update will be done in just a few days.
--Christopher
The Market List
http://www.greyware.com/marketlist
http://users.aol.com/marketlist (text only page)
Subj: Re:Submission Guidelines
Date: 96-06-21 13:47:15 edt
From: Stev Perry
Posted on: America Online
Let me add something that most writers know, if they've been doing it very long: Writing is a slow business. In the doing, and especially in the waiting. Waiting for responses, waiting for publication, and most important, waiting to get paid. Might as well know that now if you don't already . . .
Steve
Subj: cosmic unicorn
Date: 96-06-24 22:06:11 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Cosmic unicorn: ms sent 5/6
rejection 6/24 with a brief form letter saying they couldn't use it but to send my next story.
Well, gosh, that was one of my best...
Gail
Subj: Re:cosmic unicorn
Date: 96-06-25 01:08:59 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
LOLOL, Gail!
Asimov's - 30 and 18 days or something like that - 'tump those suckers in the mailbucket! Asimov's moved officially as of today. See new address upstream.
UM, Aboriginal, like forEVER - no, really more like 3 1/2 - 4 mos.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re: Aboriginal
Date: 96-06-26 21:48:17 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Amy-
That seems long compared to response times that I've had reported back lately. Maybe Charlie was giving it some serious consideration? Did he send you any notes?
--Chris
Subj: Re: Aboriginal
Date: 96-06-27 10:42:11 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Yes - I got a note :)
A reject is a reject. There was also a subscription form and he wrote "save" on it. O-Tay!
> Amy :)
Subj: Response time/ TML status
Date: 96-06-28 20:36:14 edt
From: CHolliday
Posted on: America Online
Response from Aberrations in 75 days--
AND the July WinHelp version of The Market List should be posted to the web page tonight, or at the latest, early tomorrow. Those on the mailing list will have it attach mailed as soon as it's ready. The ASCII may take a day or two longer (tough to explain why, just trust me on this one).
Those that download TML from the Business of Writing libary will have to wait for it to go through the AOL screening procedure, probably an extra day or two.
Things you will find: Interviews with Warren Lapine and Wayne Edwards. Articles by Teresa Keene and Gail Hayden. Reviews of Crank!, Crossroads, Eulogy #10, The Fifth Di . . . , Freezer Burn, Keen Science Fiction #2, Lore, Lost Worlds, Palace Corbie #6, Stygian Articles, The Sixth Sense, Talebones, TransVersions #4, The Urbanite, Terminal Fright, and White Knuckles #5.
And if you drop into the web page, please take two minutes for the poll. We almost have enough responses for a meaningful index.
--Christopher
http://www.greyware.com/marketlist - or -
http://users.aol.com/marketlist
Subj: Re:Response time
Date: 96-06-28 23:18:07 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Magic Realism, three months. They do a checklist type of rejection form.
I withdrew a story from Lost Worlds--it was only 4 1/2 months, but it's a really good story and I thought that was long enough to wait and one from The Extreme that was there an equal length of time. I don't see that these magazines are first run enough to be worth the wait. It may be a buyer's market, but we have to make it a seller's market, too--or a-person-who-gives-his/her-hard-labor-away-for-free market in some cases...
Gail
Subj: Re:Response time/ TML status
Date: 96-06-29 22:24:57 edt
From: CrawfordJS
Posted on: America Online
Thanks for the update, Christopher. I think the WinHelp version is a great resource.
Scott.
Subj: Re:Response time/ TML status
Date: 96-07-01 20:11:55 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
I got my response from Aberrations in two months. (Guess I misspelled it in my note to you--I haven't downloaded 3.0 with spellchecker yet.) James B. says hello to you too.
Gail (Hayden)
Subj: New Brand Agency
Date: 96-07-02 18:58:06 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
15 days, reject, too busy to evaluate...
AA Fair Lit, great stuff send money (NOT!) 13 days.
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Response time
Date: 96-07-02 22:03:45 edt
From: BradDuncan
Posted on: America Online
I've had two stories published by Lost Worlds. On the first story, I made one query and got no response, so I sent a letter to withdraw the story. Two or three weeks later, the story appeared, and I got my contributor copies.
The same thing happened with my most recent story. I wasn't officially informed that it had been accepted, although the editor did return a pre-paid self-addressed post card to let me know they had received the manuscript.
It took six or seven months for the first story to get published. It took a little over a year for the second story. From what I gather, they are getting pretty backed up on stories, and it will probably take even longer than a year for a story to get published.
Lost Worlds has an update in the July '96 Scavenger's Newsletter that states the editor always tries to give a "personal touch" in response to manuscripts. Maybe this refers to rejected manuscripts... I dunno. I received that "personal touch" when I got my contributor copies, though.
Although I endured a bit uncertainty until my stories were published, I'm very happy with the way they appeared in the magazine. Over all, I give the magazine a thumbs up!
Subj: Re:Response time
Date: 96-07-03 11:00:12 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Brad,
That is no good!!!!!!!!!!!! If yiou withdraw and submit elsewhere it will look like you screwed up. They can't print without having you sign a contract!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations since that suited you, but that is really terrible for anyone who submitted who has withdrawn a story as I did recently and submitted elsewhere. Outrageous, I might add. Thanks for letting us know.
Gail (Hayden)
Subj: Re:Lost Worlds
Date: 96-07-03 13:59:59 edt
From: MarketList
Posted on: America Online
I've been trying to figure this market out. John Everson did a review on an a sample issue (it's in this months version of The Market List) but I only skimmed it myself before sending it to him.
One thing I noticed but didn't see an explanation for is the index on the back of the magazine that lists the stories and authors with a serial number, as if someone might want to buy rights to the story for reprint. It's a little odd.
And, considering that their guidelines package is about 6 pages long, I find it strange that they don't respond with at least an acceptance notice.
Just my 2 cents worth, which might get you a penny gumball someplace else.
Christopher
http://www.greyware.com/marketlist
Subj: Rain
Date: 96-07-03 18:09:56 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
I sent them a file I don't know how long ago, but I got an acceptance letter today. I guess they have had some electronic difficulties, but are back. For some reason, I didn't log in the transmit to them so have no idea how long ago it was.
Story: Lies August issue
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Rain
Date: 96-07-03 19:10:28 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Congratulations Alisane. Way to go, girl.
Gail
Subj: Re:Response time
Date: 96-07-03 23:14:25 edt
From: BradDuncan
Posted on: America Online
A little clarification on that message about Lost Worlds that I posted... I sent a letter withdrawing my submission, but it stated "If I receive no reply in 30 days, I'll consider the story withdrawn from your consideration." The contributor copies definately came in shortly before the 30 day deadline in my withdrawl letter...
Just wanted to clear that up. I don't think the editor would publish a story that's been withrawn... I always give a 30 day deadline so I can get some sort of response.
I also don't know if a magazine can only print something if you sign a contract. In most of my published stories (we're talking payment in contributor copies) I merely got a letter of acceptance and eventually received the contrib copies. I seem to recall something that Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote about proffessional editors not using contracts when she sold some of her first stories for $$.
Anyway, just letting you all know that Lost Worlds didn't publish my story after I had officially withdrawn it. They got me those copies before my "no response in 30 days" deadline.
Subj: Re:Response time
Date: 96-07-04 11:14:16 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Thanks, Brad. That's a little better (but not much). I was reminded of the Fantastic Collectibles fiasco--where they NEVER notified the author they were printing his story!!!! We get little enough respect. They ought to at least inform us if they like a story and want to print it, don't you think!
Gail
Subj: Re:MZB . . . the saga contin
Date: 96-07-08 02:19:20 edt
From: Moonluna
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
MZB once sent me a very NASTY rejection letter that discussed a story in detail I had never heard of -- she somehow managed to mix up my story with someone else's (!!), although she returned my story in the SASE.
I sometimes wonder if the writer of the story she discussed in my rejection letter got my rejection letter, or worse yet, a check?
( :
MoonLuna
Subj: Re:Bantam response...and a ?
Date: 96-07-08 02:28:05 edt
From: Moonluna
Posted on: America Online
Kris,
Congrats, that is a good rejection.
Editors at big publishing houses have a high turnover rate -- why not resubmit your manuscript to that house again in six months or so? Piers Anthony did that, I hear, and got a previously rejected manuscript published.
Good luck! ( :
-- Moonluna
Subj: Re:Tor
Date: 96-07-08 02:31:59 edt
From: Moonluna
Posted on: America Online
Tor has a website -- don't have the address handy but the site implies that they take first novels.
???? Go figure. Anyway, good luck. ( :
-- Moonluna
Subj: Re:AOL Writers Area
Date: 96-07-08 02:39:19 edt
From: Moonluna
Posted on: America Online
Chris,
Here's one for your list -- maintain more than one "Writers Wanted" folder and more than one "E-zine Writers Wanted" folder, and then yell at editors who post "Writers Needed" messages to more than one folder for engaging in the unforgivable sin of "multiple posting".
Yes, this actually happened to me.
-- MoonLuna
Subj: Re:MZB . . . the saga contin
Date: 96-07-08 10:01:05 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Boy, Moon, you're not the first person I've heard of who seemingly had one story switched with another.
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:MZB . . . the saga contin
Date: 96-07-08 21:44:18 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Amy,
I don't think MZB actually switches the stories. It's just that she has only so many form rejection letters and they don't fit all occasions. Consequently, she accuses people of sins of which they are not guilty. As for the nasty part, she's just nasty.
Gail
Subj: Re:MZB . . . the saga contin
Date: 96-07-09 09:33:25 edt
From: Portent7
Posted on: America Online
Gail,
I don't know -- you're right about the nasty part but that letter she sent me was VERY specific and has handwritten parts -- too bad it referred to a story I had never heard of! Anyway It's great to know that I'm not alone -- as they say, misery loves company.
Anyhow -- ( ;
-- Moonluna
Subj: Re:Lost Worlds
Date: 96-07-09 13:43:25 edt
From: Ceyjo
Posted on: America Online
I sent for the Lost Worlds guidelines about six months ago...they were tremendously involved and included a sample issue. I didn't find it the most professional thing in the world...therefore I assumed that her business end would reflect the publication. I've never sent there.
Just my two cents.....:)
J.
Subj: Re:Rain
Date: 96-07-09 15:43:09 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Thanx Mara (Gail) I have one difficulty with them, however, they said they enclosed a copyright form, but there was none. I have to get in touch with them somehow... (I hate writing letters... go figure... ;-)
Alisane the InSane
Subj: Re:Rain
Date: 96-07-09 19:10:41 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Alisane,
Letters are a pain. Everyone should be online or at least give you a fax or phone number. I mean letters!!!
Gail
Subj: timelines
Date: 96-07-09 20:30:25 edt
From: MaraWayne
Posted on: America Online
Okay, got 2 responses, if you can call them that. Actually the one from Happy, which does take SF to I think 3,000 words, was ultra prompt--about one week, plus he wrote a personal note. But he did say "read a sample issue before you submit again." I don't consider that an invitation to submit, so I won't. I especially don't want to buy the magaazine for $7. Then the response from Amelia after six plus months addressed me by name, but not my own name. Don't know where he got the name he used, but he also suggested I buy a sample issue. I don't believe I'll do that, either. I know they think there are tons of writers out here so they have the upper hand, but there are also tons of magazines. Maybe they haven't caught on to that yet. Or to the fact that we communicate with one another. Well, at least Bayard at Happy was fast.
Gail
Subj: Re:timelines
Date: 96-07-10 01:05:20 edt
From: ASterling
Posted on: America Online
Gail! What did he do, call you Bemetrice? Trudy?
> Amy :)
Subj: Re:timelines
Date: 96-07-12 15:57:14 edt
From: Alisane
Posted on: America Online
Gail,
Sometimes the story conflicts with the editor's 'HOT' button. Dr. John McCollister gives an excellent oration on "hot" buttons and how to use them. It does involve viewing the magazine, but a good liabrary, or book store should be able to get the mag for the nominal price, or in the case of a liabrary, for free viewing. He shows you how to determine the editor's flavor by simply looking at the advertising. It helps tremendously when you are targeting a certain market.
Some small presses can't make money any other way than by the writers seeing their works in print, so they almost force you to purchase a sample copy. I would be wary of submitting to such markets myself.
Happy writing.
Alisane the InSane
7/26/96 2:25:38 PM Closing Log file.
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