Should I send a second submission?

Inamorata · May 10, 2009

Since you people gave me such great advice and info I have another question to ask.

I submitted a short romance to Woman's World 4 months ago. From what you've told me I could be waiting another four to five months for a rejection

or an acceptance

letter.

I've finished another short romance that fits their market IMO. Should I submit that now or do I need to wait until I hear from them on the first story?

Your advice would be greatly appreciated.

myrmidon · May 10, 2009

I'm not specifically familiar with Woman's World, but you should check their guidelines - which if you've already submitted I assume you know where to find them. Many mags let you send as many pieces as you like, most prefer that you only submit one piece at a time and wait until you hear back on that before submitting again.

Check their guidelines - it should be in there. If they don't say anything about it you are probably okay to send a new piece.

Alan Yee · May 10, 2009

Unless the submission guidelines explicitly state that multiple submissions are acceptable, it's usually best to wait until you receive a response on the first story. Or you could politely e-mail the market and ask if it's okay. Worst thing they can do is say no.

Rye-Ting Noo-Bee · May 10, 2009

Send it. I always have several pieces there at the same time (though spaced apart a few weeks, usually), and nobody has ever complained. I know others are doing the same.

Good luck,

Rye-Ting

Izz · May 10, 2009

Alan Yee said:
Unless the submission guidelines explicitly state that multiple submissions are acceptable, it's usually best to wait until you receive a response on the first story.

What Alan said. But if you check the guidelines and find that multiple subs are fine, then send away.

seaaircarol · May 11, 2009

They have two of mine as we speak (er, write).

(Like Rye-Ting, I spaced them apart by a few weeks.)

drachin8 · May 11, 2009

Alan Yee said:
Unless the submission guidelines explicitly state that multiple submissions are acceptable, it's usually best to wait until you receive a response on the first story. Or you could politely e-mail the market and ask if it's okay. Worst thing they can do is say no.

Quoted for truth.

Don't think your name isn't getting noticed--if you submit often enough to a market, they begin to recognize you. So it is up to you what sort of impression you want associated with your name. Check their guidelines for their multiple submission policy, and if none is stated, pop them an email to ask. They will appreciate your thoughtfulness in checking and have much fonder memories of you.

-Michelle

seaaircarol · May 11, 2009

I don't disagree with what the others have said, but Woman's World gets thousands of subs. And they do take an awfully long time to respond. I have never heard they have a policy against multiple subs, so I really think it's okay, especially if you've waited a number of months since the last one.

P.S. They don't really correspond by email. There is an email address, but I believe it's for feature stories and general questions, not for fiction. I suppose it's worth trying to shoot off an email to ask about the policy. It would be nice to know for sure.

Inamorata · May 11, 2009

Thank you all so much!

I guess it wouldn't hurt to shoot off an email. Unless, of course, they take four months to respond to emails....

pdr · May 11, 2009

Don't foul up...

a good market.

Check their guidelines. If multiple subs are okay then go ahead. If not why not increase your marketing skills by finding another market.

It really doesn't look professional to keep firing off stories to the one good market you've found when you haven't had a response to your first submission. There are other markets out there.

drachin8 · May 12, 2009

Inamorata said:
Thank you all so much!

I guess it wouldn't hurt to shoot off an email. Unless, of course, they take four months to respond to emails....

If it takes four months to respond to the email, no biggie because once you have that response it applies to every future submission. Four months can pass pretty quickly if you are busy writing more stories and submitting them to other markets.

-Michelle

JamieFord · May 12, 2009

Just send it. Having two submissions isn't going to wear out your welcome. Now daily submissions, that's different...

seaaircarol · May 12, 2009

pdr said:
Check their guidelines. If multiple subs are okay then go ahead. If not why not increase your marketing skills by finding another market.

It really doesn't look professional to keep firing off stories to the one good market you've found when you haven't had a response to your first submission. There are other markets out there.

I guess the question is: if their guidelines don't say anything about it, is it okay to send multiple subs?

Inamorata, do you want to send an email and report back? If you don't feel comfortable, I'll do it.

Inamorata · May 12, 2009

seaaircarol said:
Inamorata, do you want to send an email and report back? If you don't feel comfortable, I'll do it.

The only email address I've been able to find is [email protected] Is that the one you were talking about?

You might have a better idea of how to word it, so if you'd like to try I'd appreciate it. I'm not even sure if that's the right address.

For some reason publishers and editors intimidate me. I have visions of them seeing my name on a story and saying, "That's the writer who sent us a stupid email. Let's not even look at HER story!"

Am I paranoid? lol

drachin8 · May 12, 2009

Inamorata said:
For some reason publishers and editors intimidate me. I have visions of them seeing my name on a story and saying, "That's the writer who sent us a stupid email. Let's not even look at HER story!" Am I paranoid? lol

*swat Inamorata on the nose*

Begone, paranoia! Asking for policy clarification is never a bad thing (well, I suppose it might look silly if the policy is obviously stated in the guidelines, but even then it is better to look a tiny bit silly for asking as opposed to super silly for going against the policy). I know it can be a bit intimidating, but honestly, most editors are really nice folk (severely overworked, but nice). Do not fear them!

-Michelle

Izz · May 12, 2009

What Michelle said.

Inamorata · May 12, 2009

Thanks everybody!

I think I'll go to bed now and let my nose heal up :gone:

seaaircarol · May 13, 2009

I Sent the Email

Okay, guys, I went ahead and sent an email to [email protected] .

I will report back!

Carol

seaaircarol · May 13, 2009

Heard Back Already!!

Citing their huge backlog, they said it's okay to send a new story even if they haven't responded to the first one yet.

drachin8 · May 13, 2009

seaaircarol said:
Citing their huge backlog, they said it's okay to send a new story even if they haven't responded to the first one yet.

Awesome news for you guys submitting there, and totally easy to obtain the information. Thanks for sending the query in, seaaircarol!

-Michelle

seaaircarol · May 13, 2009

No problem. It's good to know for sure now.

Inamorata · May 14, 2009

Thanks seaaircarol!

Now I will make their backlog even bigger :tongue

seaaircarol · May 14, 2009

Good luck, Inamorata!

(and everyone else!

)

Should I send a second submission?

Inamorata

myrmidon

i AM batman (not really)

Alan Yee

Still Here!

Rye-Ting Noo-Bee

Izz

Doing the Space Operatic

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile

drachin8

post-apocalyptic bunny

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile

Inamorata

pdr

drachin8

post-apocalyptic bunny

JamieFord

giving resonant directions

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile

Inamorata

drachin8

post-apocalyptic bunny

Izz

Doing the Space Operatic

Inamorata

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile

drachin8

post-apocalyptic bunny

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile

Inamorata

seaaircarol

Frustrated Pluviophile