Sending novel excerpts to literary journals

RG570 · Jul 7, 2009

This is probably going to be one of those duh moments, but I don't know what else to do. I read a few literary journals, but have none in my possession that have any novel excerpts, though quite a few say they accept them.

First of all, how should you choose what part of the novel to send? Again, I realize this is a stupid question and am prepared for a stupid answer, but I'm not quite sure what the aim would be in this case. Is it just to show off literary chops or what? Because not many novels have self-contained parts that stand on their own from a purely story standpoint.

And, say they actually publish whatever I send them--is it going to bite me in the ass when I try to get the whole thing published elsewhere? I know it's dumb to throw out excerpts on the internet, but isn't it different when a literary journal publishes it?

James D. Macdonald · Jul 7, 2009

First of all, how should you choose what part of the novel to send?

A part with a beginning, a middle, and an end, that fills their genre requirements and falls within their length requirements.

Is it just to show off literary chops or what?

It gets you name recognition among readers, and it shows some other editor that an editor thinks you write at a publishable level.

And, say they actually publish whatever I send them--is it going to bite me in the ass when I try to get the whole thing published elsewhere?

Not unless you signed a very bad contract.

Treat the submission as you would any stand-alone work: Start with the highest pay/highest prestige markets first. If your work appears in a bottom-hugging market, the hypothetical other editor might think that everywhere higher had seen your work and given it a pass. This would work against you.

RG570 · Jul 7, 2009

Awesome. Thanks!

CaroGirl · Jul 8, 2009

You're in BC? Geist publishes novel excerpts, although they might accept only published novels. I'm not sure.

Good luck!

maestrowork · Jul 8, 2009

An excerpt should reads like a short story. So pick something that is self-contained as much as possible.

RG570 · Jul 8, 2009

CaroGirl said:
You're in BC? Geist publishes novel excerpts, although they might accept only published novels. I'm not sure.

Good luck!

I had a look at Geist, but I think they're a bit too mainstream. What I have is more of a Capilano Review type thing going on, but they don't seem to do novel excerpts.

I'm having a bit of trouble with finding people who take them now. It's kind of annoying. I thought everyone took them.

CaroGirl · Jul 8, 2009

RG570 said:
I had a look at Geist, but I think they're a bit too mainstream, I think. What I have is more of a Capilano Review type thing going on, but they don't seem to do novel excerpts.

I'm having a bit of trouble with finding people who take them now. It's kind of annoying. I thought everyone took them.

Here's a list of Canadian literary journals (off the top of my head) to try:

Malahat Review
Matrix
Prism International
Fiddlehead
Brick
Event
Grain
The New Quarterly
Prairie Fire
Descant
Room

I don't think it'd hurt to try Geist, even if they seem too mainstream for your work. They like to think of themselves as "literary."

Best luck!

RG570 · Jul 8, 2009

The New Quarterly does fiction?

For some reason I thought they were just about discussing literature, not actually displaying any.

Matrix and Fiddlehead--totally forgot about those. Thanks.

Though not many of these explicitly say they do novel extracts. Does that mean they don't do them, or is that something they all do?

popmuze · Jul 8, 2009

I think a lot of literary magazines do excerpts. I'm just not certain as to whether you have to (or should) tell them it's an excerpt or not.
Anyway, if you get one published in a good literary magazine it's a definite plus, kind of like graduating from the Iowa Writer's Workshop.
I'm about to follow this route myself. So which are the top American lit magazines anyway?

CaroGirl · Jul 8, 2009

RG570 said:
The New Quarterly does fiction?

They sure do. From their submission page: "A single submission may include 1 short story, 3 poems, or 1 postscript story (under 3 pages). Query first with a proposal for an essay on writing."

http://www.tnq.ca/contribute/submission_guidelines/

SarahMacManus · Jul 8, 2009

Look at duotrope.com for the lit-mag market.

Great resource!

pdr · Jul 8, 2009

Try...

http://www.canlit.ca/resources-maglinks.php

which is a good list of most but not all Canadian literary mags.

Once you've gone to a web site check the links page for more urls to lit mags.

socact · Jul 8, 2009

Is there a listing of lit mags that take excerpts from memoirs? Memoirs aren't technically fiction (I've visited duotrope.com), so I'm wondering if there is a completely different market for this.

SarahMacManus · Jul 9, 2009

socact said:
Is there a listing of lit mags that take excerpts from memoirs? Memoirs aren't technically fiction (I've visited duotrope.com), so I'm wondering if there is a completely different market for this.

Memoirs are usually viewed in the same vein as short stories for the purpose of lit mags (I read for one). It's generally referred to as "narrative non-fiction", but they would be looking for the same qualities in the piece as in a short story; strong story line (may end on a more ambiguous note, but most literary short fiction can), good characters, good narrative voice.

tackaberry · Jul 10, 2009

Thank you for the Cdn specific resources! Does anyone have a list of writing contests for Canadians? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Jason

RG570 · Jul 10, 2009

tackaberry said:
Thank you for the Cdn specific resources! Does anyone have a list of writing contests for Canadians? I would really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,

Jason

http://www.canauthors.org/links/markets.html#contests

Try that.

Sending novel excerpts to literary journals

RG570

James D. Macdonald

Your Genial Uncle

RG570

CaroGirl

Living the dream

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

RG570

CaroGirl

Living the dream

RG570

popmuze

Last of a Dying Breed

CaroGirl

Living the dream

SarahMacManus

pdr

socact

SarahMacManus

tackaberry

RG570