And I was just minutes away from posting a similar thread. So I'll just introduce myself here. I too just registered on this forum, as I was told it was a great resource in helping me in a possible path to published writing.
I consider myself a capable writer, one with both good ideas and the means to execute them. I've spent some time writing for a few college writing contests, and an unfinished fanfiction that I swear I'll return to someday, but I constantly dream about going proffesional, or at least semi proffesional. I've got some ideas that I'd like to turn into full fledged series, and I'm looking for any publications that might be interested in my ideas, and won't immediately turn me down for being an amatuer at work.
I've got a copy of the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market (2004), which lists quite a bit of publications, what they specialize in and what they pay, etc. But I was hoping that perhaps a few people here are in the same position I'm in, and could perhaps recommend some publications I could start with, right off the bat. In other words, a good publication that a newbie like me could look into, and one that won't turn away from a first timer's work.
The only things I'm looking for with a certain publication are:
1. Must pay for my work: Yes, I've heard it before that I should think about the writing and not the money, but that's what fanfiction is for. For ideas like the ones I have, I want them to florish as professional works.
2. Preferably Online: Not a must, but it would be easier to have the publication online, so I can simply copy and paste any stories I type, and I find e-mail to be far easier to manage than a phone call. That's just me.
3. Different Genres: I don't want to be restricted to just one genre. I've contemplated writing all sorts of different stories; romance, sci-fi, drama, horror, and the good old fantasy. I'm not sure which genre I excel at (my gut says fantasy though), so I want to try them all. A publication that accepts all types of stories would be nice, but I'll take multiple one genre names if you have them.
Well I hope a couple of you aspiring writers can help me out. I really appreciate it, thanks.
i am going to meet two editors at a writer's expo next month and this is all new to me. i've been writing for years but i have never tried to have anything published. i have a few questions about their requirements. in the manuscript package they require, they ask for a 'marketing plan.' can anyone give me a clue what this is? thanks in advance! 
to the Cooler, Shan!
