Hi! I was under the impression that if you send a query to a magazine and the editor likes your idea, he/she would notify you within one to two days. Is that right? So I should give up hope and need not wait one or two weeks, right? Do they ever reply even if they are not interested in your idea? Thanks.
Receiving Reply from Editor
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Most of them say in their submissions requirements. But the short answer is 'HA! Hell no!" The quickest response I've ever gotten was 4 days, and the longest was nearly 6 months. In both cases, the editors liked my idea. Don't sweat too much. Sometimes it takes a while. Check the magazine's guidelines.
Oh, and check with duotrope.com and if your magazine is listed, they'll probably have the average response times listed.
As far as getting a reply if they don't like your idea... that just depends on the magazine. Again... submission guidelines. Some will say that if you don't get a reply in <however long> consider it a rejection.
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Yes, definitely check duotrope for average response times. And no, do not expect a response from anybody in two days. If you get one, it's a bleedin' miracle.
With both the short stories I've submitted (both were published eventually) I had these wait times: Story #1 -- 3 weeks (rejection); 12 days (acceptance). Story #2 -- 23 days (acceptance).
So you can see, even when I got a "yes" it was a significant wait.
With both the short stories I've submitted (both were published eventually) I had these wait times: Story #1 -- 3 weeks (rejection); 12 days (acceptance). Story #2 -- 23 days (acceptance).
So you can see, even when I got a "yes" it was a significant wait.
I've had a response that said they received my submission (short story) but it took another couple of weeks to reach a decision. It's not that they can't make the decision quickly, they have to answer everyone who came before you first and depending on the magazine you're sending your idea to, that can take quite a long time.
Don't worry about it. Check duotrope or any other fitting market directory.
Don't worry about it. Check duotrope or any other fitting market directory.
If you've got the right idea at the right time then you'll hear quickly. You pitch a great article on Monkeys in Japan and they were already thinking Some Animal in Some Country and you'll hear very quickly. If it is a great idea but not right for the current issue then you may be waiting for the next issue.
If it is longer than a few months then I say consider it a rejection. Apart from not finding the right place for your article it probably isn't in their mind by that stage either.
If it is longer than a few months then I say consider it a rejection. Apart from not finding the right place for your article it probably isn't in their mind by that stage either.
Re: Editors
Yes, editors do reply, especially if they like your submission, but it takes time. If it's been about 6 or more weeks since you've sent your submission, you may want to e-mail or call the editor to check on the status of your submission. Make sure you know the editor's name and state the title of your submission and the date you sent it.
Yes, editors do reply, especially if they like your submission, but it takes time. If it's been about 6 or more weeks since you've sent your submission, you may want to e-mail or call the editor to check on the status of your submission. Make sure you know the editor's name and state the title of your submission and the date you sent it.
It's Catch-22 the way they ask for clips. I don't have any clips since I have never been published. Yet many magazines asked for clips. If you don't, they are less likely to ask you to write your piece. How do you get out of this no win situation? You hope to get published but you have to show them you have a published piece! So you're stuck there!
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Simple, start writing for the publications that don't ask for clips like local magazines and papers. Sure, everyone wants to publish in those bigshot magazines, but if clips are stopping you from reaching that goal, it's not the place to start.
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