Glimmertrain

cree · Oct 5, 2006

I need a grand.

Anyone know roughly how many submissions Glimmertrain receives for its short story contests? (Not the unpublished writers contest).
Thanks

PeeDee · Oct 5, 2006

I don't know. What's half the human population of planet Earth? It's probably close to that.

(I have no idea.)

cree · Oct 5, 2006

Ok, so it's lottery tickets instead.

Kate Thornton · Oct 5, 2006

From everything I've seen/read about Glimmertrain, I think the lottery tix would give you better odds.

But it is a legit quarterly magazine run by 2 sisters who are *very* discriminating in their choices. They have a stable of their favorite writers, although they do read ms from anyone who sends. They are really one of the top markets for literary fiction, and publish some very fine work.

They accept online submissions now, and their standard submission pay rate is $700. They charge a fee for entering the contests. Here's the link: http://www.glimmertrain.com/writguid1.html
Good luck!

tiny · Oct 5, 2006

And they give really nice rejections too

PeeDee · Oct 5, 2006

I read GlimmerTrain every now and then (almost never buy it, what with being poor and all) and they publish some damn good stuff. Those sisters, they're vicious. Wonderful, but vicious.

Submit anyway. If you win, you get a good chunk of change and bragging rights.

WerenCole · Oct 5, 2006

They like'd me. . . they really did I tell you.

(Half of world populations is about 3.1 billion, by the way)

Need a grand quick? I know this pimp in Harlem. . .

C.bronco · Oct 5, 2006

a lot. a real lot! They've got a fabulous reputation.

maestrowork · Oct 6, 2006

They are extremely critical and picky, and they tend to favor certain things. But them is a good outfit. Submit anyway. What do you have to lose (except the entry fees)?

johnnysannie · Oct 6, 2006

Glimmer Train has four open submission periods each year. Each one lasts for a month and one of them is October. There's no fee for open submissions and it's worth a shot. After all, the worst that can happen is a rejection!

cree · Oct 6, 2006

maestrowork said:
They are extremely critical and picky, and they tend to favor certain things. But them is a good outfit. Submit anyway. What do you have to lose (except the entry fees)?

But, I could buy two beers with the entry fees!

All joking aside, i love Glimmertrain, I'm a subscriber, but i've never submitted because I'm not typically a short-story writer -- just a short-story dabbler. They have great stuff, and btw a nice website if anyone else is curious.
Thanks everyone!

billyf027 · Oct 6, 2006

Be careful putting a story online-read below.

This is some advice I read:
I think it depends on what print magazine or internet mag you're submitting your story to.

Some have very stringent guidelines and won't consider a story which has been entered onto an online writers' forum. They count that as being published.

Rolling Thunder · Oct 6, 2006

In Glimmer Train's standard submission guidelines they state 'stories should not exceed 12,000 words'.

Does anyone know if a short story of less than 3000 words would qualify for this or would they prefer it be entered in the short fiction contest?

I could expand my short for standard submission, but I'm afraid it might become watered down.

Siddow · Oct 6, 2006

Rllgthunder said:
In Glimmer Train's standard submission guidelines they state 'stories should not exceed 12,000 words'.

Does anyone know if a short story of less than 3000 words would qualify for this or would they prefer it be entered in the short fiction contest?

I could expand my short for standard submission, but I'm afraid it might become watered down.

I think you'd be fine. Their stories varies a little in length. A copy I have right here, seems the longest is 24 pages and the shortest is 4. About 300 words per page.

billyf027 · Oct 6, 2006

Whatever the lenght is.

They will tell you it was a good read.
Very tough market-I heard they get between 500-1,000 manuscripts a month during their reading periods.

Mark Lazer · Oct 7, 2006

Looks all rather impressive, really!

Dollywagon · Oct 7, 2006

When you get their rejection, you also get their writers guidelines which are worth subbing for all on their own.

Very informative and inspirational.

cree · Oct 7, 2006

Dollywagon said:
When you get their rejection, you also get their writers guidelines which are worth subbing for all on their own.

Very informative and inspirational.

Are they different from the ones on their website?

Dollywagon · Oct 7, 2006

Sorry Cree, went to bed ... in the UK!

Yes, very in depth. They come on a pdf file (or whatever) and there is about five pages.
I can't lay my hands on them at the moment, but they cover general writing, their own requirements, motivation ... a whole load of things. Basically what we talk about on these boards.

Well worth having and holding on to.

bookgeek · Oct 12, 2006

Oooooh, Glimmertrain! It is nothing short of the holy grail for short story writers of the literary nature. I dig this rag!

I just sent them my entry for a short story contest (I forget which one--the deadline was the last day of last month) and, as I paid my $12 entry fee I said in my heart, "Here, Glimmertrain. Please have my $12. I expect nothing in return." Because I doubt I'll win. But still. I can say: "I submitted to Glimmertrain. And they rejected me. I have been knighted!" Non-writers in my life think I'm insane when I say things like this because they don't know, they just don't know! I have to use some kind of sports or Corporate America analogy before these people grasp the Glimmertrain greatness. But it's that way when I talk about the Atlantic Monthly, the New Yorker, and a couple of other places, too. ...now that I wrote all that, I'm thinking I might need to hang out with some other people. Mine apparently only read ESPN Digest and US Weekly.

Why was I responding to your question? Oh, right, yes. I have no idea how many people submit for their short story contests. But I bet it's bigger than the population of New York City (smaller than China's, though) (I hope).

Pecons · Oct 12, 2006

I think the number of entries is around 15,000 to 50,000 a year including all four submission periods. Remember, they say you can send up to three stories a month, so I imagine there are tons of writers sending in about 30 a year. There aren't many really good magazines that PAY and have free submissions not including the contest.

Really it is just a matter of time before Glimmer starts charging for all submissions. And they should, it is well worth it. So while it is still free enter away.... YAY!

cree · Oct 12, 2006

Pecons said:
And they should, it is well worth it.

I'm a subscriber, and I'd be disappointed if they started charging people for standard submissions. That's bogus, and they'd completely lose their reputation.
Maybe that's not what you meant, but the standard rule of thumb: money flows toward the author. Not out of the author's pocket.

Jamesaritchie · Oct 12, 2006

Pecons said:
I think the number of entries is around 15,000 to 50,000 a year including all four submission periods. Remember, they say you can send up to three stories a month, so I imagine there are tons of writers sending in about 30 a year. There aren't many really good magazines that PAY and have free submissions not including the contest.

Really it is just a matter of time before Glimmer starts charging for all submissions. And they should, it is well worth it. So while it is still free enter away.... YAY!

The moment they start charging for all submissions they'll be much easier to sell to because good writers will no longer submit. There is never, ever an excuse for a magazine to charge writers for standard submissions, and no good writer will ever pay to submit a story.

And in all honesty, ALL the good magazines have free submissions. Any that do not are scams and ripoffs, not magazines anyone should buy or submit to.

Rolling Thunder · Oct 13, 2006

Jamesaritchie said:
The moment they start charging for all submissions they'll be much easier to sell to because good writers will no longer submit. There is never, ever an excuse for a magazine to charge writers for standard submissions, and no good writer will ever pay to submit a story.

And in all honesty, ALL the good magazines have free submissions. Any that do not are scams and ripoffs, not magazines anyone should buy or submit to.

James advice is the difference, Pecon, between stumbling around the publishing world alone and finding a good place to learn, like AW.

The same advice applies for agents too.

Pecons · Oct 13, 2006

Right

I remember not long ago it was also said that no good magazine accepts email submissions either...

Yes I completely agree that most magazines that charge are for profit scam businesses and not a good literary nonprofit. But there is also a reason why you can only name about six lit mags that being published in actually means something to an editor. It is not because there are less good writers and the pool of quality literature is smaller. It is because it is always getting more difficult to run a non-profit and therefore less quality publications.

With many more submissions than magazines subscriptions, we all hope that those credible mags will stay around forever for writers and readers.

Glimmertrain

cree

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

cree

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

tiny

riding the sun

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

WerenCole

Funny what? Do I amuse you?

C.bronco

I have plans...

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

johnnysannie

cree

billyf027

Rolling Thunder

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

billyf027

Mark Lazer

Dollywagon

cree

Dollywagon

bookgeek

Vicarious is my middle name.

Pecons

cree

Jamesaritchie

Rolling Thunder

Pecons