How do you submit?

Southern_girl29 · Nov 28, 2006

I'm not really new to writing short stories (although I haven't written very many of them), but I am new to subbing them. I've posted in the SYW section, and I've been told I need to start subbing them. So, I have, but I'm wondering if I made a mistake. I started at the top of the list (with the better, higher paying magazines), instead of starting at the bottom (lesser pay/no pay markets). Is this the best way to go about it? How do you do it? Thanks so much.

mjlpsu · Nov 28, 2006

For me it depends. I want to get paid for short stories, but that's not always possible. And sometimes the publications that don't pay give an opportunity to be more widely read. So, I base my decisions on where I think the story belongs (and I'm usually wrong).

Mike Coombes · Nov 28, 2006

I veer between the aspirational and the practical. The high-end, and the 'good fit'.

writeperch · Nov 29, 2006

There's no right or wrong way. Many writers will tell you to start at the top and work your way down. If you think your story is a perfect fit for a smaller mag, go ahead and send it there first (then start writing your next story).

Okay, I take that back. There IS a right way: submit your story and if your story is rejected, ALREADY HAVE the next envelope (or email address) and cover letter ready to go and submit it to the next market the very day you get it back. Prolific writers might have dozens of different stories out in the mail at any given time; normal writers <grin> have a couple out there at the same time.

Submit, submit, submit.

And then submit again.

Until it sells.

Kate Thornton · Nov 29, 2006

I target for the "right fit" - but for stories not written with a particular venue in mind, I start at the top (high end, high pay, right fit) markets and work down.

Many of the stories I write are written for particular venues, but I always have a couple of back-up places to submit in case they don't get placed in the first choice.

Isanthe · Nov 29, 2006

I'm new to subbing as well, so my method is still a little unrefined, but right now one of my first considerations is how long a story will be kept out. I use Duotrope and other market databases to locate markets that look like a good fit for my story and have a reasonable turnaround. So far I'm starting with semi-pro up and working down.

If I had to prioritize my criteria, I guess it would be:
1. right fit
2. estimated turnaround time
3. print mags preferred
4. good payscale

Here's an article on submission tracking that may be helpful, if you haven't come across it already: Keeping 'em on the Street

Good luck

Summonere · Nov 29, 2006

marketing...

You did not make a mistake.

Start at the top of the list of who is most likely to, A) publish the kind of story you wrote and, B) pay you more money than everyone else.

If your story will sell to national market that will pay you, say, two thousand dollars, and this same story will sell to a semi-pro press that will pay you thirty dollars, which is the better deal? Consider, too, that the more a market pays, the larger the audience who will actually see your work. If they like your work enough, they’ll look for it elsewhere, too.

steveg144 · Nov 29, 2006

Southern_girl29 said:
I'm not really new to writing short stories (although I haven't written very many of them), but I am new to subbing them. I've posted in the SYW section, and I've been told I need to start subbing them. So, I have, but I'm wondering if I made a mistake. I started at the top of the list (with the better, higher paying magazines), instead of starting at the bottom (lesser pay/no pay markets). Is this the best way to go about it? How do you do it? Thanks so much.

Start at the top (within your particular genre, if applicable). As my dear old Irish grandma used to say: "If you shoot for the moon, you may only land on the roof. But if you only shoot for the roof, you'll probably land in the mud." Translatin that from Irish-granny-speak to English: aim high, then work your way down.

Southern_girl29 · Nov 29, 2006

Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the advice and knowing that I didn't go about it the wrong way.

Del · Nov 29, 2006

Logic would indicate that to be rejected by paying markets only to degrade to a low or no pay market hasn't cost you anything but stamps.

On the other hand. A good, marketable story is going to be snatched up by no/low pay markets and you'll never know what the potential could have been...assuming the story was right for all submitted markets.

Kate Thornton · Nov 29, 2006

no/low pay doesn't always = degrade

Sometimes you're going for the prize and submit to a no/low because they nominate. And in those cases, you may have to meet deadlines for publication in order to qualify for consideration.

blacbird · Nov 29, 2006

Very poorly, by all the available evidence.

caw

Jamesaritchie · Nov 30, 2006

submitting

Always start at the top and work your way down. They even have an expression for it. "If you start at the top and work your way down, the best possible magazine that wants your story will buy it. If you start at the bottom and work your way up, the worst possible magazine that wants your story will buy it."

jchines · Nov 30, 2006

I would definitely echo what others have said about aiming high. Why reject yourself? Let the editors do that -- it's their job

Seriously, I've broken this rule myself once or twice, and I almost always regret it. In several instances, I've sold a piece for little money, only to find out that I could have made much more, and gotten into a much better market, if I had aimed higher to begin with.

Del · Nov 30, 2006

Another point on the AIM HIGH premise, exposure. A high paying market doesn't have to have a greater distribution but there is some reason why they pay higher.

How do you submit?

Southern_girl29

mjlpsu

unidentifiable food tester

Mike Coombes

Guru

writeperch

just write

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

Isanthe

Summonere

steveg144

Crusty Polemicist

Southern_girl29

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

blacbird

Jamesaritchie

jchines

Got the hang of it, here

Del

Sky isn't falling, ground is rising