Question about submitting a piece elsewhere

The_Grand_Duchess · Feb 10, 2007

My first thread topic! YAY!

So this is my problem, I submitted a piece to a magazine just shy of three months ago. I tried to go to the website to double check what thier response time was (I remember it being three months but I couldn't be sure) and check to see if I should query about it to see if they had even recieved it at all. The site is locked, that's what my browser keeps telling me, so I can't access it. Duotrope has them currently listed as closed to submissions so it is very possible that they're working on things and the site will open up again when they open for submissions. But that's not until April.

So should I wait until April to see whats what or should I just submit the peice to another mag and if the first happens to come back just kind of take it from there?

Siddow · Feb 10, 2007

Duotrope should have response time stats on them; how do the reports compare to your experience?

If they take simultaneous submissions, then send it on to another market that takes them, too. And write another one!

The_Grand_Duchess · Feb 10, 2007

THey don't take sim. submissions

I did check thier response times on duotrope and it's a over three months on average so I suppose I will just wait it out.

I don't know why I didn't do that first, I usaully always look there before anything else. Must be tired.

veinglory · Feb 10, 2007

If or when you choose to submit elsewhere be sure to let them know.

Susan Lanigan · Feb 13, 2007

veinglory said:
If or when you choose to submit elsewhere be sure to let them know.

I wouldn't bother. Your material should be working for you, not sitting in someone's "to do" tray. If they don't get to it and someone else appreciates it better, too bad for them.

KellyG · Feb 13, 2007

I think that sounds like the best suggestion from Susan as if it does appear somewhere else then you've done really well anyway. If it doesn't then it may still appear in Duotrope

The_Grand_Duchess · Feb 13, 2007

I decided to give them another two weeks since I was all back logged with school work anyway (the system shut down unexpectantly. It was a little crazy). I would write them to let them know I submitted elsewhere but unfortantly with the site down I can't get thier contact info. So now I know to save that sort of thing. When I submit else where I'll just check back often to see if its up and running to let them know.

I don't want to be blacklisted from their publication.

Thanks everyone!

PeeDee · Feb 13, 2007

Their average response time is around three months. You've waited about three months, and you haven't heard back. That doesn't mean they've just forgotten about your story, it just means that words like "average" and "about" are coming into play and giving the time-deadline a rubbery texture.

Above all, being polite is the most useful thing. It won't hurt to drop them an e-mail and say "Hi-o, just wondering about my story, are you still speechless in wonder from reading it?"

If you'd waited six months, e-mailed them to no avail, and then their site was closed, then I'd suggest taking your story and walking off wiht it. But as it stands, you're just brushing up against the outer edge of a deadline, that's all.

eqb · Feb 14, 2007

Susan Lanigan said:
I wouldn't bother. Your material should be working for you, not sitting in someone's "to do" tray. If they don't get to it and someone else appreciates it better, too bad for them.

Sorry, but that's very bad advice. If the market does not allow sim-subs, and you feel you must submit elsewhere, the professional approach is to politely withdraw the submission from the first market.

But as PeeDee noted, an average response time of three months means that legit responses can take somewhat longer. I would have suggested waiting another month and then querying. (You could ask around here or other writer forums to see if anyone knows the contact info.)

PeeDee · Feb 14, 2007

The important thing to remember about reading times is, this ain't pizza. There's no "half an hour or its free" in writing.

And going huffy and submitting your story somewhere else will just cause problems if the first publisher gets to it and DOES want the story.

Question about submitting a piece elsewhere

The_Grand_Duchess

I record everything.

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

The_Grand_Duchess

I record everything.

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Susan Lanigan

KellyG

The_Grand_Duchess

I record everything.

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

eqb

I write novels

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?