Stupid Answers, anyone?

Jaycinth · Mar 19, 2007

Because I have a stupid question:

I finished a short. I edited the short. I gave it to readers, then edited it more.

Short is now 5,700 words.
My intended market says 5,000...tops.

There is another market that accepts shorts of up to 10,000 words, that pays the same. And there are markets that accept 10K and pay less.

So should I edit it to suit the initial market, or should I sub it to the second market and then, if rejected, edit it to fit the first market?

....and while we are at it...should I buy the red patent leather mules, or the red patent leather pumps, or should I just be happy that my cat didn't puke in my slippers?

The Lady · Mar 19, 2007

Oh you can get those 700 words out of there, no problem.
If you really think it suits that market, then prune it down.

On the other hand, your other market choices, what's wrong with them? They sound as good as your initial choice. If you love your story as it is, then send it out to the other markets.

I had a story that I had all intended to send to one particular market. Then I don't know what happened but when I checked the word count, it was 2000 words over. Did I prune? Did I hell? But when it went 100 over the next market's I had picked out requirements, then I was happy to do a little hackett job.

I guess what I 'm saying is only you know whether you feel that the story can afford to loose the words.

nevada · Mar 19, 2007

get both, because you can never have enough shoes and keep them on a shelf so the cat can't puke in them, cause that's really gross.

Siddow · Mar 19, 2007

Pumps.

If you're really happy with the story as-is, then submit to the market that will accept the word count. If precious story comes back, prune it.

PeeDee · Mar 19, 2007

You can absolutely get 700 words out without damaging anything about the story. Promise.

(yanno, that really wasn't a very stupid question, Jay. I'm kind of let down.)

Meerkat · Mar 19, 2007

Either:

1. Submit it just as is. On cover letter, write "4,750 words*." On the back of the cover letter, at the bottom, and in size one font, write "*one word = six characters, not five."

2. Say your genre is "contemporary internet style." Then delete all of the vowels.

I know, I know, and you're entirely welcome.

davids · Mar 19, 2007

Mules'n pumps,n cat puke

Jaycinth said:
Because I have a stupid question:

I finished a short. I edited the short. I gave it to readers, then edited it more.

Short is now 5,700 words.
My intended market says 5,000...tops.

There is another market that accepts shorts of up to 10,000 words, that pays the same. And there are markets that accept 10K and pay less.

So should I edit it to suit the initial market, or should I sub it to the second market and then, if rejected, edit it to fit the first market?

....and while we are at it...should I buy the red patent leather mules, or the red patent leather pumps, or should I just be happy that my cat didn't puke in my slippers?

I agree with Siddow logic dictates that you submit first without cutting if and only if it does not ruin the story-700 words sure you can slam em-but there is a big but there right-so if it twer me I would use the cutting as an exercise to see if it would work-look at em both then let my guts do the walking through the yellow pages-now to the important part of the post-it is easier to clean cat puke out of slippers and pumps then it is to clean it out of mules-reason? Mules have a personality of their own which distain being puked upon!

AmyBA · Mar 19, 2007

Here's what I'd do-- try editing down to 5,000 words. Look at both and see which is really the better story. If it's the 5,000 piece, submit to the first market. If it's the 5,700 piece, submit to the second. And I'd buy the red patent leather pumps.

Solatium · Mar 19, 2007

AmyBA said:
Here's what I'd do-- try editing down to 5,000 words. Look at both and see which is really the better story. If it's the 5,000 piece, submit to the first market. If it's the 5,700 piece, submit to the second. And I'd buy the red patent leather pumps.

Best answer so far. This is absolutely what I'd do if I were lucky enough to be in your situation.

Except . . . red shoes are never, ever a good idea. Go for green or black.

PeeDee · Mar 19, 2007

Shyeah. I'd like to see you get outta Oz in green shoes...

Jamesaritchie · Mar 20, 2007

Length

First, make sure the story is as tight as you can possibly make it. Odds are, you have more than 700 words that not only can be cut, but that should be cut.

And, well, which magazine would you prefer?

But you can, if you wish, cut 700 words without hurting the story.

Odds are also high that if you don't tighten the story, the editor will, and this is never a fun process. A learning process, yes, but not a fun one.

czjaba · Mar 20, 2007

I would just clean the cat puke from the slippers, spray a little FeBreeze, and viola! like new.

Oh, as for the story. Cut 700 words, submit to one, then submit the original version to another. Either way, submit, submit, submit.

Kate Thornton · Mar 20, 2007

I agree with JAR (for the second time in 24 hours!)

Tighten it up by 700 words - then you will have a story suitable for *both* markets if one should decide to pass.

agilebrit · Mar 20, 2007

Submit it to the second market. While you're waiting for the response, tighten it up so you're ready to submit it to the first if they reject it.

Mules, definitely. Life is too short to wear uncomfortable shoes.

southern_cross3 · Mar 20, 2007

You could try it with the first market...chances are, they won't reject a story that they really like just due to word count. If that's the case, they may ask you to trim it down before accepting it, which would be a better situation than trimming it down at first without knowing if they'll be interested or not.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 20, 2007

Length

southern_cross3 said:
You could try it with the first market...chances are, they won't reject a story that they really like just due to word count. If that's the case, they may ask you to trim it down before accepting it, which would be a better situation than trimming it down at first without knowing if they'll be interested or not.

From my experience, there's a good chance the editor won't even read it at this length. I wouldn't.

Jaycinth · Mar 22, 2007

I trimmed it by 400 words..but now it is confusing. I think I should put 300 of them back and try the second...and as fate would have it..third markets. Then, with a minimum of work this could be a novella.

Can I get two sales out of this?

I guess I should craft another story for the first market, don't you think?

And I've decided to nix the mules in favor of red canvas sling-backs. And I'm going to buy the open toed pumps (red) because they match my car and are classic.

I washed the slippers...both pairs... and I have learned to close my bedroom door at night. The cat puked on the French homework...I don't have to clean that up.

So, taking all the new information into account... should I go with an Armstrong floor in a woodgrain or a tile for the livingroom/diningroom area?

Berry · Mar 25, 2007

Jaycinth said:
Can I get two sales out of this?

You cannot ethically sell "first serial rights" more than once; that's what "first" means here. "First serial rights" is what most magazines want to buy, unless their guidelines say they accept reprints. So, while you may be able to get reprint sales later, my advice is to NOT attempt to sell it to two places at once. It's a quick way to make sure you never sell to either market again.

(Or was that tongue in cheek? In which case never mind.)

heatheringemar · Mar 27, 2007

Woodgrain. Compliments all kind of furniture.

JeanneTGC · Apr 5, 2007

Novellas are a very hard sell, unless you're working in the Romance categories. If so, GO for a novella. If not, don't unless that's the length the story HAS to be to be perfect.

If you've cut it down by 300 and it's no longer making sense, go back to your original version and submit it to pubs that take more than 5,000 words. And then write a new story that's less than 5,000 for the other pub.

And go for tile; I personally hate mine but it's considered better by the realtors out there for resale. If you're never going to move ever again, I suggest really thick pile carpeting everywhere, including your walls.

Stijn Hommes · May 21, 2007

southern_cross3 said:
You could try it with the first market...chances are, they won't reject a story that they really like just due to word count. If that's the case, they may ask you to trim it down before accepting it, which would be a better situation than trimming it down at first without knowing if they'll be interested or not.

If there's one thing I learned, it's "follow the directions". Publications are not going to drop the rules just for you. If it's even 10 words over, don't submit it.

Stupid Answers, anyone?

Jaycinth

Your Cuddly Sociopathic

The Lady

Critical Member

nevada

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Meerkat

Claims the loan was a gift

davids

AmyBA

I'm a believer

Solatium

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Jamesaritchie

czjaba

dreaming of the day...

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

agilebrit

southern_cross3

Jamesaritchie

Jaycinth

Your Cuddly Sociopathic

Berry

heatheringemar

lurking behind that corner..

JeanneTGC

I am Catwoman...and Gini Koch

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Stupid Answers, anyone?

Your Cuddly Sociopathic

Critical Member

I'm super! Thanks for asking

Where's my tea, please...?

Claims the loan was a gift

I'm a believer

Where's my tea, please...?

dreaming of the day...

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

agilebrit

Your Cuddly Sociopathic

lurking behind that corner..

I *am* Catwoman...and Gini Koch

Know what you write...

I am Catwoman...and Gini Koch