Want to Submit - Advice Needed

Dani Dunn · Mar 20, 2007

Hello wonderful people. Other than my full-length novel, I have never tried to publish my work. I'm thinking about submitting some of my short stories and poems to a few magazines.

I read different threads on the board on how to write a cover letter, but what happens after you submit it? If the magazine likes your piece, do they just publish it and mail you a check, or do they send you a contract?

Also, does anyone know of any mags/websites that specialize in the urban market where I can submit my pieces about life in the inner city?

I'm brand new to this. I've written short stories for years, but they've sat on disks unread for a long time.

Thanks in advance for your advice.

Little Red Barn · Mar 20, 2007

Hi Dani,
I think you really want to read the mag's guidelines and follow their rules to a t...
Others will be along shortly.
hugs
kimmi

PeeDee · Mar 20, 2007

That's pretty much the extent of it, what Kimmi said. Read what the magazines offer to figure out what to send them, and what they send you.

Get a contract before you publish. If they aren't giving you a contract, then all you have to fall back on is their word, and that's not a useful business agreement.

Dani Dunn · Mar 20, 2007

PeeDee said:
That's pretty much the extent of it, what Kimmi said. Read what the magazines offer to figure out what to send them, and what they send you.

Get a contract before you publish. If they aren't giving you a contract, then all you have to fall back on is their word, and that's not a useful business agreement.

Thanks for respondind, but some of them aren't clear. Last night I was looking at the New Yorker's submission guidelines. It didn't say anything about payment. How much does a short story or poem typically pay?

The Lady · Mar 20, 2007

You do know about Duotrope don't you? It lists all the markets and what they're looking for, plus information regarding how hard each market is to sell to etc. etc. etc.

Pat~ · Mar 20, 2007

Hi Dani--Check the guidelines online or in the Writer's Market; submit with a cover letter and SASE. They'll contact you and let you know if they're going to use it before they use it. Often it's a contract; sometimes for shorter things, like a poem, they'll just send a letter telling you that they want it (and if you're lucky they send the check then, too). Sometimes they don't pay on acceptance, though--they pay on publication. Which means your check will come when it's published (along with complimentary copies).

Hope that helps, and good luck! I think it's wise to try to get magazine credits before hitting the book market.

PeeDee · Mar 20, 2007

Dani Dunn said:
Thanks for respondind, but some of them aren't clear. Last night I was looking at the New Yorker's submission guidelines. It didn't say anything about payment. How much does a short story or poem typically pay?

Payment can range all over the board, from a couple of CCs (contributor's copies) to Playboy, who used to pay $2,000 for a short story.

I have no idea what the New Yorker pays, I'm afraid...

heatheringemar · Mar 20, 2007

I don't know about magazines (I've only published in a non-profit Gothic one), but if you go the small indie ebook press route, they will send you a contract if they like your stuff. In fact, I think presses are the only ones who do contracts....

nevada · Mar 20, 2007

dani, the website is www.duotrope.com. it's a searcheable database of magazine markets. it also gives links to the magazines where you can check their submission guidelines.

A cover letter isnt always needed but if you feel you have to send one, keep it very short. List your publishing credits if you have any, if not, in your case, i would mention your master's degree and maybe one line about the work you've done. and that's it. no need to write anything about the story, they'll read it, no need to say how much you love reading or writing, that's a given. Unless the magazine says they want a cover letter, I very often dont bother including it. I dont have a lot of publishing credits yet, so I dont really have much else to tell them. Do always include a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope).

Duotrope will also include how much the magazine pays, if anything. The New Yorker wouldnt list their payments. They're an extremely prestigious magazine and I'm sure that a first time writer isnt going to get nowhere near as much as some of the award winnign writers they feature. Probably not right, but there it is.

If you do decide to get a copy of the Writer's Market, be sure you get The Novel And Short Story Writer's Market. The general writer's market focusses on non-fiction and won't be much use to you.

Have you thought about posting your work on the Share Your Work forum? It could give you some valuable feedback on your story, plus it'll get you used to having strangers read your work.

Good luck, Dani.

PeeDee · Mar 20, 2007

firefingers said:
I don't know about magazines (I've only published in a non-profit Gothic one), but if you go the small indie ebook press route, they will send you a contract if they like your stuff. In fact, I think presses are the only ones who do contracts....

Nope. Magazines too, of a fact. Every piece I've ever sold has been accompanied by a contract. Even if it's a favor for a friend, logrolling, or you don't get paid, you get a contract.

Dani Dunn · Mar 20, 2007

The guys are the greatest. THANKS!

Judg · Mar 20, 2007

Check the Writing Short Fiction forum too. Some good threads in there that should help. I'll add my vote for Duotrope.com, it's a great tool for finding markets.

As always, check the guidelines for submissions in each case. What they ask for can vary. Not speaking from personal experience, but payment methods can vary too: cheque, Paypal, what have you. They'll let you know if they choose you, if it's not already clear from their website.

Good luck!

Kate Thornton · Mar 20, 2007

Dani - here are a few hints that make my short story life a little easier. Maybe they can help you, too.

1. Keep a log online or a notebook - keep track of what you send where and when. Then note if you get an acceptance or a rejection.

2. Most print magazines send a contract on acceptance - Make a file and keep a copy. Many pay, though, on publication, so make a note when you get paid, too!

3. Keep your rejections, too.

4. When you get a rejection, turn that story around and send it out again. Look it over first for anything you might have missed the first time, then put that baby back into circulation.

Best of luck to you - hope to be reading your stories everywhere!

Momento Mori · Mar 20, 2007

To add my tuppence, I think that in addition to reading the submission guidelines, try to check out a copy of the magazine itself - some of the on-line ones will have extracts available to give you a feel of what they're about, or else you can order one copy/sneak a peekie in your local bookstore/newsagents. I've saved myself time by doing that because you can get a good feel for the kind of thing they're actually publishing.

The only other piece of advice I'd give you is that once you've emailed or posted your story, forget about it completely for a couple of months. There's nothing worse than checking your email or mailbox every night and being disappointed not to find a cheque and certified recognition of your creative genius ...

MM

Dani Dunn · Mar 20, 2007

Thanks everybody.

JanDarby · Mar 20, 2007

I think that in addition to reading the submission guidelines, try to check out a copy of the magazine itself

I just wanted to ditto this. Actually, it's good to read (or skim) a full year's worth of a magazine (libraries are good for this) to get a real feel for it. A couple years is even better, b/c you'll see patterns in what they print at different times of the year. But at least several issues, which is the only way to really understand the subtle differences between different publications and to tailor your submission so as to maximize the chances of getting a contract.

I'm a quilter, and I've had a lot of articles published in quilting magazines (non-fiction mostly, but the lesson applies to searching for fiction publishers too), and things that were right for one magazine were not right for another magazine, so I had to really know those magazines inside and out to know where to send my work if I wanted to have the best chance of publication.

JD

The_Grand_Duchess · Mar 20, 2007

If you become a member of duotrope they have a submissions traker. I keep my own on my comp as well. And always get a contract.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 20, 2007

Magazines

Some magazines use contracts, many do not. Just from my experience, the larger the magazine, the less likely it is you'll receive a contract. Many of the big ones only buy FNASR, and just send an acceptance letter stating what they want, and telling how much they'll pay.

In a way, this is a contract, but there's nothing to sign, nothing to return. Again, from my experience, when a magazine sends a contract, it may well be asking for something besides FNASR, even if it's just the right to print the story a second time, or it pays on pub, etc.

Oh, and The New Yorker can pay $5,000, or more, depending on who you are, and how much they want your story. Don't quote me on this, but I think the pay starts there at about $3,000 now.

They're also a pretty decent market for the kind of stories it sounds like you write.

Jamesaritchie · Mar 20, 2007

Reading

And, yes, read as many issues of a magazine as possible. It's real tough to break in if you don't know what the editor wants, and how he wants it. Just reading the guidelines is almost never enough.

southern_cross3 · Mar 20, 2007

I keep a list on my wall entitled "IN THE MAIL" which has, in order, each submission I've made to a magazine. Title, what kind of submissino it is, genre, date sent, market submitted to, and the time that the market generally takes to respond. If a submission is rejected, I cross it off and note that, and immediately submit it elsewhere and add the new entry to the bottom of the list. That way I can see what's out in the mail, and how many rejections I've had, and when I should be expecting replies, all in one place.

Works for me.

pdr · Mar 20, 2007

And please do...

read the Sticky at the top of this Short Fiction thread. There are some really good market lists there as well as some single markets.

I'd simply say sell to print magazines first and then to on-line ones.

Pat~ · Mar 20, 2007

Dani--re pay, I've never done short stories, but poems (for me) have paid anywhere from just complimentary copies to $75. But I've never had a 'contract' for a poem; just a letter of acceptance.

The_Grand_Duchess · Mar 20, 2007

Every pub that I've ever submitted to (or just read the guidelines) has stated that they have contracts upon acceptance except for the non-paying ones. Although my experinace is not all encompasing so it may just be the genre.

I'm sure they wouldn't have a problem writing something up to be signed stating what they wanted etc if you ask.

Even though most pubs only purchase first n. american rights, its good to have it in writing in case you want to use that piece again. It's just nice to have things in hardcopy.

Dani Dunn · Mar 20, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
Some magazines use contracts, many do not. Just from my experience, the larger the magazine, the less likely it is you'll receive a contract. Many of the big ones only buy FNASR, and just send an acceptance letter stating what they want, and telling how much they'll pay.

In a way, this is a contract, but there's nothing to sign, nothing to return. Again, from my experience, when a magazine sends a contract, it may well be asking for something besides FNASR, even if it's just the right to print the story a second time, or it pays on pub, etc.

Oh, and The New Yorker can pay $5,000, or more, depending on who you are, and how much they want your story. Don't quote me on this, but I think the pay starts there at about $3,000 now.

They're also a pretty decent market for the kind of stories it sounds like you write.

What does FNASR mean?

nevada · Mar 20, 2007

First North American Serial Rights

First North American Serial Rights (FNASR). This right is commonly licensed to magazines, newspapers, and similar periodicals. Specifically, you are granting a publication the right to reproduce your material in a "serial" (e.g., a magazine or newspaper), within North American (including Canada), for the first time.
It's equally important to know what you're not selling. You are not, for example, licensing a publisher to reprint your work in another format, such as an anthology. The publisher may not distribute the work outside North America; that would require a transfer of "international rights." Nor are you transferring "electronic rights" -- though many publications are now claiming the right to publish material on a website as "part" of FNASR. FNASR is an "exclusive" right, which means you can't transfer it more than once or to more than one publication.

( Taken from http://www.writing-world.com/rights/copyright.shtml)

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