Most important factors when submitting?

sgtmrb03 · Apr 5, 2007

What are the most important factors to consider when submitting to publications? Obviously, you want to submit to markets that fit your story's genre, word count, etc. Once you determine it's a fit (or seems to be), how do you choose? What factors influence your decision? The pay scale, prestige of the publication, whether it's online or print, circulation, degree of difficulty? Just wanted to pick some brains. Thanks.

PeeDee · Apr 5, 2007

The magazine I submit to first (assuming I've met all the requirements necessary, as stated in your post) is the one that I go "it would be really cool to be published there."

That's about as deep as I get.

pdr · Apr 6, 2007

If it...

boils down to a short list of possibles (and that's rare!) then it's prestige and price!

Jamesaritchie · Apr 6, 2007

Submission

Like pdr, it's pay scale and prestige. Start at the top and work your way down.

small axe · Apr 6, 2007

Jamesaritchie said:
Like pdr, it's pay scale and prestige. Start at the top and work your way down.

Well, for the absolute beginner though, does anyone think it's a good idea to "aim low" first, the point being to build up a little "been published" cred BEFORE you submit to The New Yorker or Playboy or whatever?

Or do you think the story sells itself, and will go as far as it'll go, whether the editors know you've been published before?

DraperJC · Apr 6, 2007

I tend to look for the highest paying market. That is typically the most prestigious.

sgtmrb03 · Apr 6, 2007

Small Axe brings up a good point. When you haven't been published and don't have a good idea about the quality of your work, are you better off aiming low to (hopefully) get a few credits under your belt? I've only written a handful of stories, and have two rejections so far. I'm sure that will number will grow exponentially. But one was a personal response, which I guess is a good sign. Does it make sense to submit to "Joe's Funky E-zine" in order to say "I'm published?" Or will the more established pubs disregard that credit when you submit to them somewhere down the road?

pdr · Apr 7, 2007

If...

your writer's confidence is low then try sending your work to the middle markets.

It's the quality of your story which sells it, that and the fit to the mag market you send it to.

RMS · Apr 7, 2007

A good story is a good story no matter if you've ever been published before.
I would never tell someone to aim low, I'd say aim for the target. If your story matches the publication's guidelines, go for it!

Silver King · Apr 7, 2007

RMS said:
I would never tell someone to aim low, I'd say aim for the target.

Exactly. Think of it as dating. Even if your self-esteem is at an all-time low, are you going to ask the least desirable person you can think of out on a date? Heck, no.

Set your sights high right off the bat. You can always work your way down from there.

small axe · Apr 7, 2007

Thanks for the insights!

Think of it as dating. Even if your self-esteem is at an all-time low, are you going to ask the least desirable person you can think of out on a date? Heck, no.

Of course, if you had your sights set on the most desirable person you can think of ... might'nt you ask a cute friend (opposite sex friend) to go with you and be noticed by the #1 hottie ... and then #1 hottie's thinking "hmmmm, so-and-so's out with a cutie" and that moves you up their desire-scale?

The old "If you wanna score the hottie, be seen with another hottie" school of thought? Hey, it worked like a charm in 7th grade!

"Quick, here she comes! Pretend I said something cool!" :e2hammer:

jchines · Apr 8, 2007

I sold a novel to a small press for $1000 because I was new and figured it didn't have a shot at the larger publishers. Though a weird mix-up, a larger publisher then offered $5000 for the same book ... an offer that was withdrawn when they realized it had already been published.

Why would you deliberately cripple your chances? The editor's job is to decide what is and isn't right for their publication. Your job is to write a good story. Why reject yourself?

MicheleLee · Apr 9, 2007

Not to mention a year in the slush can change your opinion of a story, what if you send it to someplace smaller, get it published because it's good to them, then look back come reprint time and realize it's horrid and you're been advertising it?

RMS · Apr 10, 2007

It's true, sometimes we underestimate ourselves and our work.

pdr · Apr 10, 2007

Actually...

and this is the tutor talking, most new writers vastly overestimate their skills, hence the slush pile, and therefore editors apply restrictions which makes life difficult for those of us who have survived baby beginner status and advanced to published writer status!

Wouldn't it be luverly if magazine editors and book publishers only ever received submissions which were publishable? Then we (naturally perfect writers!) could all have a quick and more simple shot at publication.

Full stop now added in, Silver king. Thank you for mentioning it!

Stijn Hommes · May 21, 2007

jchines said:
I sold a novel to a small press for $1000 because I was new and figured it didn't have a shot at the larger publishers. Though a weird mix-up, a larger publisher then offered $5000 for the same book ... an offer that was withdrawn when they realized it had already been published.

That must've heard. Did you get a later manuscript a home with the large publisher?

Most important factors when submitting?

sgtmrb03

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

pdr

Jamesaritchie

small axe

memento mori

DraperJC

sgtmrb03

pdr

RMS

Silver King

Megalops Erectus

small axe

memento mori

jchines

Got the hang of it, here

MicheleLee

RMS

pdr

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...