A matter of two cents

eric11210 · Jun 6, 2007

Hi all,

Quick question. I sent out a story some time ago to a literary journal. I know they got it because of tracking and they've had it for well over two months now and I have yet to get a response. They do say response time is 3-6 months and not to query before five months.

One problem though: At the time I sent it, I didn't yet know about the postage increase happening a little more than a month later (I'm a dunce, what can I say) and put on a 39 cent stamp for my SASE (I mentioned in the cover letter that I didn't need the story returned. A simple acceptance or rejection letter would suffice).

Now my question is: Should I send a query now and just mention that I haven't heard from them yet and even though it's less than the five months they say to wait, I wanted to get them a new sase with the correct postage, or should I just wait the five months and see what happens?

I mean, I can't be the only author they've got to respond to who sent a submission well before the postage increase and who didn't know to put two cents more on their sase, right?

Any thoughts?

Eric

Jamesaritchie · Jun 6, 2007

Two cents

I wouldn't worry about it. In my experience, magazines take this in stride.

Jedi Dad · Jun 6, 2007

If you put your name and address in the return address spot then even with insufficient postage it should come back to you I would think.

Stijn Hommes · Jun 7, 2007

As far as I know the latest increase was quite sudden (I'm European, so take what I think with a grain of salt). With such massive response times, I'd say increased postage is something for them to worry about.

Soccer Mom · Jun 10, 2007

I worried about this too. I had SASE for things on submission. They've come home now. The magazine actually put the extra postage on, which was quite nice of them. I've submitted to this market quite a bit and I'm not sure if that played into it.

dahosek · Jun 12, 2007

They likely sprung for stamps

I had something in to the New Yorker which should have been responded to before the postage increase according to their published response times. They put the $.02 on it themselves to cover the additional postage. I'm guessing that they spent $2.00 on a roll of $.02 stamps for the rejections that they weren't able to get out there.

Maryn · Jun 29, 2007

On the flip side, some time ago I had no response from a magazine I submitted to with SASE postage that would have been enough if they'd replied within their stated response time. I didn't even cut it close.

But no reply came. When I inquired a few months later (there goes another stamp!), they said they did not send out replies with an SASE with insufficient postage. They were not moved and accepted no responsibility when I noted that they had more than twice their stated response time between submission and postal rate increase.

Jerks.

Maryn, getting riled up all over again

dahosek · Jun 29, 2007

They were not moved and accepted no responsibility when I noted that they had more than twice their stated response time between submission and postal rate increase.

That'd be my cue to delete them from my submission list.

It's not like there's a shortage of places to submit to.

Jamesaritchie · Jun 30, 2007

Maryn said:
On the flip side, some time ago I had no response from a magazine I submitted to with SASE postage that would have been enough if they'd replied within their stated response time. I didn't even cut it close.

But no reply came. When I inquired a few months later (there goes another stamp!), they said they did not send out replies with an SASE with insufficient postage. They were not moved and accepted no responsibility when I noted that they had more than twice their stated response time between submission and postal rate increase.

Jerks.

Maryn, getting riled up all over again

Sigh. Such magazines should have a very large skull and crossbones next to any market listing that mentions them.

Soccer Mom · Jun 30, 2007

Ouch. That would be a sure way for me to never submit to them again.

A matter of two cents

eric11210

Jamesaritchie

Jedi Dad

Writing with Force

Stijn Hommes

Know what you write...

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist

dahosek

Maryn

I Tried

dahosek

Jamesaritchie

Soccer Mom

Crypto-fascist