Simultaneous submissions

[Lel513]

I was wondering if a journal or magazine that accepts simultaneous submissions takes stories that are not submitted to other places more seriously? Does putting the fact you have sent the story to other places hinder one's chances of getting accepted?

[Scott Janssens]

Not as much as the quality of the story. Worry about that. As for simsubs, I just don't do it, too much hassle.

[AprilBoo]

The thing about simultaneous submissions is that nearly everyone does it, no matter what the guidelines for a pub say. And editors know that. I never mention whether or not I've submitted a story somewhere else in the cover letter and I don't think it really makes a difference if you do. BUT, if I sell a story that I've subbed to more than one place, I IMMEDIATELY send a letter asking that the story be taken out of consideration to the places I didn't hear from.

[Jamesaritchie]

Editors do know that most writers simsub, but it does make one heck of a difference when editors don't want them.

Editors talk to each other, editors move around, and a writer who simsubs against the editor's wishes eventually gets to be known. Rejections follow.

If all parties say simsubbing is all right, then you can do it. It usually won't help, but you can do it.

But if editors say no simsubbing, and you do it anyway, that is, to be polite, incredibly dumb. Simsubbing is why very few book publishers accept manuscripts from writers these days, and it's why more and more good magazines are going the same route.

The only good thing to say about simsubbing against an editor's wishes is that it really helps writers who don't.

Believe me, word does get around eventually, and few things tick off editors more than writers who do things like this.

[Mike C]

The above is correct. Editors know.

Reading slush is not fun. Try it sometime. Most of it is pretty bad. Read 2-300 stories, then finally find one you like. Pass it around the other editors - everyone spends time reading it. You make the decision to buy... then get an apologetic little email saying you've just pissed all that time up the wall. Just imagine how receptive everyone will be next time they see your name.

Simsubbing when magazines specify otherwise is lazy and sloppy. And ignorant. There's no excuse.