For magazines that accept short stories as unsolicited manuscripts, would I be better to send the whole thing, or send a query first. I read somewhere that editors like queries because it's only a page for them to read instead of a whole manuscript. If they can tell from the three paragraph query that they can't use the story, then they can reject it then and save time. Is this true? (The book was from the late '80s so I'm wondering if times have changed and this is now unacceptable?)
Also, would it be acceptable to send a query instead of a manuscript to a publisher that accepts unsolicited manuscripts? I guess I should rephrase that: Will sending a query instead of a manuscript be a smart thing to do, or will it get me automatically rejected and make me look like a newbie that can't read guidelines?
My queries address how I think the short story will be useful for the magazine ('In your guidelines you say you want this, my story addresses that in this way' type of explanation.)
It just seems somewhat wasteful to send off ten pages to a publisher when they might take one look at my cover letter and realize right then that they can't use the story. A query and SASE seems like a much more efficient way to use an editors time and my paper, ink and postage.
Also, would it be acceptable to send a query instead of a manuscript to a publisher that accepts unsolicited manuscripts? I guess I should rephrase that: Will sending a query instead of a manuscript be a smart thing to do, or will it get me automatically rejected and make me look like a newbie that can't read guidelines?
My queries address how I think the short story will be useful for the magazine ('In your guidelines you say you want this, my story addresses that in this way' type of explanation.)
It just seems somewhat wasteful to send off ten pages to a publisher when they might take one look at my cover letter and realize right then that they can't use the story. A query and SASE seems like a much more efficient way to use an editors time and my paper, ink and postage.
) I've yet to have to sell an editor by describing the fit to the magazine.
