Is it okay to nudge?

Witch_turtle · Apr 21, 2013

I submitted a short piece to a magazine a while ago, and at the end of their maximum response time (90 days) they contacted me to say that my story had garnered some interest and that they would come to a decision "shortly." It was very positive overall--they apologized for taking so much time and said they hoped I wouldn't withdraw.

I know publishing moves like molasses, but it's been 7 weeks since then. Is it common practice to nudge short fiction magazines? How long should I wait before I do? Is the 8 week/2 month mark too soon? Should I wait until another 3 months has passed since their response?

I'm rather patient generally but I'm excited to have my first really positive response/potential sale and the waiting is getting tough

Chris P · Apr 21, 2013

Congrats on getting that far in! Given such a positive response, a polite nudge probably wouldn't ruffle any feathers, especially if you couch it as a willingness to work with them on edits. That usually works better than "where's my story, you clowns?" Though I'm sure the editors have heard worse.

Eight weeks would, in my opinion, be at the earliest margin of about right. Three months might be better, but that's just me.

Buffysquirrel · Apr 21, 2013

A single polite nudge shouldn't garner an instant rejection. However--speaking as someone who has edited more than one small magazine--persistent nudgers did sometimes provoke me into a rapid decision. I'm not saying it was always a rejection. But it might have been...ill-judged.

Naturally I sometimes felt a smidgen of regret at the knee-jerk, "You want an answer? Here's your answer!".

Polenth · Apr 21, 2013

I would nudge later rather than sooner in this case. You know your story got there. You know emails from them are getting to you. So the main reasons to nudge are gone.

Witch_turtle · Apr 21, 2013

Thanks everyone! You've reassured me that I can wait a bit longer without having to worry that they've forgotten me or anything.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 21, 2013

I always wait until double the response time has passed, which, for you, would mean another ninety days from the time you heard from them.

There's no rush. You have many other stories to write, don't you?

Phaeal · Apr 22, 2013

Three months minimum. I've had stories that stayed in the second look stage for more than a year. Yeah, yeah, yeah, scare you with a horror story.

You're probably best off leaving the piece with the mag that's shown interest, while you're humming patiently and writing and subbing a bunch of other pieces.

OJCade · Apr 24, 2013

I work on half-rule. If a market says "we respond in 6 weeks", I wait the six weeks, and then I wait three weeks, and then I query.

I certainly don't feel bad about querying. The way I figure it, if Market X wants to respond in 6 months rather than the 3 it promised, it should make a note to that effect on its website. If it's too lazy to do that, I don't care that they're being poked. In short: I don't mind a long wait, just be upfront about it.

Is it okay to nudge?

Witch_turtle

hanging around for a spell

Chris P

Likes metaphors mixed, not stirred

Buffysquirrel

Polenth

Mushroom

Witch_turtle

hanging around for a spell

Jamesaritchie

Phaeal

Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

OJCade