SASE question

Solatium · Mar 24, 2005

The guidelines for a magazine I'm planning to submit to say that "all submissions become their property," which I'm assuming means they won't be returned.

So: should I enclose an SASE, and if so, what size? (The guidelines are silent on the matter.) And should I mark the manuscript disposable, or would that be redundant?

mommie4a · Mar 24, 2005

No need to mark the manuscript disposable. If you're sending a query, the SASE would be for their acceptance or rejection. If you're sending a manuscript, it sounds like they won't be returning that but you can send an SASE for their response. Be sure to say in your cover letter (if it's a manuscript submission) or your query (if you're sending just a query) that for their convenience, you've enclosed an SASE for their response.

veinglory · Mar 24, 2005

I guess a small SASE or postcard, or do they accept/decline via email? Did they request an email address?

Solatium · Mar 25, 2005

Well, I did it. I sent it with a small SASE. No cover letter, which is probably the height of idiocy, but I have a phobia of writing them.

At least I got the damn thing sent out.

mommie4a · Mar 26, 2005

Good for you for getting it out. I completely relate to the feeling of success that one step can inspire. Next time, you might take the next step and include a cover letter that briefly initiates the editor to what you've sent, who you are and why you're the person to write for them.

As Anne Lamott says, bird by bird.

Solatium · May 7, 2005

Just an update . . .

Well, all my worrying was for nothing. They accepted the story! This is my first sale, ever.

mommie4a · May 7, 2005

Hey - CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is very cool - would you let us know the journal/market when it's appropriate? Very exciting!

Solatium · May 7, 2005

It's in this month's issue of Smoke Signals. You wouldn't believe how my family is ribbing me.

I might as well add that the focus of the story is such that I could read it to my seven-year-old brother -- the only passages I felt obliged to omit had to do with religion (he's a very sensitive boy). I am fond of this particular stripe of fetish fiction: the fun of writing erotica without the hassles of writing sex.

veinglory · May 8, 2005

Congratulations!

maestrowork · May 8, 2005

You can use a simple template for cover letters so you don't have to fret everytime you have to send something out. Just plug in the editor's name, the title of ms, and word count. Form letters are great!

Oh, and congrats!

arrowqueen · May 8, 2005

Congratulations!

gogoshire · May 8, 2005

Congrats!

Is this your first pub?

Solatium · May 8, 2005

gogoshire said:
Congrats!

Is this your first pub?

Yes, excluding a lot of things I'd certainly rather were excluded. (A poem in an e-zine, devastatingly misprinted; an article in a church newsletter when I was a teenager; one of those %(#$*@& poetry.com anthologies . . .) This is my first print appearance worth mentioning, and also my first paid publication.

:Sun:

Thanks, everyone, for your kind wishes! This whole thing has been a real shot in the arm for me; I was almost ready to give up and go back to film school (if they'd take me; they probably wouldn't).

SASE question

Solatium

mommie4a

Mother of All Addictions

veinglory

volitare nequeo

Solatium

mommie4a

Mother of All Addictions

Solatium

mommie4a

Mother of All Addictions

Solatium

veinglory

volitare nequeo

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

arrowqueen

RIP, our sarky besom

gogoshire

Solatium