Submitting question

Rhush · Jun 6, 2005

I don't know if this is the right place to post this question, but here I go. I've heard that sometimes writers will submit a chapter of their ms to magazines as short stories in an attempt to generate interest in the entire ms. Is this right? Can you do this? If so, I was contemplating sub'ing to Realms of Fantasy, but I wasn't certain what the deal is with rights and all that. Can anyone help me out on this one?

Mike Coombes · Jun 6, 2005

Query the editor. The chapter has to work as a stand-alone piece, obviously.

katiemac · Jun 6, 2005

I don't have any solid knowledge on this, but when I've seen excerpts from an ms in magazines, it's from a book that's already published, or just about to be published. I would assume the editors and publishers would work on this as a marketing scheme.

Mike Coombes · Jun 6, 2005

At NFG we published an excerpt of a 'soon to be published' novel, but several writers I know have used this as a way of getting interest in an unpublished work.

maestrowork · Jun 7, 2005

I am not sure about unpublished work -- obviously, it depends on the magazine.

But some literary magazines would print "excerpts" of a published or "soon-to-be-published" novel. Again, check with their guidelines or query them.

Rhush · Jun 8, 2005

What if their guidelines don't clarify either way? I checked over the ROF site and the sub guidelines, and they fail to mention. :Shrug:

awatkins · Jun 8, 2005

Becky, I'd drop them a very polite e-mail and ask.

Submitting question

Rhush

Slave to the metal

Mike Coombes

Guru

katiemac

Five by Five

Mike Coombes

Guru

maestrowork

Fear the Death Ray

Rhush

Slave to the metal

awatkins

Not harboring illegal parrot