It's nice to know some people have heard of them. Because theirs a lot of crap out there that none of us really want to be involved with that does seem legit. This one sounds interesting though. Have to see if any of my stuff qualifies.
Pyr Opens to Un-Agented Submissions
- Thread starter ChaosTitan
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What strikes me as unusual is that they're going against the trend (the one I'm seeing, anyway, though I've only been observing for a few years)that publishers are looking at agented submissions rather than the slush pile. Also, it's odd that they're accepting sword & sorcery when conventional wisdom says that subgenre's losing ground. As Paul says, "Santa does exist!" but on the other hand, it feels almost too good to be true. Speaking here as a dispirited, unagented sword & sorcery writer (not that I acutally have a novel to send around yet, though).
I think S&S has been losing ground mostly on the short fiction side, there never has been a real shrinkage of its shelf-space in the book stand. Of course its not always called S&S, usually just fantasy.
Pyr has had some recent success with the genre and is probably looking to build on that quickly. Hence the (limited) open subs.
Pyr has had some recent success with the genre and is probably looking to build on that quickly. Hence the (limited) open subs.
I sent my query, synopsis and 108,000 FWIP this morning.
Their web site did not indicate how long this process would take, but there is a warning that due to the sheer volumne they are expecting, you may not even get a rejection email. Or something like that. Well, they are honest about it since they are opening the flood gates.
Even if rejected, I still have several other submissions/full reads being considered. The way I figure it, I really had nothing to lose.
Their web site did not indicate how long this process would take, but there is a warning that due to the sheer volumne they are expecting, you may not even get a rejection email. Or something like that. Well, they are honest about it since they are opening the flood gates.
Even if rejected, I still have several other submissions/full reads being considered. The way I figure it, I really had nothing to lose.
James-
It's pretty easy to check a publisher's legitimacy for yourself. Start here:
http://www.anotherealm.com/prededitors/
http://www.sfwa.org/for-authors/writer-beware/
and, of course-
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=22
This is great news, thanks for sharing. Nothing I have is that long, but it is still good to know. And they do have some great authors with them now.
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Yeppers, got my rejection this morning, a week after submitting. Basic form letter thanking for my submission but it does not meet their needs at this time.
Another one down...
Another one down...
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Not submitting, but a bit curious about the requirements:
So they don't care for "pitching"? Or is synopsis supposed to contain the pitch?
So they don't care for "pitching"? Or is synopsis supposed to contain the pitch?
My guess would be the synopsis is the pitch. Which makes me wonder why anyone would ask for a pitch, when they could just have a short synopsis...
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Call me stupid, but I'm still confused.
Synopsis is the shortened plot of the story you are pitching. It includes the ending. Normal agent queries usually don't. It is not uncommon to see requests of "1 page synopsis" or "max 3 page synopsis". Which usually come after a successful pitch or along with a query. In this case, to me it looks like they are asking for just synopsis. Or including a normal "pitch" query along with the synopsis is pretty much a given?
Or maybe I'm just confusing the terminology here.
Synopsis, to me is this:
"A loves B. But B is bad. B kills A, but then C kills B. The end."
Pitch, as part of agent query, is this:
"A meets and falls in love with B. What she doesn't know is that B secretly plans to murder her. And C, the one A despises, may be her only saviour."
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Liosse de Velishaf
Banned
Well, I'd imagine they just don't care about the pitch. They're a legitimate publisher, and I feel comfortable assuming they know what a synopsis is.
Also consider that they want the full manuscript at the start. A pitch gets someone to look at a partial or full, so why bother when they already have the full?
Don't overthink it.
Also consider that they want the full manuscript at the start. A pitch gets someone to look at a partial or full, so why bother when they already have the full?
Don't overthink it.
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Thanks so much for sharing the info on this lead! 
I sent my sub in. Got my fingers (and toes) crossed!
I sent my sub in. Got my fingers (and toes) crossed!
Is it cheating if I use the 250 word per page method over the word processor's word count? Then I have 106,000 words.
Not IMO. Just state what counting method you used. Word count is really a way to express how many pages will be used if they print the book, right?
Pyr's comments on their announcement are valuable
I read through some of the comments from this post on Pyr's blog and Lou Anders answers some of the questions asked in this thread. The word count does not appear to be an unbendable rule (he says split the difference between a 70K UF and their 100K requirement), and it looks like they will accept YA epic fantasy submissions.
Also, don't expect much more of a response than "doesn't fit at this time" in the rejections. As with most agents/editors, they simply don't have the time...so start your novels off with a bang and get 'em hooked!
I read through some of the comments from this post on Pyr's blog and Lou Anders answers some of the questions asked in this thread. The word count does not appear to be an unbendable rule (he says split the difference between a 70K UF and their 100K requirement), and it looks like they will accept YA epic fantasy submissions.
Also, don't expect much more of a response than "doesn't fit at this time" in the rejections. As with most agents/editors, they simply don't have the time...so start your novels off with a bang and get 'em hooked!
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Spent three days polishing my 'three paragraph synopsis', and sent in my submission this morning.
Expecting a form rejection within the week.
But I won't loose heart, it only takes one 'yes', right?
Oh, and a big thank you to the OP for finding this lead.
Expecting a form rejection within the week.
But I won't loose heart, it only takes one 'yes', right?
Oh, and a big thank you to the OP for finding this lead.
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Good to know. Its been nine days for me, I don't expect my rejection until early next week. I would like at least a form rejection, so I can move on and submit elsewhere.
Query letter polished, synopsis close to ready, manuscript polished to a luster. Next round of queries will go out in two weeks, so Im not holding my breath waiting for PYR to fall in love with my manuscript.
Query letter polished, synopsis close to ready, manuscript polished to a luster. Next round of queries will go out in two weeks, so Im not holding my breath waiting for PYR to fall in love with my manuscript.