Tor.com Opening to Novella Submissions

Aggy B. said:

Cover letters are simple. "Dear Editor (if you know the name of the editor(s) it's fine to put those here or just leave it as "Editor"), Attached for consideration is my <insert genre> novella, "The Awesome Adventure of a Wheel of Cheese in Space/Forest of Doom/whatever", of <insert word count here>.

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Thanks for the info, Aggy. I had the same question as Siwyenbast, having never subbed a novella before. I'm all over not having to write a query-type letter or synopsis, since the deadline is looming and I'm still revising. *wipes sweat off forehead*

Good luck to everyone subbing!

If you can't hit it by the deadline, Pasty, remember there's a second one in a few months. Don't stress too much.

Isilya said:

So excited for you! It was a wonderful story. Fingers crossed.

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Thanks, Isilya! You have something to sub too, right? Good luck!

And good luck to everyone else, and/or happy polishing en route to the July opening!

Long live the underappreciated novella! Good luck to anyone going for this, rep AW well

They're moving surprisingly fast through the slush pile. 80 down in a week and a half.

So, how's everyone coming along on this? I've gotten mine to my beta, who is wanting to take copious notes for suggestions and such.

Good luck, Siwyenbast! How fun.

I'm still waiting on the first round. #75 in queue. I'm hoping they will get through by Aug so I can sub to Fireside if I get an R.

Has anyone taken note of whether this opportunity comes up regularly? In this post, Lee Harris responded to a comment and said there would be future opportunities. On AW, I see another thread from 2015... hoping it's not usually so spaced out.

Does anybody know when exactly in July they are going to be open to submissions? It's still saying it's closed.

Next submission period is 30 July through 13 August 2018. Here's the linkety-link: https://www.tor.com/2018/06/25/tor-com-publishing-opening-to-novella-submissions-on-july-30/

Huh, I figured it'd be earlier in the month. Oh well. Thanks for finding that, Blinker!

Yessssssss for extra time!

Also, for anyone who missed it, Fireside is opening for novel and novella subs in August: https://firesidefiction.com/announcing-an-open-call-for-novel-and-novellas

I have something i have been polishing since 2016, i just have no idea how much more polish it needs. I guess I could submit it anyway, i mean the worse that could happen is they just reject it, right?

Does anyone know of a way to check up on Tor.com and see if its legit?

phantom000 said:

I have something i have been polishing since 2016, i just have no idea how much more polish it needs. I guess I could submit it anyway, i mean the worse that could happen is they just reject it, right?

Does anyone know of a way to check up on Tor.com and see if its legit?

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It's Tor. They're one of the most legit of legit of Sci-fi and fantasy.

Next opening is coming up fast! Who's getting ready?

https://www.tor.com/2018/06/25/tor-com-publishing-opening-to-novella-submissions-on-july-30/

They aren't through reading the May batch yet.

Alas, the thing I was thinking of sending isn't eligible, since parts of it were previously published on Wattpad.

I just found out the piece I was working on is about 18,500 words. I need another 1,500 words but I have no idea what I can add that would not be just blatant padding...

Bummer, Filigree!

phantom, maybe there's some description you could flesh out? An emotion you could explore deeper? 1.5k is almost a whole scene, but there might be a way you can sprinkle depth/detail throughout to gain up those words.

My agent just submitted my novella to a Tor.com editor directly. Hopefully it gets some attention sooner because the queue isn't moving at all.

Siwyenbast said:

Cover letter? Should that be a query type letter or a synopsis pitch? *hasn't done many submissions before and wants to make sure everything is polished*

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Eep. Just read this comment by Ruoxi Chen (Tor.com editor) on their "Opening to Novella Submissions" page:

We have no hard and fast rules on cover letters, but I would model it more closely on a novel cover letter, with an eye toward useful comp titles (particularly ones on the Tor.com Publishing list) if they’re relevant.

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I know what I'll be doing today!

I really should consider this one of these days. I'm lucky if I can get a short story to come in under 7000 words. The only real risk for me is that any novella I try to write would likely break the 100K barrier, and then... not exactly a novella at that point...

Shoeless said:

I really should consider this one of these days. I'm lucky if I can get a short story to come in under 7000 words. The only real risk for me is that any novella I try to write would likely break the 100K barrier, and then... not exactly a novella at that point...

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If I want a novella I usually aim for a novelette.

Aggy, whose recent 35k novella is 50k on first draft

Aggy B. said:

If I want a novella I usually aim for a novelette.

Aggy, whose recent 35k novella is 50k on first draft

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This.... actually sounds like a strategy that might work for me.

I'll just tell myself I'm writing a longer short story.

PastyAlien said:

Eep. Just read this comment by Ruoxi Chen (Tor.com editor) on their "Opening to Novella Submissions" page:

I know what I'll be doing today!

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Winks is displeased by this. Very displeased.