Selling Library Fantasy. Round 2 - more lit mag submissions
Since the last time I wrote about it, I submitted my newest story to a few more places. Well, two more.
One thing I keep bumping against is that, over the past three years, I know how to pitch journalism-type articles to newspapers and magazines. There is a method that is actually fairly simple - you propose an idea, show why this idea would be a good fit for that publication and offer some evidence that you have the experience necessary to pull that idea off well. Talking about your previously published work can be very helpful. So is offering samples. The method doesn't always work, but at least it's something I know how to do.
With literary magazines, things are murkier. A lot murkier. What worked for me in journalism may not work here.
But that doesn't mean I'm not going to keep trying.
Printers Row Journal
What is it: Chicago Tribune's literary supplement. It was launched back in 2012, and while it went through a few changes, certain basics remain the same. It's still 24 pages, it still comes out on Sundays, and it usually contains book reviews (long, very in-depth book reviews), author interviews, sales charts and miscellaneous book-related pieces. But most importantly, for our purposes, each issue contains a booklet with a short story. Originally, those booklets were filled with stories written by finalists for Tribune's Nelson Algren Short Story Awards annual contest, but they later started to accept submissions as well.
Where can it be found: Printers Row Journal was originally meant to be subscription-only (whether in print, online or some combination of both). But since then, I've seen copies given out as free samples in certain Chicago independent bookstores (like The Book Cellar) and sold at certain retail locations (like my local CVS). And while the subscription levels can be a bit on a pricey side, individual issues are sold for $3.99 - which, IMO, isn't a bad deal.
Why did I submit here: Based on some of the past issue I read, I'm not sure if Printers Row Journal would accept new authors, but it seemed worth at least trying. It's a Chicago publication, which is definitely a bonus. I like the journal as a publication, and it would be cool to see my story appear in one of those colorful booklets. Plus, I know from past issue that they don't mind some risque content - and some swearing. Plus...
But do they pay: ...they actually do. Now, as with the Reader's fiction issue, I haven't been able to find any info on how much, but the consensus seems to be that they do.
Status: Submitted on December 9, 2014
Momma Tried magazine
What is it: A New Orleans based print-only magazine that set out to emulate Playboy of the 1960s and its many imitators from around that time. In other words, it's supposed to contain in-depth articles, interviews, fiction that challenges taboos and, of course, naked women. Ever since I read about it in.(I think it was at the Gambit alternative newspaper, but I'm not sure), I've been intrigued by the concept. It's not distributed anywhere near Chicago, so I have no idea what it actually looks like (print-only, remember).
Where can it be found: Nowhere near Chicago - but if you live in New Orleans and a few other cities, you're in luck.
Why did I submit here: Ever since I found out about Momma Tried - and that they do, in fact, accept fiction submissions - I wanted to submit a story that would fit the bill. And as soon as I finished "Library Fantasy," I knew that I had to submit it there. My betas will understand why, and the tiny fragment I posted earlier should give you a hint.
But do they pay: As best as I can tell, no. But making it into an interesting magazine like that may, in on itself, be worth it. Plus, the fact that they do offer complimentary copies means that I won't have to ask phoenix_anew and jaklocke if they could find it for me. :)
Status: Submitted on December 8, 2014.
But I wasn't just submitting "Library Fantasy." A few days before Thanksgiving, I was checking my Firefox tabs when I realized that I had the submission guidelines for Uncanny digital magazine opened for God knows how long. It was looking for "intricate, experimental [science fiction and fantasy] stories and poems with gorgeous prose, verve, and imagination that elicit strong emotions and challenge beliefs." The submission deadline was on December 1, and who knew when they would reopen for submissions.
And suddenly, I had a flash of inspiration. I already had a story that I previously never considered submitting anywhere - " How Vasilisa the Wise found Vasilisa the Fairest." A story about figures from Russian folklore re-imagined in a pretty singificant ways, a story that dealt with ethnic prejudices and what it means to be Russian... That might just fit the bill. With Thanksgiving celebration and 11th chemo session looming, I scrambled to format the story for submissions, write a cover letter and submit it.
Submitting a story that's already up online carries a certain risk, since publications (especially ones that are digital-only) tend to frown on that sort of thing. But I'm not that terribly worried. Back in the day when this LJ was nothing but personal angst, I set my journal options to make me unsearchable - which, as I keep discovering, is a pretty effective way to evade Google and Yahoo searches. Yandex is a bit cleverer than that, but Yandex is a Russian search engine, so, again - I'm not too worried.
But we'll see how it pans out.
Oh, and I should mention that Uncanny does actually pay. 8 cents a word, to be more specific. So if they do accept it (which is a bit if), I would earn $382.80. Which would beat my current record for the most I ever earn for a single piece of my writing.
Wish me luck. And, as before, if you have any ideas for where I should submit my story, please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments below.
One thing I keep bumping against is that, over the past three years, I know how to pitch journalism-type articles to newspapers and magazines. There is a method that is actually fairly simple - you propose an idea, show why this idea would be a good fit for that publication and offer some evidence that you have the experience necessary to pull that idea off well. Talking about your previously published work can be very helpful. So is offering samples. The method doesn't always work, but at least it's something I know how to do.
With literary magazines, things are murkier. A lot murkier. What worked for me in journalism may not work here.
But that doesn't mean I'm not going to keep trying.
Printers Row Journal
What is it: Chicago Tribune's literary supplement. It was launched back in 2012, and while it went through a few changes, certain basics remain the same. It's still 24 pages, it still comes out on Sundays, and it usually contains book reviews (long, very in-depth book reviews), author interviews, sales charts and miscellaneous book-related pieces. But most importantly, for our purposes, each issue contains a booklet with a short story. Originally, those booklets were filled with stories written by finalists for Tribune's Nelson Algren Short Story Awards annual contest, but they later started to accept submissions as well.
Where can it be found: Printers Row Journal was originally meant to be subscription-only (whether in print, online or some combination of both). But since then, I've seen copies given out as free samples in certain Chicago independent bookstores (like The Book Cellar) and sold at certain retail locations (like my local CVS). And while the subscription levels can be a bit on a pricey side, individual issues are sold for $3.99 - which, IMO, isn't a bad deal.
Why did I submit here: Based on some of the past issue I read, I'm not sure if Printers Row Journal would accept new authors, but it seemed worth at least trying. It's a Chicago publication, which is definitely a bonus. I like the journal as a publication, and it would be cool to see my story appear in one of those colorful booklets. Plus, I know from past issue that they don't mind some risque content - and some swearing. Plus...
But do they pay: ...they actually do. Now, as with the Reader's fiction issue, I haven't been able to find any info on how much, but the consensus seems to be that they do.
Status: Submitted on December 9, 2014
Momma Tried magazine
What is it: A New Orleans based print-only magazine that set out to emulate Playboy of the 1960s and its many imitators from around that time. In other words, it's supposed to contain in-depth articles, interviews, fiction that challenges taboos and, of course, naked women. Ever since I read about it in.(I think it was at the Gambit alternative newspaper, but I'm not sure), I've been intrigued by the concept. It's not distributed anywhere near Chicago, so I have no idea what it actually looks like (print-only, remember).
Where can it be found: Nowhere near Chicago - but if you live in New Orleans and a few other cities, you're in luck.
Why did I submit here: Ever since I found out about Momma Tried - and that they do, in fact, accept fiction submissions - I wanted to submit a story that would fit the bill. And as soon as I finished "Library Fantasy," I knew that I had to submit it there. My betas will understand why, and the tiny fragment I posted earlier should give you a hint.
But do they pay: As best as I can tell, no. But making it into an interesting magazine like that may, in on itself, be worth it. Plus, the fact that they do offer complimentary copies means that I won't have to ask phoenix_anew and jaklocke if they could find it for me. :)
Status: Submitted on December 8, 2014.
But I wasn't just submitting "Library Fantasy." A few days before Thanksgiving, I was checking my Firefox tabs when I realized that I had the submission guidelines for Uncanny digital magazine opened for God knows how long. It was looking for "intricate, experimental [science fiction and fantasy] stories and poems with gorgeous prose, verve, and imagination that elicit strong emotions and challenge beliefs." The submission deadline was on December 1, and who knew when they would reopen for submissions.
And suddenly, I had a flash of inspiration. I already had a story that I previously never considered submitting anywhere - " How Vasilisa the Wise found Vasilisa the Fairest." A story about figures from Russian folklore re-imagined in a pretty singificant ways, a story that dealt with ethnic prejudices and what it means to be Russian... That might just fit the bill. With Thanksgiving celebration and 11th chemo session looming, I scrambled to format the story for submissions, write a cover letter and submit it.
Submitting a story that's already up online carries a certain risk, since publications (especially ones that are digital-only) tend to frown on that sort of thing. But I'm not that terribly worried. Back in the day when this LJ was nothing but personal angst, I set my journal options to make me unsearchable - which, as I keep discovering, is a pretty effective way to evade Google and Yahoo searches. Yandex is a bit cleverer than that, but Yandex is a Russian search engine, so, again - I'm not too worried.
But we'll see how it pans out.
Oh, and I should mention that Uncanny does actually pay. 8 cents a word, to be more specific. So if they do accept it (which is a bit if), I would earn $382.80. Which would beat my current record for the most I ever earn for a single piece of my writing.
Wish me luck. And, as before, if you have any ideas for where I should submit my story, please feel free to leave your suggestions in the comments below.