I'm delighted to report that not only have I sold my first story to an Australian magazine (That's Life Fast Fiction) but I'm also going to be sharing the pages of their Spring issue with not one, not two, but three blogging buddies!
Talk about icing on the cake. I am hoping TLFF will send a contributor's copy, if not I'll ask my friend in New Zealand who has a sister in Australia to get me a copy, and if that fails, I'll get on a plane and go buy it myself. It'll be a mag to treasure, full of friends.
Thursday, 2 July 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
69 comments:
Congratulations!
They do send contributors copies.
Oh well done that girl! Julie xx
Well done again, Kath! I'm delighted we'll be sharing the pages! What an issue that's going to be! The Brits are coming!
Well done, Kath!
Well done womag. Usually TTFF do send contributer copies but I do emphasise usually because there have been a couple of times when I didn't get one.
Just out of interest, what is their response time like at the moment?
Well done, that's wonderful news.
Well done, Womag. I'd be interested to know too, how long they'd had itbefore you sold it. I may have harped on about this before but they've had about five of mine on their shortlist for anything between15 months and a year. I've kind of given up.
Excellent news! You must be so chuffed. I've tried the Aussie mags but not had any success yet ... maybe this is the start of better things for UK writers! x
Congratulations, Womag!
Geraldine, I've got about five shortlisted with them too, and some of them have been there for over a year. I still have hopes, though ...
Brilliant news :o))
Fab news!
The story they've just accepted from me the other day was sent in April. Before that they'd had a story about three months before they accepted. I've still got loads on the shortlist though.
I've worked out that they accept a new batch just after the latest issue has gone out. The winter issue went out in early June, and they've started sending acceptances out now for Spring issue (September?), So I imagine the next batch, for winter edition, will be accepted end of September.
Congratulations!
I have two stories with them, one I sent off at the end of April and one just last week.
I was wondering if they let you know by regular mail or e-mail?
Wowee! Well done, Womag! Proud of you.
Yay, well done!
Sadly, mine with TLFF are all gathering dust at the moment on what must be a very long shortlist, given the number of people who seem to have stories on it dating back to 1908 or thereabouts.
Huge congrats to everyone who've sold to TLFF. If Quiller's calculations are right, that means mine, like Honeysuckle's, will be gathering dust on what must be the longest shortlist in the world until September. At least. Ah well...
They let you know by email, Lynette.
I've had a couple published by That's Life and you can request a copy from their fiction email address - they have always come. I think I might be one of the others ?? as I just had an email about 2 of my stories for the Spring issue. One of mine was taken from submission to acceptance to publication inside of 2 weeks! This was for the weekly mag. Others they have had on hold for months, so I guess it's what suits at the time. SarahE
Sarah, congratulations! That makes six Brits in the spring issue then! Me, Womag, Bernadette, Karen, Amanda and you!
Thanks, Sally. I hoped that was the case.
I'll look out for all those names in the spring edition then. I recently subscribed to the magazine. I've read the winter edition and loved that.
Oh, well, I'm in good company on the shelf, then!
I sent this story to them in February.
Congrats to you too, SarahE. 6 Brits in the one mag - wow!
Oh have you seen my story in the winter issue, Lynette? It was called Window To the Soul, but I don't know if they changed it. It's about a rampant robot.
Just subscribing to this comments list.
Well done, I sold a story to them last year, and got paid almost twice what I was paid for it here. I didn't get a comp copy though.
Well done Womag - but us down under don't find it amazing at all that TLFF is full of Brits.
One of the mags last year had two thirds of its content by British writers and some that I had read in other magazines. I don't mind so much, if they are new stories, but it is irritating to us Aussie writers that the mag pays for second rights rather than printing new local content.
I can understand the Aussie writer's frustration. Happily mine were fresh stories and sent to Australia first as I was worried they might already have been seen. I got the winter issue and saw Sally's story about the rampant robot - now that had to be a novel idea and I'm not surprised they pick material like that! Mine was 'Night Shift' which has not been published here yet but might be in the Autumn by MW. I guess it is now a global market and the editors can cherry pick from all over the world. It is up to us to produce fresh and inspiring material no matter where we live. Personally I've had a tough battle as I'm sure most of us have, and it has taken years and years of researching, practising and getting rejected. Only now is it coming good so it's important we wish each other well no matter where in the world we are. One person who has been a great help and inspiration to me has been an Aussie - who regularly has stories published over here in the UK. I think it's well done to all because this is a tough game. All good wishes, SarahE
Yes, I can understand the Aussie writers' frustrations, but hopefully it all evens out in the end if Aussie writers are selling in Britain, which I hope is happening.
Sarah, I honestly didn't think they'd buy that story as it's quite dark and, so far, British mags have shied away from it (well that's my excuse for not selling it here and I'm sticking to it!)
It is a great feeling!
Congrats.
-Writer
Hi Womag
Congratulations! My second short story has just been published in the Winter edition too. (Pages 34 to 36).
It takes a while for the contributor copy to arrive, but mine came on Saturday. (I don't know what glue they use on their envelopes but it was a nightmare to open - still at least it meant that it didn't fall out as it came winging it's way around half the globe!)
Enjoy seeing it in print!
Well done, Simon. Hope you don't mind me asking, but have you been paid yet?
I'm still waiting for payment and complimentary copy.
Sally - your robot story was dark and so is Simon's! Maybe that's why I liked them. They both inspired me to try more of my thrillers, one of which should be in the Spring issue and is really, truly spooky - I scared myself writing it. If it helps you to know, I was paid weeks ago for the winter issue. I also request a copy each time so I don't get forgotten. All the best, SarahE.
Thanks for responding Sarah. I sent an invoice, then a reminder four weeks later in case it had got lost, but have received nothing yet. They accepted the story on 18th May, so it's coming up to two months. I might have to shake them up a bit.
Sally, now I would really like to read your robot story!
Ooh, they like dark and spooky, do they? The one I sold them was light and fluffy. I'm looking forward to seeing what's in the Spring edition.
Anonymous - I know of other writers who, like Sarah, sell to Australian mags first, then to British mags. It is definitely a global market these days. I also note that TLFF ask writers to state if they are offering first or second Australian rights. UK mags almost never buy second British rights - odd that the Aussie mags will.
Not odd, but definitely cheap for them! The market here is so limited, only 20million people in total and I'd hate to think of the small percentage of women's mags readers.
I know I sound bitter (I'm not, honest!) but I do believe that some people's 'names' allow them to sell more stories - no questions asked.
I will continue to sub my stories to all mags (global) and keep reading and hopefully I'll end up as one of those 'names'! Unless my novel is snapped up first...
"I know I sound bitter (I'm not, honest!) but I do believe that some people's 'names' allow them to sell more stories - no questions asked."
This must be a commonly held view among those aspiring to be published, but I really don't think there is any truth to it. Ask those writers who regularly sell and they'll tell you that they still get rejected stories winging through letter box, even though they are a household name.
Being a "name" as you put it, may, over time, give you certain privileges, direct access to an ed's email, for instance, or a quicker response time. But these are privileges that have been earned from, in many cases, a long apprenticeship, and always from good quality writing and saleable stories. No magazine editor is going to choose an inferior story by a "name" who is having an off-day to a punchy good read from an unknown. After all, they want people to buy the mag, don't they, and people won't buy it if the stories aren't up to scratch.
You only need to leaf through a copy of FF or WW Fiction Special - just two examples - to see that every month there are new names.
Good luck with your submissions, Anonymous. We all felt like you once, I'm sure, and were maybe too ashamed to express our innermost feelings! It's always good to get something off your chest, isn't it, then you can go back to the main thing - i.e. the writing - with renewed vigour and determination.
I agree with Geraldine. It is something we've all felt at times, when the rejections are falling through the letterbox too often (and they still do for most of us!)
You do change your opinion a bit when your stuff starts getting accepted and you begin to realise the door is open to everyone as long as they're willing to persevere.
It's taken me five or six years to get a story accepted by Take A Break/Fiction Feast and I've been trying Fast Fiction (Aus) for two years.
I was writing for ten years before I even had one story accepted (by Yours magazine in around 2003). So I certainly did the long apprenticeship (and still am an apprentice).
Then you go through a stage of thinking that maybe the publications aren't all that good if they accept your stuff, so you still don't allow yourself to be pleased with all your hard work ;-)
I'd just like to back up what Geraldine has said to 'Anonymous'. Those writers whose stories are accepted more often than most of us can dream of (!) have got to that stage only by hard work and going through the same stage of rejection after rejection that we all have to go through. Although I completely sympathise with the envy they arouse in anyone fighting the slush pile in vain - it's just a bit insulting to those writers to imply that their stories are accepted for any reason other than that they're just plain good! I've written short stories (under my real name) for what feels like forever, and now also have a bit of a 'track record' as a novelist - but I still get far more rejections than acceptances. It never gets easier! We just have to keep on sending 'em out! But having said all that, Geraldine's right, we probably all felt resentful at times when we were trying to get started: it seems such a huge hurdle to overcome. Good luck, Anon - don't give up, one day YOU might be one of the names that other people are envious of!
Yes, I totally agree with all that Sally and Geraldine say.
And the editor of a certain UK magazine told me that the reason why some names appear often is simply because (apart from being good, of course) those writers write an awful, awful lot of stories.
I've just blogged about this and made exactly the same point as Tara:
http://sallyquilfordblog.co.uk/2009/07/writing-conspiracy-theories.html
I've just read your blog, Sally, and all the posts on here and I think you're all probably right in saying that those famous 'names' submit an awful lot of stories and write to a very high standard. I still find myself getting a bit bitter and twisted sometimes though, if I'm honest! And I know other people do too.
And personally, I find it very hard to cope with the constant stream of rejections, and although I had a good year last year, this one is not turning out so well writing wise and I'm finding it very difficult to come up with news ideas and keep submitting.
In some ways, I think it's worse when you have sold stories in the past and then everybody stops buying, then if you've never sold a story at all.
If it helps, Susan, you're not alone in struggling this year. I haven't done as well as usual, and I've heard through the grapevine that even those whose names we see turn up a lot in magazines aren't selling as many.
It doesn't help that we've lost another market, in Britain at least, with Best magazine. Plus, there are more writers than ever going after the same dwindling markets.
I agree that sometimes it feels even harder, if you've had success in the past, to get rejected. There's a feeling that you have to continue the success. Otherwise you start to worry the bit of success you've had was a fluke.
Writers, eh? We're never content ;-)
No, we're never content, Sally. We could do with a few more fiction magazines but there's not much chance of that in the current climate, is there? I suppose we should just be grateful for all the mags that still keep going and do our best to write stories they'll like. I'm just finishing another story now and maybe this one will be successful. I can but hope!
Hi Kath,
I thought I'd better post as I've lurked long enough!
I've sold another story to TLFF as well so that's another UK writer to add to the list. Plus I know of one other.
Re the comments about some people getting published more than others. I think it all boils down to treating your writing as a job and not a hobby. I teach a class on how to get published and the ladies (sorry Simon it is usually ladies) who make sure that they have more than 30 items 'out there' seem to be the ones that are more successful.
Not many people can make a living from short stories and many of us for whom it is a business work as journalists, creative wirting tutors and have a book or two out as well.
It still beats having a 'proper job'
Elaine
Hi Elaine, lovely to see you!
I seemed to have stirred up a hornet's nest with my comments but I wanted to assure people that it is not through jealousy. I have been published in mags, anthologies and I've won a few comps. My stories tend to be too 'tragic' for women's mags so I don't sub too often.
My main gripe about TLFF is that it publishes the most stories down under (there is Woman's Day and Women's Weekly but they take one story per week/month respectively). I feel the market for truly Aussie stories is so limited and I believe there is a marked difference in writing Aussie stories. I am English by birth so I am bilingual and I feel that this gap needs to be addressed. I can usually spot a 'British' story even if I don't recognise the name.
I don't begrudge anybody their success on the back of years of hard work. I'd love to write all day every day but the reality is that I'm a mother of four young kids, 2 with additional needs, live on a large property, work part time and have a life too! I write maybe a story a week and add a bit to my novel (70,000 words + after two very long years of procrastination).
I hope you don't feel I've been spiteful in my comments, I just wanted to raise awareness about a perceived gap in the market here.
Thanks for the debate, anyway.
What a hornets nest.
Quillers I think it was you that said that you hadn't been paid. I once had to wait about 3 months or maybe a bit longer to get paid by TTFF but it came in the end.The most annoying thing for me was that the bank took a wedge of it for changing the Australian dollars into Sterling.
As for "names" getting published more I guess that's because they submit more also and this was a sad fact that I forced myself to face. They have more experience than I do so maybe their stories are better than mine.
I totally understand writers from down under being a bit miffed if Aussie magazines seem to be full of British writers welling stories for a second time and I have to believe them when they say thats the case. Foe myself every story I ever sold them was an original. In fact I've never managed to sell a story twice.
Enjoyed reading the comments. Well sone woamg for setting the ball rolling.
Well Done Kath!
Sally, I just read the Winter issue of FF (I'm an Aussie)and IMO it was one of the best!(Yes, they did keep it as a robot)
One of my stories has also been accepted for the Spring issue.
Anon, don't worry. I think it's important to stress that none of us are upset with you. Us writers love a good debate!
I can perfectly understand your feelings about reprints. In the British mags they ask for original letters from readers, yet I notice the same ones turn up in many mags.
And yet, as writers we always wonder what we can do with a story that's been sold once, as there are very few markets that will take reprints. I suppose it's a double edged sword. If we have a story reprinted, we're denying another writer a place, but if we make our living from writing, or are aiming for that state of affairs, then we have to make our stories work for us and gain the optimum financial benefit from them. As someone said, we have to treat it like a business.
Gonna B, thanks for that. Did you have to keep nagging them? I'll give it a bit longer. Obviously I don't want to be nagging them too much as they might decide not to buy anything from me again.
Myra, thank you! It was a fun story to write, getting in touch with my dark side ;-)
Anon, I don't think any of us thought you were being spiteful at all - I think it's very honest of you to express the opinions you have done. I agree with Quillers that we all enjoy a good debate! I will also admit that if I was an Aussie writer I'm sure I'd feel the same as you do. Conversely, I've never yet managed to get a story in an Aussie mag, but if I did I would be overjoyed! I've always found fellow writers generally to be a hugely supportive bunch who will take the time to encourage each other and enjoy each others' successes, but that doesn't mean we can't also have a carp about things we find difficult or unfair, so good for you! I think you've done amazingly well considering how full your personal life is. I really hope you have loads more success with your writing as you obviously deserve it.
Anon, let me echo what the others have said. This is, after all, a discussion forum and if all people do is give each other hi-fives and big hugs then there's little stimulation for those who check in only once in a while. Your comment sparked not only a blog from Quillers, but more posts on this site than I can remember!
I do understand there must be a difference between the British and the Aussie "voice" and how frustrating it must be to keep seeing Poms in the mags over there! I've been published in AWW twice, Woman's Wprld (is it?) and TL but the stories I've had published have always been published in the UK first. Like Quillers said, writing is my business and I have to get as much mileage out of my stories as I can.
One story I have been lucky enough to sell three times - here in the UK, over in Oz and also Scandinavia (Norway), but over there they tell me my stories are just too "English" and though they like them, rarely publish them. Maybe the Australian eds ned to apply the same ruthless method. (Heaven forfend!)
Hi Quillers, I had to send them a second invoice. I think that the problem was that the story was accepted a long time before it was published. It only happened the once - usually there isn't a problem.
I've sent a second invoice, Gonna B, to Melinda Aylett, on 18th June (my story was accepted 18th May).
My story was accepted only a couple of weeks before publication, so I don't think it's length of time. I wonder if it's to do with me being a new contributor.
Still, the longer they've got it, the less chance there is I'll spend it before I go on holiday in October ;-)
Here in Oz you have to supply an ABN (Australian Business Number)if you don't, you lose up to half your payment in tax! This is explained in the guidelines of TLFF.
Maybe it's easier for the editor/s to deal with non-Aussies as it doesn't apply to them.(And they - editors - don't have to go to the trouble of getting the writer to obtain an ABN)
However I have sold stories to an Oz online mag and all I had to do was sign a Statement by a supplier form that: "The supplier (me) is not entitled to an ABN as they are not carrying on an enterprise in Australia" - And so I was exempt. So there is a way around it.
I mentioned this to FF along with my submission. And as I said, my story was accepted.
ps That's not to take away from the quality of the TLFF accepted stories, both from Oz and overseas, it's just an observation :)
Hi there,
A lot of Brits selling to TLFF are finding that tax is being withheld (apparently illegally). It's very difficult to keep on questioning something like that without making yourself sound like someone it'd just be easier not to do buy from! My last payment from them - long enough ago not to have had tax withheld - arrived a whole nine months after the story was accepted. Have they maybe gone over to paying on publication? I can't remember the relevant dates.
As far as selling second rights to Oz magazines is concerned, I can understand the fed upness of Anonymous Ozzie, but I'm wondering why it doesn't work the same way in reverse? Writers from Oz surely have the same opportunities to sell in Britain first and then to OZ or even the other way round? Most mags take email subs these days?
Hi all - sorry I have not been around to be involved in this discussion much - work and all that. Great to have some honesty though. Anonymous, I know how you feel as I've had times too of wondering why I bother, and trying to deal with full time job, two kids, house renovations etc and still squeeze out time to write stories which get rejected. But all we can do is keep trying.
Good luck with your writing, and especially with your novel.
(Elaine - hi! Nice to see you online!)
Tamara told me that invoice requests will be going out in the next two weeks.
I did enquire about the tax deduction when my last story was sold and was told that they are happy to supply a tax statement so that you can set it off against your UK taxes - there is some sort of agreement. I didn't bother as it was a one page story but may do it this time - once I've checked with the UK tax office. It'll help lower the next tax bill.
Elaine
Congratulations!
That's great news and well deserved.
Thanks for keeping us posted. I find your blog a real motivation as I set out to be published in womens mags.
Keep up the good work - (blog and stories!)
Surely if the Australian magazine insists on taking tax off your stories, you would be justified in not putting that story on your British tax return?
You can ask for a certificate for the tax paid and then submit it with your next self assessment form. Technically you cannot just leave a short story payment off your submission as UK tax is charged at a different rate. Agilene expalined this to me after I queried the tax deduction.
Elaine
I just wondered folks; do That's Life respond to all submissions? I have had one published with them and another short listed. However I have submitted more and had no response; some back in March.I have only had one story published, ever and am now beginnig to understand how Chesney Hawkes must have felt. Boo Hoo Lol!
I've had a similar experience with That's Life.
I sent them three stories in March - one was rejected and two were short listed pretty quickly - but I haven't had any response at all after emailing them another submission early in July.
Maybe they were too busy to respond or maybe the email just got lost somewhere. I really don't know whether I should query it or not.
There is an interview with Mary Gillespie, editor at That's Life, in this month's Writer's Forum. It covers the shortlist question. Basically - it will be kept indefinitely unless you withdraw it. YOu might not hear for a year so we have to be patient. It's a good sign. SarahE
Yes, they're sometimes pretty quick to get back and tell you the story has been shortlisted (or not as the case may be), but other times they take longer.
Well done, great news :)
Post a Comment