Friday 8 May 2015

Titles

Woman's Weekly have requested those those who submit by email include the story title in the subject line. Smugness alert - I was already doing that! I think it's a good idea to do this with all publications (unless they say differently) They must get an awful lot of emails with subjects such as 'story submission' making it more time consuming to find the one they want. The Australian magazine That's Life like the title, theme and word count in the subject line.

The Weekly New prefer two word titles. I don't imagine providing one will make a massive difference to our chances of success, but if we can think one up it will save the overworked fiction editor a job if we do get lucky.

The picture shows the castle where Charles was given the title Prince of Wales. Anyway, moving swiftly on ... how important do you think the story title is?

11 comments:

Keith Havers said...

Have I been looking at out-of-date guidelines? I didn't think WW accepted e-mail submissions.

Frances Garrood said...

Are titles important? Possibly, but much more so in novels!

Patsy said...

They do, Keith - but only from those who they've previously published.

I agree, Frances.

Keith Havers said...

Ah! I see. Thanks, Patsy. I keep trying with them but they don't seem to like my stuff. I'll have to keep buying the stamps.

Kitty said...

Thanks, Patsy - I've never done this so will start now. Do you do the same thing when emailing to My Weekly? I usually make the subject heading something like "Submission of Halloween/Christmas/summer Twist-in-the-Tale (1400 words)."

I'm always very pleased when I think up a snappy title but they usually change it anyway!

Penny said...

Titles - yes, very important, I think. Especially if they have that added extra - something either eye-catching, or emotional, or attention-grabbing. As well as indicating main theme and content, of course. If possible :-)
I was once told that the commonest title was 'Moving On.' I suppose you can't have new ideas all the time, but perhaps that's one to avoid!
Then it might get changed anyway.

Jan Baynham said...

Thanks for the information, Patsy. I've never put the title in the subject heading but will do from now on!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Patsy - I can't write anything unless I have a title first!

Maria said...

Titles are very important, I can see why editors would want to see them in the subject field. I'd be inclined to read on to anything a little quirky.

Patsy said...

@Kitty, my titles sometimes get changed too. I don't really mind, but I'm always pleased when they keep mine.

@Penny, I'll avoid that one then.

@Rosemary, Neither can I. Sometimes I have to change them because the story changes, but I need something quite early on.

Anonymous said...

Hi, Patsy. Whenever I get a new magazine, I read in order of the titles I like best, so they are the grabber inner for the reaader. And I look for who's written it as well, reading yours and Teresa's first of course:))