There's a new Fiction Editor's blog post on The People's Friend website about queries and complaints in relation to fiction submissions.
I have a story in the current issue of The Friend – it's about a winter garden.
South African magazine YOU are now open for submissions again. The new fiction editor is Illana Frantz and she's adopted the policy that if you've not heard after two months it's a no.
Isn't that better than waiting months, or even years for a reply which might never arrive?
Call for submissions
Bridge House publishing are looking for stories of 1,000 to 5,000 words on the theme of 'Evergreen.' Selected stories will be published in an anthology and authors will earn a share of royalties. As it says on the site – 'A word of warning Anthologies of short stories do not sell in vast quantities to the public.' Thanks to Alyson for passing on the link.
Free entry writing competition news
This competition is only open to residents of UK and Ireland who don't have a publishing deal. It offers £3,000 advance, publication and the option of two months in Italy for the best book length essay proposal.
This may look like a free entry writing competition with a hotel stay as the prize, but it's actually a rights grab. You give up all your rights, just by entering. Giving up all rights in exchange for a prize should you win, or payment should you be published is bad enough, but doing so just to enter a competition strikes me as a really terrible idea. I mention it as a warning to always read the rules and only enter if you're happy to accept them.
I'll point out anything I notice that's of concern to me, but I may miss stuff and in any case, you might not feel the same way as I do about some things.
This competition is for sci-fi, horror or fantasy of up to 3,500 words. The top prize is $200 and publication.
If you're considering entering the Wergle Flomp poetry competition then you might like to hold on until next month. I have a special post coming up that might give you a better chance of winning the $2,000 cash and $100 Duotrope voucher which make up the top prize.
Thanks to Alyson for telling me about this flash fiction competition. The winning entries (of up to 50 words) will be illustrated and printed on bookmarks. The winner will receive £50 in book tokens. I really should give this one a try.
Photos taken at RHS Hyde Hall on the way back from a trip to see a really big ship!
28 comments:
Hi Patsy,
WHen I click on the link to You magazine at the bottom of today's post and also on the sidebar where there's a list of magazines, I just get brought back to today's post not to You's submission requirements. Am I doing something wrong?
Hi Patsy - apologies for not being around - you dropped off my feedly and another thing I need to fix this year. Stunning flowers ... and perhaps I should enter a competition or two - writing for thought! Cheers Hilary
The Prima 800 word competition also takes all rights to all entries.
It seems bizarre to me, but that's their T&C's.
Congrats on your story being published. I love your flowers. They cheer me up today when we're supposed to get 12+ inches of snow.
Thank you for the comps - what a variety! I am interested in the speculative Parsec... hmmm.,. How on earth do those ones get away with the taking all rights just because you enter? I assume most people never even read that far. We all know now of several that do it. (very very cross emoji). Nevertheless, thank you for the lovely flowers :)
Thanks, as ever for the comps, Patsy.
What sort of stories does You want? I believe its 1500 words - would you say family, romance, crime, upbeat?
Thanks
Alyson
Thanks for all the info Patsy, lots of variation there. I look forward to trying out some. Ps Congrats on your story this week in TPF. Hope your book signing went well on Saturday last?
Just to say I'm currently reading 'Acting Like A Killer', and thoroughly enjoying it. An appealing blend of romance/family/mystery themes. Will pop a review on Amazon when I've finished it. Hope the book signing went well.
Congratulations on the story.
Wish more publishers had a policy like YOU magazine.
Thank you very much, Patsy. There's such of lot of interesting information here.
@ Geraldine – by clicking you should be able to see all the posts with that tag, and therefore all I know on the subject. It would include the official guidelines, but YOU don't publish any.
@ Hilary – Go on, give a competition a try. It can be fun trying to create something to match the requirements – and of course you could win a prize.
@ Sharon – It seems more than bizarre to me, it seems wrong.
@ Natalie – Brrr! I hope you're able to stay warm and safe.
@ Marguerite – They get away with it because people either don't notice, don't care or think they must have misunderstood and it only applies to the winner, or just while judging is taking place. As long as people still enter, they'll keep using these unfair terms.
@ Alyson – Yes 1500, although a little longer was OK with the last editor. Ones I've sold in the past include romances, crime and ghost stories, but I'd say most were family relationship or friendship stories. Most were upbeat. Some have included sadness, but all end on a positive note.
@ Sheelagh – The book signing went fine thanks. I was pleased to get some new readers who'd not come across my work before.
@ Eirin – Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it and a review will be very much appreciated.
@ Alex – Yeah, it's good to know where we stand within a fairly short period of time. I understand that isn't always possible, but long waits are frustrating.
@ Marian – That's good to hear!
Great content, thanks Patsy👌
Excellent collection of places to enter! Thanks for sharing these.
I was under the weather earlier this week (not the C👾vid, don't worry), but I'm much improved now.
I've been scheduling debut author interviews at Operation Awesome. If you know one, please tell them to reach out to me.
Over at the a-to-z challenge, plans are hatching for April 2022, including a big event this month (starts Feb 4).
Plus, WEP has the "All You Need is Love" flash fiction challenge on February 16 - 18.
Quote for February: “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” -John Bunyan
Thanks patsy as always, can I ask where do I find the email address to submit to You magazine as no official guidelines? Do the stories need to be set in South Africa?
Thanks Patsy. So if they don't publish guidelines how do we find out what they want and what their rate of pay is?
Hi Patsy! Thanks, as always, for all this info.
I've just sent a story off to YOU SA and received a standard reply saying they are closed until Jan 2022. Hopefully they are open but just haven't yet changed the email reply. Fingers crossed! Jenny.
I've entered the 50 word 'space' story run by Derby Festival, thank you for flagging it up. I've attended a lot of events at Derby Quad over the last few years, though I live in WYorks. It's a venue worth checking out.
I've also received a cheque today for £75 from editor of Seven Days Magazine, Siobhan Kielty-for my story published in November 2021. I've been following this via your blog Patsy, and am another writer the now sadly-defunct magazine have paid - happily so.
Hi Patsy! Thanks, as always, for all this info.
I've just sent a story off to YOU SA and received a standard reply saying they are closed until Jan 2022. Hopefully they are open but just haven't yet changed the email reply. Fingers crossed! Jenny.
Update:this morning received another email from YOU SA thanking me for my submissions and explaining the new 2 month window, so all good! J
Thanks for the info about YOU. Good to have another market to submit to. Like Charlie, I'm wondering if the story needs to be set in SA..?
No, the story doesn't need to be set in SA. The old ed liked twists but I've no idea what the new ed will like.
I've also had the 'We are closed until Jan 2022' message- and it's now Feb.
If a story is accepted, and you are a new writer to YOU, be aware that you will be asked to send a scan of your passport.
Payment is around £70 - £90, depending on the exchange rate. That was for a story of 1, 500 - 1,800 words.
Their bank in SA have recently begun to charge £5 to the writer for sending the fee to the UK, so bear that in mind.
If your story is accepted, £5 could be taken off your fee.
I have the email add for submissions, but I feel a bit edgy about posting it here, on a public arena.
Wouldn't the the email address be in Pasty's database or in any blog pages here?
A lot of writers don't think about rights etc when submitting. Thanks for pointing out to always read the small print.
I am thinking of submitting something to Bridgehouse Publishing but no where can I find an email address to submit it to. Anyone know? I must be missing something!
@ Red-Lucy – I'm glad it's useful.
@ Charlie and Geraldine – I've invited the new fiction editor to share her requirements on this blog. No reply yet, but then she's not replied to my email telling her the auto 'we're closed' message is still going out, so maybe she's not read them yet.
I have given the email in other posts. It's You Stories
@ Jenny – I think it's just an oversight.
@ Alyson – I'm glad you got your money. Hopefully everyone has now.
@ New Girl – Not all of my acceptances have been, but I don't know what the new editor will want.
@ Sharon – thanks for summing that up so neatly. As the email is an official, not a private one, and I've posted it previously I've put it in these comments – but you're right to be cautious. In some cases emails are private, or there's a restricted list of people the editor wants to hear from.
@ Nick – You're right, people don't always consider the rights issue. It's really important that we understand the terms under which we submit/sell work and only agree to those we're happy with.
@ Sheelagh – I looked on the website and I can't see it either! Maybe it's an initiative test???? There is a 'contact us' page. Don't know if you can submit via that, but if not you could ask for the email there.
Thanks Patsy, yes I did send a query over the weekend via the contact us page, have not heard anything back yet but when I do I will post the address up here. Amusing.
Thanks for the wonderful pictures, and the call for subs!
Got an email back from Bridgehouse Publishing as follows (I must have overlooked the link):
"We do not accept submissions via email. You must use the Duosuma Submit button. See details: https://www.bridgehousepublishing.co.uk/index.php/how-to-submit
Gill James"
Thanks Patsy. I have just contacted You about an outstanding invoice and got both the 'we are closed' email and the '8 week' email on auto reply.
I was lucky enough to win the Derby bookmark competition a few years ago and it is a lovely competition and prize, so well worth a go.
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