If lots of us share information this could become a valuable resource for us all and I'll continue to post them on the third Saturday of every month. I'm also trialling posting links to free to enter competitions and other writing news and opportunities on the first Saturday of the month. Again I'll make a decision on whether or not to continue based on the response each one gets. This does mean that some things would become out of date before I can share them. (I'll try to post them on the womagwriter twitter account.) If there's breaking news I feel needs to be shared, and I have time to do it, or there are guests posts or anything else which doesn't fit into one of the two regular posts they'll come out on a different Saturday, but generally I'll only be posting on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month.
When time (and internet connection when I'm travelling) allow, I'll reply to blog comments, but this might not always possible. Please do continue to answer any questions raised here if you can, and generally respond to other comments in the way some of you have been doing and keep this a useful and positive community for all those writers who value it.
So, over to you...
Any market news? Are you researching, writing, subbing? Had any acceptances or rejections? Still waiting to hear back on outstanding submissions? Do you have a question? Can you offer tips or encouragement to other writers?
Any other writing related news, questions and comments are also welcome.
Womag news from me –
You may have seen news reports of job losses and title closures at DC Thomson. That's unpleasant news for all those involved. Fortunately, as far as I've been able to discover The People's Friend and My Weekly aren't directly impacted.
My news
I've had a couple of rejections from stories submitted last year to Yours – not the response I wanted of course, but so much better than waiting years for a reply, or never hearing back at all.
A story submitted to The People's Friend has been passed onto the next stage. I'll try to be patient about that one! I've also had an acceptance from TAB.
Thanks to my cake fuelled research, mentioned in a previous post, I'm making good progress on my latest cosy crime novel.
Nine of my ebooks are currently available to download for 99p (99c) from Amazon.
29 comments:
So glad to see your blog appear today, Patsy! Interested that you had rejections from Yours. Was it Yours or Yours fiction (which I didn't think gave rejections)?
I sold a story to TPF this week.
Best have a new competition going for a story about animals, 1200 words, closes Sunday, 26th March, submit to: bestfiction@hearst.co.uk
Also came across this on twitter this morning. Open to UK residents only but might of interest to some: https://pentoprint.org/get-involved/competitions-2023/
Alyson
Good to see this one back.
Not sure what is happening with Yours Fiction, but their issue timings have gone askew. There's been issues in December, January, and February, rather than quarterly as before.
This month's issue gives the next publication date as August 10th, so a longer gap for any writers with stories set in the summer, unless the date given was an error.
Had a nice surprise during the week when I received an email saying a long-forgotten story I entered in an Ireland's Own competition last Sept while not winning any prizes is going to be published in a forthcoming edition of the magazine so that was nice. & well done Patsy I see a short story of yours in Ireland's Own this week. Also on getting a story moving up the process in TPF, all news is good news.
Globe soup have a new exactly 100 word story any topic as follows: 2023 OPEN DRABBLE CONTEST | PRIZE: £300 | ENTRY: FREE | WORDS: 100 EXACTLY | DEADLINE: 31st MARCH, 2023. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Please send your entry as a word doc, .docx, or PDF attachment to:
globesoup.drabble@gmail.com
The winner receives £300. The winner retains ownership of their story.
@ Michael, loved your story in the Woman's Weekly this week, even my husband enjoyed it!
Well done Alyson on your sale to TPF, as a matter of interest were you waiting a longtime to hear back?
I'm hoping to enter the Bridgehouse Publishing competition, deadline 28th Feb, theme 'Gifted' & am working on editing my story at the moment, other than that no news.
Sorry anonymous there is Sheelagh
My news is very similar to yours, Patsy.
I've had some rejections from Yours, I've had a story passed on the next stage at PF, and I sold two stories to FF this week.
Still so many stories I'm waiting to hear about though. You certainly need a lot of patience when you're submitting these days.
Lovely to see your blog today, Patsy.
Thanks for the info, Shelagh and congratulations on your TPF sale Alyson.
I’ve had another failure in my TPF quest this week. Story submitted Tuesday — rejected Thursday.
I’m trying to follow your advice, Patsy, and have a few submissions ‘out there’ so the rejections don’t come as such a blow. Well, trying anyway …
HB
I have one story out with WW - time is running out for it so, unlikely - not been in there before. Similar with Yours Fiction. I must settle properly to writing a PF story. It's not as though I haven't got enough information! What with this blog and their web pages...,. I came runner up in Lipstick and Lies which was a surprise :) On surprises, congrats to HB and the Best win :) I tried (and failed) but this one, the Pets, is definitely not for me ;) Good to hear of the above successes, Alyson and Sheelagh.
@Sheelagh - over a year!
Alyson
Well done to Patsy and everyone who's had acceptances.
My last effort for TPF lasted a week... until it was rejected!
I too, am puzzled why the next Yours fiction special is out in August. That's a long gap from February!
I was pleased to see that the recent Valentine's extra romance fiction in MW contained stories by womag writers, and not novelist's stories.
I haven't got a spare pets story, so unless inspiration strikes, I'll be giving the Best comp a miss this time.
It's good to see that April at the monthly 'Best of WW fiction special' is accepting fresh material from (new to her) womag writers. That could lead to less re-prints.
The downside is - they take all rights.
Patsy, you asked for advice and encouragement - well, I'm often surprised when people here say, I have 1 story out or I have 2 out.
I know it isn't easy, but while you're waiting for decisions, try and write a new batch of stories.
The womag market is much narrower now (it's tougher than ever) and there's only so many fiction slots available per year.
It's a numbers game - you're more likely to sell if you have 20, 30 or 40 out, rather than just 1 or 2!
I can't say I am at a loss for ideas, but I am at a loss for "appropriate ideas" for womag subs! They are very peculiar (in the alternative sense of the word!) and I am not finely tuned to that yet! Nevertheless, Sharon, you are right, generate a bank of stories to send... Sound advice.
Great to see 'over to you' back! I love to hear about other writers achievements. It's also good to hear others also still waiting two years for a response to a submission or that others also have rejections! Make me feel that I am not the only one! I've had some good news for the start of the year, sold my first pocket novel to Ulverscroft, short story to MW, one to Best and one to best of WW and 2 put on file with WW. Still waiting for a response on some subbed to TPF a couple of years ago but I'm not expecting much from these. Good luck everyone with any subs you have out there!
It sounds like there is some good news out there. Congratulations to everyone. I have some stories out there and a few that I have been letting 'rest' before a final check and then submission! I think I will try the Best competition if I can come up with an idea, that is!
Good to see this back and to catch up with everyone's womag news.
I have nothing to report. I didn't write very much last year, and currently have just three story submissions and one serial proposal with PF. So I'm not expecting to have any news for a while.
I need to get back into a rhythm with my fiction writing again. I seemed to lose my way with it a bit once our two years of lockdowns ended. I wrote more fiction in those two years than in the rest of my life combined, I think! (On the other hand, I sold quite a few features last year, which were great fun to work on.)
Congrats to everyone who's had acceptances.
@Sharon
Do you have an email for Alice and do you know what length stories she is taking?
Thanks
Alyson
Lovely to read this post and all the updates and comments. I'm a regular reader but I don't often comment. I'll try to remedy that from now on. For anyone who enters the Best short story competitions - can I ask if you ever receive an acknowledgement of your entry? I've sent entries in a few times over the last year or two but have never received any kind of acknowledgement/reply. I've found this with quite a few competitions, it can be a little disheartening. I'm never sure if my entries have even been received.
Congratulations to everybody who's had acceptances and wins! I've also had a rejection from Yours for a story I submitted last year. I've entered the Globe Soup drabble. I'd like to have a go at the Animal competition, but I only have 2 animal-based stories, and they're both 'out there' at the moment and I don't have ideas for another :( I'm not currently writing any new 'womag' stories, just having a go at my own thing....not sure how that will go. I'm meeting up with my 2 writing buddies this week, which I always find very productive and helpful.
@ Alyson – It was Yours. You're right that Yours Fiction don't send rejections. Annoyingly they don't say how long we're supposed to wait in order to assume a rejection.
Well done on the sale and thanks for the links.
@ Carol – That seems a really long gap. Hopefully it was just a typo.
@ Anonymous who is really Sheelagh – Well done for your IO success and thanks for telling me about mine. I never get acceptances or rejections, so I don't know until they send me a copy of the mag. As far as I know, they're the only publication to still do that.
Thanks for the link.
@ Susan – Congratulations on your successes. You're right about needing patience!
@ HB – Bad luck. I know speedy rejections can seem a bit harsh, but the only difference between those and the waits of two plus years is the amount of time taken for the editor to actually read it.
@ Marguerite - congratulations on the runnerupness (that may not be an actual word, but hopefully you know what I mean).
@ Sharon – You're quite right about it being a good idea to have multiple stories out at once if possible, rather than waiting for replies before writing more. It does increase our chances and a rejection is a little less painful if it isn't our only hope of success.
@ Marguerite – Yep, womag stories have their own rules which don't all apply to other types of fiction.
@ Chris - what a lot of good news! Well done.
I totally agree about it being a good thing to realise we're not alone in getting rejections, or no responses at all. It's too easy to think others are doing better, or having it easier when that may be far from the truth.
@ Marian – It's amazing the things we can spot if we leave stories for a while before reading again. Well, it is for me – maybe some people can read what they actually wrote and not just what they meant to say.
@ Liz – You're not alone in losing your way a bit. My enthusiasm for short stories ebbs and flows.
Well done for the features. I think it's a great idea to try different types of writing and work on whatever appeals most at the time. That's partly why I feature so many competitions on the blog.
@ Alyson – Do you mean Alice from TAB? Or April from WW Best Of?
@ Gail – I've never had an acknowledgement for Best competition entries. I totally agree that this isn't good for morale and wish they, and everyone else who doesn't respond individually would set up an auto response so we at least know it went through OK.
@ Maisie – There's a lot to be said for doing your own thing and not putting all your hopes on one market. I hope you both enjoy your writing and eventually find a home for it – maybe a competition?
Alyson, Alice at TABFF - it's a closed list there, I'm afraid.
I don't feel comfortable passing on email addresses here, sorry! I'm sure you used to have my email address.
The Best comp - it's pets themed, not animal themed, so tales about a giraffe or a crocodile won't meet the brief - unless the MC has them as pets!
Rejects from Yours fiction - I usually give them about 4 months. If I don't hear back, I assume it's a no.
The pen to print story comp has strange T&C's - eg you can't enter the story comp if you are a published poet.
There were other aspects in these T&C's that I wasn't comfortable with, so I won't be bothering.
I'd urge anyone interested in entering to thoroughly check these T&C's first.
The Lipstick and lies web page, with the entry table on, seems to have disappeared, so I don't know what's happening there.
@Patsy @Sharon Sorry, I meant April at WW.
I've found the Lipstick and lies new website!
Alyson, if you'd like to contact me via Patsy, that'd be fine.
If you'd like, I'm happy to take a look at any story you're planning on sending before you sub it out.
I realise that not everyone appreciates critiques, though. There's no fee!
Again, congratulations to everyone who’s had acceptances. I had a story published in Woman’s Weekly this week, my first with that magazine. @Sheelagh. I’m glad both you and your husband enjoyed it. Yours was good too.
Re Best pet story competition. They had a similar theme this time last year which I entered. I didn’t win, but the story, after a few tweaks, did get published by Yours Fiction last September. I don’t have anything pet based in mind at the moment.
I agree that Yours Fiction do have an unusually long gap before their next edition. I had hoped that they were going monthly - or even every two months. As acceptances for an August edition would come around June (this was my experience with them a few years ago), my worry here is that they might only consider stories sent around that time, and discard earlier submissions for being to far back in their files. Hopefully I’m wrong. I currently have two stories ‘out’ with them, (one sent in November, the other in January) with another two ready to send out. I’m also busy tweaking a few to submit to WW.
As has been mentioned here several times, the numbers game seems to be the way to go regarding increased chances of success. I just wish I had more ready to send out.
And thanks once again to Patsy for running this blog, enabling us writers to communicate with each other. Hoping every one has some success this year.
Michael D
@ Alyson Thanks for that info Alyson, very useful to know
Congratulations to everyone who has had acceptances and competition successes. Last week I had three acceptances from three different magazines, so I was super-thrilled about that! As with everyone else, I find response times can vary hugely, but perhaps I am by nature patient, because I don't seem to stress about waiting - I think of my 'out there' stories as seeds planted that may erupt in their own good time. As long as I know that the material has been received, I'm OK, but I would feel much worse if I was left wondering whether the work had even arrived safely. I was sad to read about closures and redundancies at D.C. Thomson - having grown up reading their comics and then magazines I hate to see indications of decline in this industry. I renewed my subscription to The People's Friend and PF Special this month and would encourage everyone to keep buying these great value magazines if we want them to survive and thrive. Can I quickly mention that my mystery-suspense novel, I Know I Saw Her (author name E.D. Thompson) is now reduced to 99p on Kindle? Not sure if this will be a long-term or short-term price. Happy writing to Patsy and all the correspondents and followers.
I'de like details of how to sub stories to Woman's Weekly Best Of too, please.
@ Sharon – I feel the same about posting an individual's email, even a work one, without permission or knowing they've made it public themselves.
@ Congratulations, Michael - the first one with any publication is always special.
It does seem odd about the gap in publications with Yours fiction. Hopefully that was a typo. I'll try to find out.
@ Eirin - well done for the acceptances. That's a great way to look at work that's out there. I'll try to do the same and not think of them being buried too deep and rotting in the ground!
Totally agree that if we want publications to continue we should try to support them. Magazine subscriptions make great gifts, so that's one option.
I hope the offer on the book gains you new readers.
BREAKING NEWS!
New guidelines are being written for WW best of and I'll have info to share in the next post - which will be an extra one, this coming Saturday.
Thank you. I look forward to the post about WW best of - I know nothing about this and how it works.
This is great, about the new 'Best to of WW' guidelines because if it's an open list for all, then more fresh material will be accepted in the mag.
If more new stores are bought and published, hopefully, there'll be less re-prints.
There's no new material appearing in Woman mag or Woman's own now.
Thanks for the continuation of your Blog Patsy. I find it an invaluable resource for finding competitions to enter.
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