Do you have any womag news?
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.
Feel free to use these photos as picture prompts. If you'd like written writing prompts, short exercises and story/scene suggestions then you might find this book useful.Calls for submissions
Fanatical are looking for "unpublished sci-fi, fantasy and horror stories of between 2,000 and 6,000 words." They pay £20. That doesn't seem a lot for the amount of work involved!
Free entry competition news
On the Premises are running another competition. This time there's a picture prompt (see that and other rules by clicking on 'guidelines'. The prize is $250
Closing date, July 3rd and it's free to enter.
The only drawback is that they take the rights to all entries. So you lose the rights to your story just by entering.
Fanatical are looking for "unpublished sci-fi, fantasy and horror stories of between 2,000 and 6,000 words." They pay £20. That doesn't seem a lot for the amount of work involved!
Free entry competition news
On the Premises are running another competition. This time there's a picture prompt (see that and other rules by clicking on 'guidelines'. The prize is $250
Thanks to Sheelagh for mentioning a different competition to me. I'm not posting a link, as it had a $75 entry fee – something we both initially missed. Has anyone seen a higher entry fee, and would you consider paying that amount?
Womag/competition news
Thanks to Sharon Boothroyd for this – The regular Yours mag have launched a short story story comp. Details are in the mag.
Max 850 words, and it's an open theme and genre. Closing date, July 3rd and it's free to enter.
The only drawback is that they take the rights to all entries. So you lose the rights to your story just by entering.
I hate the way some competitions become rights grabs in this way. There's no need for it – they don't take all our rights when they publish stories they buy from us, so why would they want them for failed competition entries?
My news
I've had a reply about my story which was accidentally credited to the wrong person in TAB's Fiction Feast. No one at the magazine has responded, but ALCS have agreed I can still claim through them in the normal way.
A reminder – I regularly post on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month but, as you may have seen from my last post, I'll add in extras if something interesting, important or urgent pops up in between (and I'm able to get it uploaded.) Any guests posts would also go between those dates. When I know an extra post is coming up, I'll try to let you know on the previous one.
My news
I've had a reply about my story which was accidentally credited to the wrong person in TAB's Fiction Feast. No one at the magazine has responded, but ALCS have agreed I can still claim through them in the normal way.
Edits on my cosy mystery novel, Disguised Murder In Little Mallow, are going well, and I have a new short story collection out. Days To Remember is available as an ebook, paperback or to be read through kindle unlimited. As I hope the title suggests, the 24 stories are about special days in the lives of the characters. (The first story is set in the same location as the novel I'm working on.)
Thanks to everyone for your comments. As well as allowing us all to share information, help and encourage each other, comments also show editors, competition organisers and others that the blog is read and will therefore be more likely to provide information for me to share with you.
The next scheduled post is 1st July.
The next scheduled post is 1st July.
39 comments:
I've finished off a serial for TPF, and also written a feature for them, over the past few weeks. My next project is to keep my New Year's resolution by planning a six-part feature for TPF - I've only written three-parters so far, and am always nervous about writing long-haul fiction. But I really want to break through this.
I've had a busy year so far with a deluge of freelance work, my UK trip, and being a judge for the Davitt Awards (awards for women's crime fiction), so I haven't really written much fiction (I've written no short stories at all). I do have some planned, and am looking forward to getting stuck into it again later in the year.
The most expensive entry fee I've seen here in Australia is $60 for the SD Harvey Awards (short crime fiction and true crime) - no way would I pay that.
Thanks for all the info and updates Patsy. Wow, that is an expensive entry fee!
Glad you’ve got the ALCS claims for your mis-named short story sorted out.
I had a story accepted for the Bridgehouse ‘Gifted’ anthology which was listed here a few months ago. Have been very impressed with the editor Gill James’ precision in editing my story and also been invited to a reading ‘do’ for contributors in London in December so that’s a good excuse for a weekend away.
I received an invitation to an ALCS members’ drinks reception at Birmingham Rep on 7th July and just wondered if anyone else was going? Would be nice to meet up in real life!
Good luck with the new book, Patsy. I hope it does well.
Writing magazine have a free to enter opportunity for subscribers.
It's usually 500 words on a theme.
There's cash prizes given to the writers of the published selected pieces. We can enter prose, fiction or poetry.
I think the current theme is 'Making a start.'
I haven't bothered with this, as I don't have anything suitable with such a short word count.
I won't be entering the Yours mag comp, either!
Thanks for the info, Patsy.
Not keen on the Yours competition taking rights to all entries. I always think the consolation of unplaced competition entries is the opportunity to rejig a story and submit it elsewhere.
My news is that I’ve had an acceptance from Andrew Shaw (WW). I know this doesn’t mean the story will be published, but as this is a first for me, I am thrilled!
HB
Thanks for the info and updates, Patsy. Yes, that entry fee is a bit eye watering. (I can’t see many writers queuing up to enter that one!!!)
No news from me. I have several still ‘out’ with Yours Fiction, but whether I’ll receive any response at the moment remains to be seen. Their competition is a no from me also.
I did start writing a story for Best’s short story competition, but quickly realised it was going to exceed their 1200 word limit. Too late to submit a summer story now, I’ve put it on the back burner for a while and will finish it later this year ready for next.
Sorry, I didn’t put my name.
Michael Donoghue
Hello Patsy, just saying 'hello' and thank you for your timely reminder about claims!
I'm currently working on another PF serial, first episode is in and I'm now waiting with fingers crossed....
Keep well and happy writing!
Penny A.
Oh no! Looks like that competition would need 'crowd-funding'! ;) Well done, HB - I am in the queue for Andrew's attention - ever hopeful... :) I admire your tenacity, Liz - to write longer pieces AND serial-form however long - on my 'to do' list. Good to hear your news, Fiona - inclusion in the 'Gifted' was great :)
I have submitted the summer Best (did not think inspiration would strike but it did) and also Fictionette. I am editing Love Books - my favourite book 750 words - nearly there. I had a sub included in Fictionette and also won a challenge with them. Still lotsa magazine subs out there... but a bit down re all the recent news on here about Yours for this year - obviously a very limited number of editions, although I managed to squeeze in to one of them. Most of my stories are a bit, shall we say, a bit off-kilter and more appropriate for NOT TPF ;) Nearly forgot: my third shortlisting in WM - always the bridesmaid ;)
Thanks for the comps, Patsy and I'm glad you got ALCS sorted on the story - seems a bit rude of TAB not to apologise. How difficult is it to send a quick email?
I have every intention of entering the OTP comp - if inspiration strikes.
My news is I had a pocket novel accepted by TPF. It was a challenge to my self to see if I could write 'long' having had a couple of serials rejected by them (congrats Liz!)
I've also got a story in the August Yours. Possibly the last one, but I hope not.
Congratulations to all who have had work accepted.
Alyson
Well done everyone on your various successes, acceptances, submissions etc.
@HB congratulations on your WW acceptance, I did find that my first couple of acceptances there got published very quickly so I hope the same applies for you. Its such a thrill getting accepted by a new magazine, isn't it? Or any magazine for that matter.
Not a huge amount to report from here. Starting to get some feedback from my new editor in TPF (after some stories I sent a while back got mislaid) which is great with one & possibly two stories gone to the next stage (you have to take your little victories whatever they may be!).So I have a few out there for consideration and this week I sent off two to WW USA (so thanks for that recent info posted here). I really enjoyed paring them back to make the tight word count so regardless of how they fare it was good experience and fun.
Patsy, well done! I look forward to reading your new books over the summer, I don't know how you do it, I think I'm more suited to the 500-1800 word counts if only I could find a home for them.
Good luck to everybody with your writing, I just love catching up on everyone's writing news here, its very inspiring.
Thank you Patsy as ever for keeping us up to date with all things womag land. Shame about the entry fee for the 'On The Premises' competition, as I have a story that's at editing stage that might well be perfect for that prompt. I don't enter comps above six pounds in entry fee and enter free only unless something specific tempts me.
Thanks Patsy for all the info and good luck with your new book. So please ALCS sorted out the issues with incorrect name.
Congratulations to everyone with their acceptances.
No real news except I have finally joined SoA, long overdue!
Have had my head down writing and submitting, now back to concentrating on the novel.
Happy writing everyone.
I've been busy with submissions for most of the year, but not so busy with acceptances! But I kept going and, in the last fortnight, I've been lucky enough to suddenly get two acceptances which made all the waiting and hoping in the quiet weeks worthwhile.
I've also entered the Best summer story competition. I'm not expecting to get anywhere with it, but it certainly made me think about some stories for submission for next summer!
Congratulations to everyone for their acceptances and plans for future work.
@ Liz - You've been very productive! Good luck with the longer piece.
@ Fiona – Congratulations. Enjoy the event/s. I've not been invited. Maybe they only include local people?
@ Sharon. Thank you. I quite like those shorter challenges as it encourages me to write something I probably wouldn't have thought of otherwise. I'm not currently a subscriber though, so haven't tried this particular one in a while.
@ HB – I totally agree about that competition. Well done on the acceptance. The first with any publication is always special.
@ Michael – You'd have to be really confident in your work to pay that fee, wouldn't you?
At least by trying the Best comp you have a piece of writing to work on. When you want a summer on that will be easier than starting from scratch.
@ Penny – Best of luck with the serial.
@ Marguerite – I reckon that most people willing to invest that amount on their writing could find other ways to spend it which, for everyone but the winner, would be far more beneficial.
Well done for all you've achieved.
@ Alyson – I'm hoping TAB just haven't read my emails yet, rather than they're ignoring me.
Yay, well done for the pocket novel!
@ Sheelagh – well done for having stories go through to the next stage. It's motivating to know you're on the right track, isn't it? (I know why they don't do it, but I wish editors would give us a clue as the whether rejected stories were near misses or wide off the mark.)
I used to think my natural writing length was 1,000, then I started writing more at 2,000 and now I go on and on and on and on...
@ Lynda – The OTP one is free - I didn't link to the pricey one. Sorry for any confusion.
@ Elizabeth – Making decisions like that are positive steps.
@ Marian – Well done on the acceptances! You're right that they (or it in most cases) make a big difference and motivate us to keep going.
Thank you Patsy. My misunderstanding re the 'On The Premises' comp. I've looked at their guidelines and unfortunately the story I had in mind wouldn't be suitable as it's aimed at primary school aged children. I'll stick to my original market choice for it and get the story ready for submission. Thanks again.
This is a question I've been meaning to ask for ages. Apologies if it is answered somewhere on here.. I have looked. It was sparked by the discussion about mags taking all rights for competition entries. Are we able to claim ALCS for stories published in Woman's Weekly? I know they take all rights but not sure if this also means copyright. Thanks for any information.
@ Lynda - good luck with it.
@ Sue – All rights means absolutely everything, including copyright. Once you sell all rights, the story is no longer yours.
In theory that should mean you can't claim the ALCS payment, but I've been told that it is allowed. You'll need the agreement of whoever bought your story (because they're now the rights holder) and to explain to ALCS – because otherwise you'll effectively be saying you own rights to a story that isn't yours (you have to tick the box saying you own the rights to claim).
ALCS are great at answering queries, so I'd email them and ask how to proceed.
Thanks Patsy. I'll look into it some more as you suggest.
Sue, the following is an extract from a discussion on this blog in July 2018.
"I wouldn't want to lose out on future payments, so I emailed Emma Shacklock, Woman's Weekly Fiction Writing Co-ordinator, on Friday to check the situation. She responded within two hours, saying, "We have been informed by the ALCS that you can continue to claim from them as long as you have confirmation from us, which we are happy to give." So it seems there would be no problem there."
Hope this is of some help to you, and assuming nothing has changed since then.
Thanks very much Shelagh. That sounds more hopeful. Perhaps I'll double check with Andrew Shaw, the current Fiction Editor to see if this remains the case. I'll report back here.
@ Sheelagh - thanks for checking. I knew I'd read it, but didn't recall that it was on this blog!
@ Sue – please do update us. There must be lots of other writers in the same situation.
For anyone making a claim, I suggest you keep hold of emails giving permission, just in case there's a query later.
@ Sue Yes would be good to have a more up to date confirmation from Andrew
@ Patsy I actually reread that recently so knew it was there somewhere
Well done Patsy. I have just published my first collection of short stories with kdp. I have also had an acceptance from yours fiction for the August mag. I have three stories that Andrew from WW accepted but no details of publication yet, but have had few published in there before, so keeping my fingers crossed. Can I ask if anyone has had any luck with hearing back from the editor at BOWW? I have emailed to ask progress of three of mine and just silence - very annoying how much time does it take to drop a quick email back!!! Especially as one has been accepted else where as they taking so long. Well done to all who has had acceptances. Charlie.
@ Charlie, I have heard nothing further from BOWW other than an initial email in February accepting a story and inquiring if it was still available, granted I didn't send any further emails myself other than to confirm that it was indeed available. I did have another story printed there that was a reprint of one in Woman's Weekly. No other news there I'm afraid. I think Maisie ( a regular contributor here) had a new story accepted and published in April or May though.
Just a question for Alyson and Charlie. You both say you’ve had stories accepted for the Yours August mag. Could you tell me when you subbed these stories? I’m just wondering if they’re still working their way through their files from last year. (My four subs still ‘out’ range from Nov 22 to March 23). Congratulations by the way.
Michael Donoghue
@ Charlie - well done for putting your collection together. Good luck with it.
@Charlie and @Sheelagh - yes - I had a new story published in BoWW in May this year, having subbed it in February. I have subbed 3 more stories there, but heard nothing about any of those. Maybe April is just inundated - she works on BoWW only one day per week, I believe!
@Sue - I had the same question as you about claiming ALCS for stories published in WW. I phoned ALCS, who were extremely helpful, and they told me to contact the magazine direct. I emailed Andrew Shaw in April this year. He forwarded my email to the Rights Department at Future Publishing, and this was the reply:
'An individual freelance writer can claim ALCS and there is no need for Future's consent, provided that the writer has the appropriate credits/UK ISSN. So yes, we are happy for our contributors to sign up for royalties through ALCS.'
I have kept a copy of the email on file.
@ Maisie Thanks for the clarification on that one Maisie, good to have it in print
@Maisie. Thanks so much for the clarification Maisie. Puts our minds at rest.
Hi Michael I subbed my story to yours fiction July last year and was accepted just last month so nearly a year - so there’s always hope. good luck. Charlie.
Cheers, Charlie. Yours accepted a story of mine in March for their 2024 Year Book, due out in September, which I also submitted in July last year. Which makes me think they’re working through their files in month order, about 8 months+ in advance, maybe? Like you said, there’s still hope, and that the magazine will be back next year.
Michael
@Michael My story accepted by Yours Fiction was sent December 2022! Well over a year...but I'm happy!
Alyson
I've just seen these comments and to quickly answer Charlie's question, I heard back from April at BoWW about a new story last week.
Thank you to Maisie for her information about Future and ALCS.
Reader Views Literary Awards is asking $89 with a top prize of $2,500.
June 29th 2023 2.30 pm
BREAKING NEWS: Kirstyn smith has been announced as the new fiction editor at My weekly!
@ Sharon I wonder if this will have any impact on their closed list submissions process, it would be nice if that were so. By the way well done, if I'm not mistake you have not one but two stories in BOWW this month, just got it yesterday!
@ Sharon At least I'm assuming that is you, Sharon!
@ Womble - That's a lot! Makes it feel more like gambling than using writing talent to win, doesn't it?
@ Sharon – Yes, I saw it announced on Twitter. Interesting choice.
More breaking news - Angela, the ed at TPF, is leaving soon and being replaced by Stuart, the recent ed of My Weekly!
I suspect changes are in the air at TPF. Maybe they'll bring in a closed list?
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