As always, feel free to use my photos as story prompts. If you prefer word prompts, you might like to know that the blog on my website has a word of the week every Wednesday. They're a bit random too.
Free entry writing competition news
If you're a British or Irish, unpublished (self published is OK, I think) and unagented female writer who has written, or is writing, a novel then the Discoveries women's prize may be of interest. The winner will get £5,000 and agent representation.
A while ago I posted a link to a competition supplied by Sharon Boothroyd. The Welkin Prize for micro fiction hadn't actually opened when I posted about it, so I'm mentioning it again now it is. There's a first prize of £75 for up to 100 words of narrative prose, fiction or non-fiction.
Other publication opportunities
Thanks to Sharon Boothroyd* for letting me know that ezine After Dinner Conversation, accept short stories. Here's a link to their submission requirements. They pay $75. If you like, you can pay them to read your story more quickly! (I wouldn't pay - would you?)
*She kindly sent me lots of info, which I'm still working through.
The Fiction Desk publish anthologies of short stories of between 1,000 and 15,000 words and pay £25 per 1,000 words, plus two paperback copies. They charge a £5 submission fee. (I wouldn't pay that either - would you?)
Btw, I do understand why both these charges are made. I'm not saying they're wrong, or that authors who do pay are wrong, it's just not something I personally choose to do.
In case you missed my post earlier this week - the submissions database is now done! (For now - I'll add to and update it as much as I can.)
I had an idea...
Does anyone fancy a virtual Christmas party? I was thinking of early evening, 23rd December. Of course it won't be the same as meeting up in person, but it might be nice for some of us to be online together, and chat as we enjoy our choice of snack and drink.
21 comments:
Thanks Patsy and others for all the comp and submission info - lots to look at. Love the photos of the signs too.
I’ve got a Readly subscription and After Dinner Conversation is one of the magazines available, so I’ve just clicked as a favourite to check it out.
In the latest issue the editor, Kolby Granville, writes: “There are 3,000+ literary magazines. We typically rank in the top 50, often in the top ten, and yet we have never made enough money for me to draw a salary in six years.”
I’ve never seen a copy in a UK shop, but it made me wonder what happens with Readly. Do magazines and newspapers get paid much for being available on it, and is it a sliding scale, so the more people that read online, the more the publication gets? Anyone have any idea?
A virtual party sounds fun!
Thanks Patsy & Sharon, plenty to consider there. Party on the 23rd sounds just great.
@ Fiona – I believe that the magazine owners choose whether or not to be on platforms such as Readly and that they do get paid, but I doubt it's very much.
Btw, I've discovered that some magazines are available through Kindle Unlimited. Yours, Take A Break's Fiction Feast and Writing Magazine are on there. (And all my books!)
@ Sheelagh – I'll get baking the mince pies!
Thank you Patsy and Sharon.
You mention rules today Patsy, and I have a question, apologies if you think I should already know this. Is there an unwritten rule re formatting paragraphs, when sending stories to magazines and comps?
I know that PF are very clear on formatting. But for other submissions/comps, if not stated in their guidelines, is it best to indent all paragraphs, including speech (rather than adding more double line spacing)? I have found some really useful information on various websites, but I am still unsure.
I hope you don’t mind me asking.
Thank you!
Virtual Christmas crackers have been ordered…
Dee
I've never bothered with indents or double line spacing, Dee. I use 1.5 and it seems to suffice. I think all that matters is a clear, easy to read font.
After diner conversation e mag likes stories with an ethical or moral slant.
I don't know how it works with mags and their fee on readily, sorry! I pay the subscription and I don't worry about it.
Thank you, Patsy and Sharon for all the opportunities. Dee, I always left justify, double space lines, leave a line for a new para with no indents. I daresay there will be as many solutions as there are responses! (Unless requested to do otherwise, and we've discussed on here before about hoops and obstacles which some comps just put in for fun, or so it seems.)
Thank you, Patsy and Sharon.
A virtual Christmas party is a lovely ideaš„³
HB
Thank you, Sharon and Marguerite, that is really helpful.
I am so pleased to have found this blog.
Dee
Some interesting opportunities here. Thank you to Patsy and Sharon. Yes put me down for the 'do' :)
After dinner conversation is US based, so you won't see a copy on sale here. It's mainly an e-mag, I think. No Patsy, I wouldn't pay a fee for someone to consider my work but that's how some small projects finance themselves.
Just a reminder about Scribble. It's a small short story magazine (UK based.)
If you subscribe, you have free entry to their competition, and you can send as many entries as you like. Annual subscription is around £20.
If your story is selected for publication, you'll receive money off the subscription fee.
Scribble is published 4 times a year and there's a lively letters page.
Subscribers vote for their favourite stories and the winner and runner- ups win cash prizes. Decisions on work are given within 10 weeks.
A virtual party sounds good, would love to join!
Visitors - but what about if you live there? Can you climb then?
@ Dee - I'm very happy for such questions to be asked. It is a bit confusing, as there's not one single right answer.
Personally my standard formatting is to double line space, indent all paragraphs except the first in each section - and yes, a change of speaker in dialogue is treated the same way. I only add an extra line space for section breaks.
I adjust that whenever submission guidelines or competition rules state differently. If no special requirements are stated then I think it's safe to assume they don't mind, as long as it's easy to read.
@ Sharon - Good point about the font. As you say, it needs to be easy to read. With that in mind, it's probably not a good idea to make the font size really tiny, especially if submitting on paper.
@ Marguerite – Yes, left justification is what I do too. Basically, I don't change any of standard settings on my word processing software (Libe Office) unless there's a good reason.
@ HB, Sue and Helen - The party invitation will be made soon.
@ Sharon - I've still not got around to looking at Scribble, but it's on my list of things to investigate.
@ Alex – Hmm, good question. People do sometimes climb to do structural surveys and make repairs.
Thanks for the comps. Patsy. I agree with you about the formatting - I do the same except for People's Friend nowadays.
Alyson
Thanks for all the information, Patsy. Re formatting, I just type double spaced paragraphs. And that appears to be fine, even with TPF. (Though that may be the reason why I’ve never had an acceptance by them). Of course, quotation marks are easy. Just looking in the different magazines will reveal their preferences.
A virtual get together sounds good, but work commitments mean I can’t take part. (I will have a coffee and a sweet mince pie, though, in support).
Michael
Thank you everyone for all the very useful information, re formatting.
Dee
I double-line space every submission, with no indents for new paragraphs - I thought that was what everyone did! I think it's probably important to get the quote marks right - singles or doubles, depending on the publication - as this would be a headache for sub-editor to change, if wrong. A party on 23rd sounds great!
& just to show the range of seemingly acceptable styles, I like Eirin don't use any indents for paragraphs etc, I don't format at all beyond using 1.5 line spacing, a clear font & whatever quotation marks required by the individual magazine I'm submitting too.
Hi. Does anyone know if Best magazine usually run a Valentines Day competition? I'm thinking of making it my next project if so. Thanks.
@ Alyson – I'm glad I'm not the only one who does what I always thought was standard formatting!
@ Michael - Looking at the published stories is a good idea for the quote marks – and lots of other things too, of course.
I can't say for certain whether any magazine editor would reject a story simply because the formatting didn't match the guidelines. I'd guess not – but why take the risk?
@ Dee – You've got a variety of responses, but hopefully they've helped you decide what to do, rather than leaving you even more confused.
@ Eirin - I don't recall where I got my 'standard formatting' ideas from, but I too used to think that's what everyone did.
You're right about not doing stuff editors will have trouble undoing. I think that's why some now ask for no formatting at all - it's quicker to just do what they want, than to check if we've done it in the way that's right for them.
@ Sheelagh – I think with formatting (in the case of womag submissions) is a good example of 'less is more'.
Btw, if any editors do happen to be reading this, please do share your preferences, so we can try to get it right!
@ Sue – Yes, they do. And even if they don't do it next year, there's a really good chance you'd find another competition to enter it into. Or you could try subbing to a magazine (probably for the following year, as it wiil be too late now for the majority of magazines)
Thanks Patsy.
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