Just after eight this morning, I received a response to my request for information about the future of the magazine. As I'd said I was asking on behalf of my blog readers, I'm sure it's OK to share it.
Hi Patsy
Thank you for your email. We hugely value the relationships we have with all our contributors and your continued support of Fiction Feast over the years.As part of an ongoing review of Fiction Feast to ensure its long-term sustainability, we are exploring new ways of producing the magazine. As a result, we are pausing external commissioning of fiction stories for the time being.We want to emphasise how much we value your work and the contribution you’ve made to the magazine. We are not closing the door to commissioning in the future and will be in contact should opportunities arise.Thank you again for your support.The Fiction Feast Team
That's a little vague, but does suggest the magazine will continue. I've asked a further question. If I learn more, I'll share it in this post.
4 comments:
I've had time to absorb this information, even though this message hasn't been sent to me personally.
I sense that the mag will continue, however, I suspect that the majority of the stories in it will be re-prints.
I feel that they will be in touch to ask writers for a new story, just to freshen the material up. I reckon it's going down the BOWW route.
If you can recall, many moons ago, there used to be a WW fiction special every month, with all new stories in.
Then the fiction team left, the mag changed and they began to call it 'best of WW'. It's now mainly re- prints, with around 4 new stories in to perk it up.
I could be totally wrong but judging by the message above, I think this is the road FF will be going down.
It's such a pity and a shame.
I don't know how other FF writers feel but there's not much point me penning new stories for them now. If I do, it'll be ones that fit on one page - the 800-900 word ones.
It's just not worth me writing longer ones that have twisty, meaty plots.
I can't help feeling that it's a waste of people's talent, skill, ability and potential, but if the market has changed, there isn't a lot we can do about it.
I'm also wondering if it's leading to the mag being phased out completely.
@ Sharon - You could be right, but there are other possibilities. They could restrict the number of submissions writers are allowed to send per month / quarter (Similar to how MW operate) to reduce the workload reading all the submissions.
Perhaps they haven't decided yet, which is why we've not yet had any details?
Thanks for this information, Patsy, and all the work you do on our behalves.
Maybe Patsy and I really hope your theory proves to be right. But if this is the case, why halt submissions and send out all those batches of rejects?
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