Now that I’m looking at short fiction markets again, I’m starting to look at a lot of publishing house websites. There’s a lot of good information out there about things to check for before submitting your work such as the rights requested, the publishing experience of those working behind the scenes, etc. And before I go any further, I want to encourage you to read and follow Writer Beware (WriterBeware.blog) as this has been an EXCELLENT and long-standing resource that will help you spot scams and those who wish to prey on authors. However, there are three things writers should know beyond the details about the market before they submit the story.
Writers need to know:
- What is your intention for the work?
- How would the work be best served?
- How does the work fit in with your other stories?
Let’s look at these in order. What is your intention for the work? I think it’s safe to say that many authors, if not most of us, want to earn as much as possible from our work and have it read by the widest number of people. However, there are some stories we write that seem to have a life, and a destiny, of their own. Perhaps that story is the vehicle which you hope to achieve publication in a pro magazine. Having a plan for the story will help you to know where, and when, you want to submit it.
Next think about how the work would be best served. Some stories serve as vehicles to introduce people to your work and your worlds. In this case, submitting them to a publication where you can find new readers would be a good option. Other stories may tie in closely with our work and be better suited to reader magnets or as free offerings to existing readers. Knowing where the work fits in with your publishing plan and what’s already been produced will help determine the best fit for your story. This ties into how the work fits in with your other stories.
It’s important to know the details of any publisher you send your story to, including what rights they use, if/how they pay, and who the primary people are behind the business. However, by answering the three additional questions here, you can ensure your story is best served by your publishing plans.
