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#1: Write it!
- #2: Proofread it! - #3: Match
it! - #4: Format it! - #5: Introduce it!
- #6: Send it! - #7: Monitor it!
StoryBoard
Step #3:
Match it!
Once you’re sure the manuscript is where you want it, it’s time to prepare
for sending it off. Now you need to match it up with potential
publishers. Be sure to match up the important things
editors will use to
qualify your story, regardless of whether you're a great writer.
Genres
The story must match the
publication’s genres. If the magazine publishes
fantasy and
horror only, and
your story is science fiction, the magazine is not the right market for your
story. Sending an SF tale to that magazine is not only a colossal waste of
your time, but it's also a colossal waste of the editor's time.
Some publications may work strictly with subgenres, which can further
limit you. A magazine may publish SF, but if your story is a hard sci-fi tale
and the magazine only wants space opera, near-future sociological situations,
and alien visitations, they aren’t likely going to want to see your story.
Word count
The story must match
the publication’s word-count range.
If the magazine only accepts stories to
8,000 words and your story is 15,000, the magazine is not the right market for
your story.
If the story is barely outside the range – say, 8,200 – it may be
appropriate to query the editor first; however, it’s always a good idea to
proofread the story and see if there are 200 words that just don’t need to be
there anyway.
Editor preferences
Some editors
like certain stories while others do not. You may find two magazines that
specialize in sword and sorcery fiction and yours is such a tale; but Magazine
#1 may specifically want classic sword and sorcery with knights and wizards and
dragons and dungeons, while Magazine #2 might want completely original twists
while still sticking to the sword and sorcery ideal. Be sure your story falls
within the preferences of the editors!
“Red Light” stories
Many
editors have typical plots, characters, and story ideas they have seen too many
times before and they virtually won’t ever look at others like it. Not that
there can’t be exceptions, but it’s generally a good idea to check out the
guidelines to a publication and ensure your story isn’t what an editor might
consider “old hat” – and, indeed, what some editors might consider “old hat”
might be perfectly fine to others. An editor who has seen too many vampire
stories may flatly not care to see any more vampire stories at all; likewise, a
magazine that publishes only vampire stories is likely to look at any
vampire tale you send them (but will probably be very discriminating as to the
nature of the tale as they see far more vampire stories than others).
#1: Write it!
- #2: Proofread it! - #3: Match
it! - #4: Format it! - #5: Introduce it!
- #6: Send it! - #7: Monitor it!
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