Submission Process

I'm getting to the point of jumping off a cliff... I mean, I'm going to be sending out stories and queries in 2014 so it seems fitting to dedicate a blog post to talk about the submission process.

Which means I can talk about the submission process. Yay!

After you have written the awesome story of amazingness and edited it to a shiny glean that rivals the sun, well then it's time to figure out where and how to submit the story. That is the fun part right? (I forget which part is considered the fun part at times...)

Finding Places
Time for some research. Internet has made it easier, or so I've heard. There are ways to search, google, and a few web sites dedicated to this endeavor that will come in handy. Check out the different publishers available and looked around their sites. Read some of the stories they have published. It helps to read more than a few because you want to see if what you write seems like a good fit for what the location looks for in stories. They also have the guidelines for that but seeing what already got the seal of approval will also help. Think they are right for you? Make note of that.

Read Guidelines
Yes, most have listed somewhere their guidelines. On this page is often some of the general things the publisher is looking for which includes genre, story lengths and even some little hints at what they either like or what will be a really hard sell to them. They also list exactly how to submit. Most have online submissions available through different formats (email or their own online form) but there are still a few that have a preference to the printed and mail out variety. Most also will list formatting tips, which is really helpful. Read them and then, maybe read them again just in case. We all make mistakes but it helps to try and put your best foot forward and really, having worked with a small publisher a little, it's amazing how many ignore guidelines. Don't let that be you.

Tracking Tools
These are great to have but like any tool have to make sure you use them as just that and don't obsess. I've only got one story out right now but must admit already within the last 10 days I have checked my email and the tracker site I'm using way too much.

Duotrope - This is what I think I first used a few years ago to find places to submit, back when the web site was free. But I never used the tracking aspect as I only sent out a couple things back then as that was all the way back in 2009. It still seems like a great site to use even though I don't have access to it at this point. Maybe someday I'll have the funds for such. It sure was a good search location for open publications to submit back then and I imagine there is much it offers now. (http://duotrope.com)

The Grinder - I am using this site now. It's a search place for finding publications to submit and has the option to track submissions. I signed up and have tracked the one story that I've submitted twice so far this year. It's nice. I like the layout, being able to see the different reports on the main page and the graph on each publishers page. Seems a handy place to keep track of things and bonus for me (and those using it), the site is free. (http://thegrinder.diabolicalplots.com)

Excel - And I have my own excel sheet for submitting just to make sure I don't lose track where I have submitted, when and what responses I receive. I even have the ones from 2009 on it still. I got mostly form rejections and the one personal rejection that came with a note was from someone that gave comments to all submissions. But I have the information still, which is good. I currently have a page for places I'd like to submit where I mark down how many stories I submit to them. Then I have a page where I list my stories, where I want to submit, what date I submit to them, when I hear back and what the result is (form, personal, etc). Might need a second sheet for that once I get sending a lot more out but right now it's small. I try to list at least 3 places to submit per story but that will also increase in the foreseeable future. And I might need a new page when I get to the novel query submission process with agents and such involved.


But it's all exciting. And I'm a little more productive in other aspects so far this year too. I've gotten together a schedule for the week so I can work on short stories, novels and editing. It's working out even with my works schedule being a bit unreliable (people calling in sick and such). While I only have one story out so far, I have 4 that I'm getting ready and hope to have out by the end of the month. And I'm using a google doc excel thing someone else created (Thank You) to keep track of words written each day. 2014 is looking promising.


Have you submitted any stories recently?
Do you use any tools to track submissions?
If so, which do you prefer?

The Great Agent Quest

Yep. While my novel still needs a little work and I'm waiting to hear back from a test reader or two, I have started something at long last. I have started:


The Great Agent Quest


Also known as, I'm researching agents to find the right one for me. I hope to submit in the near future to at least 5 potential agents and it's all very exciting. After starting this novel back in 2007, I'm finally at a point I can consider what possible agents would work well for this story and in large focus, my career as a writer. Because while this novel is great, it's not the only one and not the only genre or age range that I write in, so I'm dreaming big and looking for agents that match both this one but also future prospects.

It's a happy but nerve-wrecking time. I've never done this before. I have to actually consider what I'm looking for in an agent.

Here are a couple of things I've come up with:
- Genres and age ranges need to include young adult, fantasy, maybe sic-fi but not be just young adult or younger because a chunk of my stories are in adult speculative fiction.
- Must be able to accept GLBT characters. It's one of the few things I won't change about a story.
- Feedback. I know some don't want edit/rewrite tips from agents, but I'm not one of them.

And well, that's actually it so far. Yeah, I don't have very many requirements yet but I'm new to the search. Which brings me to my questions for you.



What do you look for in an agent?
Anything you don't want in one?
Are you searching for an agent?

L is for Legends

Legend has it.... A common start line used to explain something in the present of a story based upon a tale that happened in the past (or something like that.)

What is a legend:
An interesting definition is one I actually found on Wikipedia and while I don't often go with stuff from the site, this one is efficient enough. The page on Legend states that A modern folklorist's professional definition of legend was proposed by Timothy R. Tangherlini in 1990: "Legend, typically, is a short (mono-) episodic, traditional, highly ecotypified historicized narrative performed in a conversational mode, reflecting on a psychological level a symbolic representation of folk belief and collective experiences and serving as a reaffirmation of commonly held values of the group to whose tradition it belongs."

Another definition from the dictionary on my laptop is: a traditional story sometimes popularly regarded as historical but unauthenticated.


In writing: 
Legends can add a certain depth to a story, world, being or plot. When worldbuilding, one thing to maybe consider is the legends that can be found in the world. Legends can also be found within cliches so there isn't a clear line always of when, which and how to use a legend. Fantasy often uses legends within their realms on many different levels, depending on the story, but the legend isn't just a device to be used in the one genre. Whether it's a prominent aspect of the tale, or a side note that adds flavor, there are many uses of the legend and it's the writer's job to find their own way on how to use them.

Whether old or newly made up, legends are a big part of the writing world and one not easily forgotten.

A few sites:
http://bestoflegends.org/
http://www.snopes.com/
http://www.scaryforkids.com/scary-legends/
http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/grecoromanmyth1/a/mythslegends.htm


Do you use legends in your story?
What legend really sticks with you the most?

Research

When it comes to writing, some stories require research and others do not.

For example: Yesterday's picture book about a girl and her imaginary friend did not require research. I wrote from my thoughts and that is it.

Today's picture book required research. I could have done without it but then I might have had an inaccurate character. The story is about a penguin and my friend who loves penguins will know if I write something that is not correct. So, I have done research as to type, location, diet, etc.

Research isn't easy and sometimes it isn't very fun. It depends on the writer, the subject and whether the writer really is interested in the subject. Some people even like research too much. There should be enough time spent on research to have a good, correct story but there is the risk of spending too much time researching. There has to be a limit so that the story can get written.

Today's picture book - Penny the Penguin