Advice

Advice to aspiring writers

of speculative genres

As it happens, I have all sorts of useful advice for an "unpublished" writer. My first six writing months, I sent all the wrong stories to all the wrong places. Then, the next six months, I sent the right stories (publishable ms.) to inappropriate markets. And finally, the right stories to the right publications.

I think this is some sort of "rite of passage" all writers have to go through. We stumble around long enough until we finally learn a thing or two.

One recommendation - pick up the 1998 Writer's Market at the bookstore or your local library. Write to Byline, Housewife's Writers Forum, Calliope and one or two other writers' magazines that appeal to you. Ask for writer's guidelines and buy one sample copy of each. Then, subscribe to one or two that you like. The editors of these zines are much friendlier than Writer's Digest or Poets and Writers.

Since there are two Calliope magazines - I'll give you the address. Besides, the original editor at Calliope published my first book reviews and my first short story. Naturally, I feel a certain fondness for this publication. Feel free to say you heard about them from my web page. Tell 'em I sent you.

Calliope - send fiction only (no subscription requests) to Sandy Raschke, Fiction Editor, POB 466, Moraga, CA 94556-0466.
For sample copies, subscription or membership info or to submit a nonfiction article - Cynthia M. Scribner, General Editor, POB 758, Cortaro AZ 85642-0758.

Excerpt from guidelines (GL) - "A bi-monthly newsmagazine for writers of any experience... is again open to fiction from 50-2500 words, any genre for readers who are or want-to-be writers, ranging in age from 16-85.
We use 3-4 short stories per issue and are especially looking for mini-mysteries and very short (flash fiction) in any genre for publication dates in 1998. No extreme horror, graphic sex, violence or profanity. Humor especially welcome, good satire appreciated. Standard manuscript (ms.) format. ...Sample copies $3.00.

For your submissions to Calliope and to the following markets, you will need to understand the basics. Standard ms. format is described in any writer's market book. Some basics - use 8 1/2 x 11 bond paper, preferably 20lb. weight. Always double-space and leave 1 1/4 or 1 1/2 inch margins on all sides of the paper.

For a short story ms., your first page should include your name, address and phone number (single spaced) in the upper left hand corner. In the upper right, indicate an approximate word count. Center the name of your story about one-third of the way down the page, skip two lines and center your byline (name). Skip three lines and begin your story. On subsequent pages, put last name and page number in the upper right hand corner.

Always keep a copy. Manuscripts do get lost. Always include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the editor's reply.
For more info on standard manuscript format, check out the excellent articles at SFWA or tips for writers at Writers Refuge. Both sites have dozens links of interest to writers.

Second recommendation - I recommend that you subscribe to a market newsletter such as Scavenger's Newsletter (SCAV) a monthly market zine for SF/Fantasy/Horror/Mystery writers and artists with an interest in the small press.

Scavenger's Newsletter - Janet Fox, Editor, 519 Ellinwood, Osage City, KS 66523-1329. Sample copy $2.50. You can tell Janet I sent you. SCAV does a good job of covering the speculative genres.

Third Recommendation - I also recommend that you join a writer's workshop such as SF & F Workshop which "provides participants with a communication link, a way to exchange ideas, information and news pertaining to the writing of science fiction, fantasy and horror fiction." SF & FW Director Kathleen D. Woodbury, 1193 S 1900 E., Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. Tell Kathleen I sent you.

Fourth recommendation - send a basic letter requesting current guidelines from magazines that sound interesting to you, or in which you would like your stories to appear. Quite often the guidelines will list upcoming theme issues which are easier for a new writer to break into. Also, new magazines on the market are usually more receptive to beginning writers.

ALWAYS include a SASE with your correspondence, manuscript submission or your request for guidelines.

Even though I received guidelines recently from the editors of the following magazines, you'll need to hurry. They quickly close to submissions. These magazines are just starting out and you take the chance they may fold after a few issues, but I say "go for it."

The following are small press publications with an emphasis on horror and dark fantasy that accept submissions from unpublished writers. A cover letter is usually required, but I've heard the editor of The Silver Web hates them.

Magazines

Bare Bone - c/o Kevin L. Donihe, Chief-Editor, 1742 Madison St. Kingsport, TN 37665. Horror. Fiction to 3500 words. Pays in contrib's copy. Excerpt from GL - "...Cover letters are a must. If you wish, include a bio and it will be published. My associates and I are not easily offended. Profanity and sexual situations are okay as long as these elements are integral to the story... Be advised that my associate editors and I prefer psychological/character-driven horror to purely supernatural fare. Try mixing the two, perhaps?" update!

Dread - Tales of the Uncanny and Grotesqye. Bill Hughes, Editor, 173 N. Wilson Rd., #21, Columbus, OH 43204. Horrific/Weird. Fiction to 6k words. FNASR. Pays one contributors copy (cc). No SF or fantasy. Not into vampire or psycho-killer tales. update!

Genre Tango - Victor Gischler, Editor, 8619 N. Davis Hwy #5G, Pensacola FL 32514. Excerpt from GL - "I'm being very picky for the debut issues, but please don't get discouraged. Keep the fiction coming. The horror is fine, but I'd like to see a little more fantasy and SF. Also, I'd really like to see more genre blending: detective/SF, horror/western, that sort of thing. Here is what I DON'T want. Stories in the present tense, stories in the 2nd person or "you" point of view, stories that just set a mood rather than following a strong plot. And just a reminder, all stories MUST have some sort of sf/f/h element even if it's subtle." Payment is in one copy of the magazine.
Tip - no word limits given, but 2k-4k is normal in the small press. Usually the shorter the better - for a first time submission to a particular magazine.

Indigenous Fiction - Sherry Decker, Editor, PO Box 2078, Redmond WA 98073-2078. F/DF/SF/Mystery/Horror/Literary. One time rights. Fiction: lengths mostly 3k-5k words; pays $10-20. Fiction; prefer stories with elements of fantasy, magic, supernatural or the "unexplained." Specific writer's GL available. Tip - enclose SASE!, brief cover letter; include bio and credits, if any.

Mindmares - Tracy Martin, Editor, 18503 NE 158th St., Brush Prairie, WA 98606. H/DF/dark SF/occult/supernatural. Fiction to 4k words. One time rights. Pays one cc. Excerpt from GL - "Focusing on H/SF and the bizarre. Especially drawn to those stories with strange twists and mind play, the really psychotic stories." Also now featuring reviews and interviews. Articles to 1500 words will focus on the true bizarre, the unexplainable, but true. Update!

Nightmares - Josh Bingham, Editor, 932 Brook St., Piqua, OH 45356-3628. Weekly newsletter is looking for fiction and poetry. Traditional horror. Fiction to 100-1000 words. Poetry 1-30 lines. Pays in copies.

Penny Dreadful: Tales and Poems of Fantastic Terror - M. Malefica Grendelwolf Pendragon Le Fay, Editor and Publisher, 407 W. 50th St., #16, Hell's Kitchen, NY 10019. Horror: gothic/romantic. Fiction 500 to 2500 words. Poetry to three pages. Pays in copies. Update!.

The Black Abyss - Ms. Cinsearae S., c/o The Black Abyss, 1616 E. Barringer St., Philadelphia PA 19150-3304. H/DF/Occult. Fiction to 2k words. Pays in one copy. Excerpt from GL - "Welcome to The Black Abyss where anything goes when it comes to horror! Published Mar/Jun/Sep/Dec. Open to submissions year round and you will always be indicated of [sic] what issue your work will appear in, plus get a personal response to your work! MY promise. I appreciate true horror, things that make my skin crawl. I also love Twilight Zonish suff. Dark fantasy or occult writings are up my alley, too. ...No blood and gore and body-chop stories. I want to scare, not turn heads away in disgust!"
Update!

69 Flavors of Paranoia - hARMFul Productions, Rycke and Miranda Foreman, Editors, 2816 Rio Vista Ct., Farmington NM 87401-4557. Erotica/SF/F/H/experimental ...and underground. Fiction: 2500 word max; prefers 500-1500 words. Payment two contrib's copies. Excerpt from GL - "tips: explicit language okay but must be vital to the story. Mood is considered priority ONE at 69FoP; if it pumps our gonads we'll publish it. Eager to work with new/unpublished writers. ...Publication time 8-30 months. Bylines: given. Disposable mss encouraged."
update!. Closed to short story submissions thru 1999. Still open to poetry.

The Reaper - Michael Gonchar, Editor/Publisher, Miway Publishing, POB 1020, Poolesville MD 20837. Horror, (themed issues). Fiction 1k-3k words. Tip - Looking for horrific tales that send shivers down the spine. May be erotic, but no gratuitous sex or violence. ...Try to frighten the readers, not gross them out.

White Knuckles - John R. Platt, Editor, POB 973, New Providence NJ 07974-0973. Horror/Suspense/Mystery. Fiction 2k-5k words (nothing longer or shorter accepted). Tip - looking for exciting, edge-of-your-seat, character driven fiction... Stories should be heavy on plot and conflict. Stories that mix genres are always welcome. Update!

On-line Ezines

Twilight Times - a digital journal of speculative fiction. Seeking literary SF/F, slipstream and quirky mainstream fiction, poetry, essays, artwork and music. One graphic fantasy artist featured each issue. Fiction to 5000 words. Essays to 1000 words. Poetry to 30 lines. Open to submissions until 6-15-99. Send submissions in the body of an email message, no attachments. Use a blank line between paragraphs. Update!

Alternate Realities Webzine - Geoffry Lucier, Editor. SF/F/H. Fiction to 5000 words.

The Inflated Graveworm - A Journal of Dark Literature. David Powers, Editor. FNA Electronic Rights. Fiction to 4k words. Prefers attached files (.txt or .rtf) and not in the body of the email. [[note from LQ - formerly a print zine, now a webzine.]]

Since I really would like for you to have these writing tips, you may copy this page only of my web site without my written permission. But please do give me credit for the advice contained herein. And let me know if these writing tips benefited you personally. Thanks!

And thanks to Scavenger's Newsletter for info on White Knuckles and the update on Mindmares.
Thanks to The Gila Queen's Guide to Markets for info on Indigenous Fiction and the update on 69 Flavors of Paranoia.

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