A Question for our Writers...

[Klaus]

...since we are blessed w/quite a few professionals here, I thought I'd ask a question both for myself and for others here trying to break in.

Where would you suggest trying to sell genre short- and medium-length stories other than the old-school Big Three of Analog, F&SF, and Asimov's?

[FluffyUnbound]

Zombie Klaus wrote:

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...since we are blessed quite a few professionals here, I thought I'd ask a question both for myself and for others here trying to break in.

Where would you suggest trying to sell genre short- and medium-length stories other than the old-school Big Three of Analog, F&SF, and Asimov's?

If you have several genre stories, you could put them together into an anthology and sell them for the Kindle on Amazon.

There are zero up-front costs to doing so.

You don't get a publication credit, but you can sell some copies, get reader feedback and reviews, and get your name out there.

As noted in my sig, I am selling a title on the Kindle right now, and I have nothing but good things to say about the process.

Of course, I should put a disclaimer here that for some people, Kindle publishing will not be the way to go. Some people who subscribe to the traditional genre writer "career path" would say that publishing that way takes you off that path. So you have to consider that, too.

[Greg Cox]

To be honest, it's been a while since I tried breaking into the magazines so I'm a bit out of the loop. Still, my Clarion instructors beat it into my head that you should always start with the best-paying markets and work your way down. Don't pre-reject yourself by not starting at the top. (That used to be OMNI, but, alas, they're no longer around.)

It also helps to be familiar with the magazines and what sort of stories they publish. You don't want to waste your time by sending your vampire unicorn story to ANALOG. Better off trying F&SF or REALMS OF FANTASY.

There used to be a book published annually, THE WRITER'S MARKET, that listed all the markets, their pay rates, and publication demands. Is that still around? I imagine there's probably an on-line equivalent these days.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

[Christopher]

Here's a good online list of genre markets:

http://ralan.com/

And one for markets in general, searchable by category:

http://www.duotrope.com/index.aspx

[Misfit Toy]

I'm just waiting for some of our writers here to form their own religion.

[Robert Maxwell]

Misfit Toy wrote:

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I'm just waiting for some of our writers here to form their own religion.

It will be centered around me. This will, of course, make it largely a mystery religion.

[Christopher]

^The mystery being why anyone would convert to it?

[Australis]

It might be different in the US, but here in Oz local libraries carry a copy of the Australian Writers' Market in the Reference section (which means it can't be loaned, always on shelf). See if yours has one.

There are a lot of online places too. Another one to try might the Brit mag Interzone.

[Robert Maxwell]

Christopher wrote:

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^The mystery being why anyone would convert to it?

And also, "who the hell is this guy and why does he have his own religion?"

[Klaus]

I think I'd rather worship Zod...

Well thank you very much for all the suggestions, I really appreciate the help and I'm sure others do too. I have 3 stories done but the big 3 have all politely declined them lol. Hopefully these ideas and links will help me and others.

Thanks again!