I've got an idea for a story that, at the moment, I haven't entire fleshed out. I was wondering how I would go about submitting it to Pocket Books or Simon & Schuster.
Submissions to Pocket Books
- Thread starter RikerLover
- Start date
Here's the link to the submission guidelines, now that the new S&S site is kinda sorta underway:
Star Trek: Novel Submission Guidelines
A few particulars might be dated here and there (it still refers to the SNW contests, for example), but it's still looks largely to be current so far as the really important stuff is concerned.
Star Trek: Novel Submission Guidelines
A few particulars might be dated here and there (it still refers to the SNW contests, for example), but it's still looks largely to be current so far as the really important stuff is concerned.
Be sure to read the guidelines carefully. It's not an "open submissions" policy with respect to the novels. The SNW-related information is out of date, and no longer valid.
This part is a key component to keep in mind:
This part is a key component to keep in mind:
Thank you Dayton. My idea is for a Titan story which I gather hasn't changed from only established Trek writers' being able to submit manuscripts.
^^Nobody would be able to submit a manuscript for something like Titan. The spec outline and sample chapters you submit are really more a test of your writing ability, as well as your ability to follow the instructions laid out in the guidelines. If you pass that test, then the editor may offer you a shot at a different project, or invite you to pitch a new proposal. It would be rather unusual for a spec outline to end up as a published book. And of course you shouldn't write a whole manuscript in advance, just the outline and sample chapters.
Also, as has been noted on here in the past by Christopher and others, it's actually a lot harder getting a gig writing Trek than it is getting a gig writing original stuff, at least in terms of the ratio between people that want to get that job and people that actually do. If you're an aspiring writer, it's probably a much better idea to aim for original things than try to restrict your possibilities to one publishing line with limited spots and many well-respected authors already filling them.
Yes, I'll continue to pursue publishing my original stuff. Thanks.
I had mistakenly thought that Pocket books had reverted back to an open submissions policy (assuming it ever had one; I'm not sure), until Dayton cleared that point up for me.
Thanks again to everybody. I'll now rewrite the few Trek story ideas I had into original stories.
Sean
I had mistakenly thought that Pocket books had reverted back to an open submissions policy (assuming it ever had one; I'm not sure), until Dayton cleared that point up for me.
Thanks again to everybody. I'll now rewrite the few Trek story ideas I had into original stories.
Sean
I'll now rewrite the few Trek story ideas I had into original stories.
Just make sure they really are original in their characters and approach. SF editors already get plenty of submissions that are obvious Trek stories with the names changed, and those get rejected right away.
I did that, and I still keep getting rejected by Asimov's! What, is Commander John Perk of the NSEA Endeavour and his battles against the devious Remulans and the reptillian Rorn not original enough? Who ever heard of the Rorn? This stuff is great!
I'll now rewrite the few Trek story ideas I had into original stories.
Just make sure they really are original in their characters and approach. SF editors already get plenty of submissions that are obvious Trek stories with the names changed, and those get rejected right away.
Yep. I changed the name of my hero to Captain John Perk.
No, seriously, I've been busy working on a background for the past few years for my stories. I've just recently started writing, now.
Oh, wait...uh, you're using John Perk? Looks like I'm gonna have to change the name again.
Sean
I just read the requirements and they say that you can't submit anything post-Nemesis.
Thanks, that's interesting info. Just how much do writers get paid? I imagine they earn a few percent from royalties, but how well do ST books sell? Do they make a good living doing that?
The main money we make is from advances; you don't see any money from royalties until they pay off the advance, and for Trek books that could take many years if ever. For Trek novels, the advances are better than is typical in publishing, to compensate for the fact that the royalties are a smaller percentage (due to there being more people getting a cut).
You can almost never make a good living from writing alone. I'm making a passable living at it, but only because I have a modest lifestyle and I've been pretty prolific in recent years. Plan on keeping your day job.
You can almost never make a good living from writing alone. I'm making a passable living at it, but only because I have a modest lifestyle and I've been pretty prolific in recent years. Plan on keeping your day job.
Thanks for the info, I guess you should write for the love of it, and not the money, which is very Star Trek like
What if you write for the love of money? 
What if you write for the love of money?
You're a visitor to this universe.
We should also get free rent, free food, and unlimited holodeck usage, which is also very Star Trek like.
When my boss asked me when I was going to quit my job, I replied, "The difference between a writer and a pepperoni pizza is a pizza can feed a family of four."
What if you write for the love of money?
Ren ... you're talking crazy!
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