tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post1080490134372304195..comments2024-03-18T19:00:03.047-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Now, That's a Different StoryLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15292686428709403752015-08-02T14:04:43.337-04:002015-08-02T14:04:43.337-04:00Thank you, Susan--good to see you here. I do long...Thank you, Susan--good to see you here. I do long for the days when SO many magazines accepted short fiction--but thank goodness there are still some around. As for AHMM and WW, they're good markets and I'm glad to hear you're trying them with your stories. <br /><br />Best to you in ALL your literary endeavors.<br /><br />John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-72727191683088391712015-08-02T12:40:53.134-04:002015-08-02T12:40:53.134-04:00As always, John, your essay is useful and insightf...As always, John, your essay is useful and insightful. I love writing and reading short fiction, and I am still surprised that it seems to be falling out of favor with magazines of any sort. I tend to send the few stories I finish to my satisfaction to one place or two places, AHMM, and WW, which doesn't seem to care for my efforts. Sigh. I learn something new from every one of your posts, so perhaps my track record will improve.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02693057997469296068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18949250400776809172015-08-02T02:39:17.772-04:002015-08-02T02:39:17.772-04:00Many thanks, Earl! The truth is, everything I lea...Many thanks, Earl! The truth is, everything I learned, I learned from you!!<br /><br />Take care, old friend.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-5247654614465285342015-08-02T00:06:27.230-04:002015-08-02T00:06:27.230-04:00
The Professor is in the house! ;-) John, a post...<br />The Professor is in the house! ;-) John, a post from you is like going to school, except the lessons come from hands-on experience rather than textbooks. Thanks for sharing. Earl Staggshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13349667172813175960noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-43975423252625413872015-08-01T23:12:53.279-04:002015-08-01T23:12:53.279-04:00Liz, how kind of you! (Your check is in the mail....Liz, how kind of you! (Your check is in the mail.) Actually, I've had a couple editors tell me I submitted to them so many times I finally just wore 'em down.<br /><br />I wish there were a secret key to all this (if there is, I've not yet found it), but I do think it's important to keep as many stories out there under consideration as possible, at any one time. And, as I believe someone said in one of the comments, writing in several different genres--or at least combining genres now and then--helps to keep the writing interesting to the writer. I know that writing something one day and something totally different the next day is one of the things that makes all this fun, at least to me.<br /><br />I hope too that you like the SE Post story. Please let me know . . .John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-27862185532393531152015-08-01T22:10:07.613-04:002015-08-01T22:10:07.613-04:00John, you make getting published--whatever the gen...John, you make getting published--whatever the genre and whatever the market--sound easy in the same way that your stories make writing look easy, or maybe "effortless" is a better word. The secret ingredient in your success is that you're such a wonderful writer. Looking forward to reading the SEP story. Elizabeth Zelvinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13944424094949207841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-87718167355031715332015-08-01T21:58:27.756-04:002015-08-01T21:58:27.756-04:00Thanks, Nina. Despite all the talk about dwindlin...Thanks, Nina. Despite all the talk about dwindling markets, there are some that are still there exclusively for short mysteries: AH, EQ, Strand, WW, Over My Dead Body, Sherlock Holmes Mystery Mag., Crimespree, Thuglit, Mysterical-E, and others. And seriously, don't ignore the literary mags and journals, and publications for other genres as well. Best of luck with all your submissions!<br /><br />Kaye, good to hear from you! Yes, do try some of these unlikely markets sometime--I'm often surprised to find that they're receptive to crime stories even though they don't advertise the fact.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84891880244134193912015-08-01T21:30:31.636-04:002015-08-01T21:30:31.636-04:00Thanks for reminding us of what we all probably su...Thanks for reminding us of what we all probably suspected. We should be trying everything! I don't have too much time for short stories lately, so the ones I do write ARE for a specific market, but I'll keep everything you've said in mind for when I get more time to concentrate on shorts.Kaye Georgehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05596677617002735674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-22228644349519006482015-08-01T21:23:32.298-04:002015-08-01T21:23:32.298-04:00Great post, and very timely for me as I am startin...Great post, and very timely for me as I am starting to write and submit short mystery fiction again.Nina Mansfieldhttp://www.ninamansfield.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-55692464244482878282015-08-01T18:50:43.901-04:002015-08-01T18:50:43.901-04:00Jeff, I would imagine Hoch could sell anything to ...Jeff, I would imagine Hoch could sell anything to any market he wanted to. And you probably know this already, but the "anthologies" tab at the Ralan's Webstravaganza site is a great place to find the latest antho calls for submissions.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39101913750247979212015-08-01T18:43:48.899-04:002015-08-01T18:43:48.899-04:00Eve, you're right--the submission process can ...Eve, you're right--the submission process can take a lot of time. Researching markets, creating cover letters, formatting manuscripts, and--if they're snailmailed--addressing envelopes, going to the P.O., etc. Not to mention the tracking and recordkeeping that has to be done.<br /><br />As for the speed of the writing itself, I think that's as different as a fingerprint, for everyone. Maybe the secret is to imitate James Patterson and find a lot of good writers to collaborate with.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-81706616573620927902015-08-01T18:37:01.497-04:002015-08-01T18:37:01.497-04:00Thanks for the thoughts and advice, John! Asimov&#...Thanks for the thoughts and advice, John! Asimov's published an Edward D. Hoch story in its first issue. I've published a few stories in the small press anthologies, but I try to keep my eyes open for new markets!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-67156818198699051852015-08-01T18:10:33.352-04:002015-08-01T18:10:33.352-04:00John, I bet most of us think we get more rejection...John, I bet most of us think we get more rejections than any writer we know. <br />Great article. I, too, generally start at AHMM (thank you, Linda, for all the publications!), and have submitted to other places. I've been published in sci-fi/fantasy markets, in a gardening publication (a story that appeared on this blog, "The Asparagus Bed"), and an outdoors magazine. Hey, there's lots of places out there! My problem is that I really, really, really need to learn to write faster. And more. And then find that 25th/26th hour in the day to do the submissions.Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-36969118901213892502015-08-01T15:25:18.669-04:002015-08-01T15:25:18.669-04:00Followup to A NonniMuss: I must confess that if ev...Followup to A NonniMuss: I must confess that if everything I sent to my first-choice markets were ACCEPTED, I wouldn't have a need to search out other places to submit to. As I've said before at this blog, I bet I get more rejections than any writer I know.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-331840060747739792015-08-01T15:19:12.419-04:002015-08-01T15:19:12.419-04:00Pat, you are correct: You just never know. The on...Pat, you are correct: You just never know. The only thing we can do is target our submissions as carefully as we can and cross our fingers. The one thing I don't usually do is submit stories to contests. Several reasons for that: (1) contests always want previously unpublished stories, and I like to try my new stories at print magazines first, (2) the odds are actually better for getting a story into a good mag or anthology than for winning first place in a big contest, and (3) I hate waiting as long as you sometimes have to wait to hear back from a contest (although wait times are long anywhere, these days, for anything). Also, I absolutely refuse to pay entry fees.<br /><br />Nonni, thanks so much for your kind words. I remain a bit intimidated by English teachers (I was an engineering major), so it's especially nice to hear that!!<br /><br />Jacqueline, thanks for stopping by. I actually think hybrid mysteries are more fun to write, than strictly traditional crime fiction. And I try hard to put an element of humor into almost everything--I am firmly convinced that that makes stories easier to sell.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-27981066346519692582015-08-01T15:08:37.148-04:002015-08-01T15:08:37.148-04:00John,
You give such excellent advice as well as e...John,<br /><br />You give such excellent advice as well as encouragement! I agree with you about Mockingbird. I also see your point about thinking creatively in regard to marketing our fiction. I write hybrid mysteries myself. At times, I like to include elements of romance, humor and the paranormal. It makes for a more interesting story. Jacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-36264826030245220882015-08-01T15:08:14.238-04:002015-08-01T15:08:14.238-04:00John, I enjoy everything you write, even this colu...John, I enjoy everything you write, even this column. You are such a good writing teacher. If I weren't such a good English teacher, I wouldn't know that. You have everything it takes to produce solid, soul satisfying stories. I hope your readers are paying attention because they could not find a better inspiration than you.<br />A. Nonni Musshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02437071284819220423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-45555664511878247062015-08-01T15:06:51.632-04:002015-08-01T15:06:51.632-04:00Wonderful post, John. I do both, write for the ma...Wonderful post, John. I do both, write for the market and write for myself. I have a file of rejected or unsold stories that I dip into when I find a market that said story will fit. Sometimes I send something to a contest, sometimes a new market or call out. I've had a story sit for ten years and then sold it when an anthology popped up...a few changes, a longer version, an new angle...sold.<br /><br />I've sold mysteries with a romance in them because that is what I like to write. I've had romances rejected due to too much mystery and mysteries rejected for too much romance. I've sold mysteries and romance with a touch of paranormal in them. You just never know.<br /><br />My confession. I need to write more, submit more.<br /><br />Can't wait to read your Saturday Evening Post story.Pat Marinellinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-42228749381137124632015-08-01T14:57:27.320-04:002015-08-01T14:57:27.320-04:00Bonnie, I do the same thing--I generally stick to ...Bonnie, I do the same thing--I generally stick to the markets I'm comfortable with and that I've had good luck with. But since I write so darn many stories (and since I get rejections pretty often, too), I've tried to look elsewhere as well. The best strategy is still probably that which Michael mentioned: submit to the most prestigious and/or best-paying markets first and work your way down.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-91093498573421397632015-08-01T13:10:32.019-04:002015-08-01T13:10:32.019-04:00I enjoyed your post, John, and it reminded me that...I enjoyed your post, John, and it reminded me that I should try more markets. I tend to keep going back to the same few markets, and to get discouraged and give up on stories after one rejection. I need to be both more adventurous and more determined. You've just about convinced me to open up the "Rejected" file and give one of those stories a second try, maybe at a publication I've never tried before. Will I actually do it? I hope so. I'll let you know.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17673578800047888317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-56069992998308646612015-08-01T12:35:22.652-04:002015-08-01T12:35:22.652-04:00Thanks, Bobbi. The truth is (as you know), there ...Thanks, Bobbi. The truth is (as you know), there are an awful lot more markets for nonfiction (short AND long) than for fiction. But dreaming things up is certainly a lot more fun . . .John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-24739040579270475952015-08-01T12:21:13.253-04:002015-08-01T12:21:13.253-04:00Great post, John! Thank you for the information. I...Great post, John! Thank you for the information. It's a good reminder to look elsewhere for possible markets. This was a lesson I learned years ago when I focused on non-fiction articles. I need to apply it to my short stories, too.Bobbi A. Chukran, Authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16678371925926783260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-46220098882962748412015-08-01T11:18:20.994-04:002015-08-01T11:18:20.994-04:00Always good to hear from you, Michael. And I agre...Always good to hear from you, Michael. And I agree, you and I are both having to adjust a bit, because of the fact that markets ARE drying up. I truly miss some of the old mystery magazines that just couldn't make a go of it.<br /><br />I also know what you mean about being constricted by market requirements, and that there is indeed a certain freedom in being able to write exactly what you want to write. As for form rejections, hey, they're just a part of submitting--even for veterans like you and me.<br /><br />To Madeline, who commented offlist: Best of luck to you, and keep me posted!<br /><br />John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-280450610091161422015-08-01T10:53:54.671-04:002015-08-01T10:53:54.671-04:00Much of my short crime fiction has appeared in non...Much of my short crime fiction has appeared in non-mystery publications. Unfortunately, many of those publications have disappeared or have reduced the amount of fiction they publish.<br /><br />For several years (details in the guest post I wrote for you a while back), nearly every piece of fiction I wrote was for a specific market, either by invitation of an editor, or to fit a specific call for submission, or because the editor had previously purchased several stories from me.<br /><br />That changed a bit early last year for two reasons: 1) Publishing was shifting, causing some of my regular markets to dry up, and 2) I had several unfinished stories for which there was no obvious market.<br /><br />I'm still writing most of my short fiction for specific markets, but I've also been finishing those unfinished stories that have no obvious markets. I've learned two things from doing this: 1) Some of the joy of writing has returned because I am not constrained by market limitations, and 2) My ratio of submissions to sales is turning to shit.<br /><br />I'm writing in genres I've not touched in several years, submitting to editors and publications with which I have no pre-existing connections, and I'm back to the tried-and-true submission process of best market first and work down. This is a humbling experience. While I've received a few incredibly nice rejection letters of the "almost, but not quite" variety, I've also received a fair number of form rejections. And I'm not accustomed to seeing form rejections.<br /><br />What's that Chumbawumba song? I get knocked down, but I get up again. That's what writers with long careers do.Michael Brackenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01072019804281421944noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-25005094922791777642015-08-01T09:47:50.020-04:002015-08-01T09:47:50.020-04:00Melodie, congrats on the contest win, and the nomi...Melodie, congrats on the contest win, and the nomination for the Arthur Ellis. I too have written for Star Magazine, though my one story there wasn't crime fiction. I realize now that I didn't specifically mention that the mystery markets are dwindling, but you're right, they are--and we just have to explore other places to send those stories.<br /><br />Another point, especially regarding your and my fiction, is that humorous stories can fit in at many different kinds of markets. John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.com