tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post2110642897807617440..comments2024-03-29T11:16:37.695-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Hope to Hear from You SoonLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-39546880386992217482022-10-29T19:07:07.772-04:002022-10-29T19:07:07.772-04:00Elisabeth, yes they do. My rule is to not a story...Elisabeth, yes they do. My rule is to not a story more than once every two months, because that is their publication rate and I don't want to compete with myself.Robert Loprestihttps://roblopresti.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40627531734608343392022-10-27T16:26:32.443-04:002022-10-27T16:26:32.443-04:00Such a helpful post; thank you. One question: you ...Such a helpful post; thank you. One question: you mentioned having multiple stories "in the queue" at the same magazine. I can't find anything in either AHMM's or EQMM's submission guidelines about multiple submissions—do they indeed allow you to submit more stories while still waiting to hear about earlier ones?Elisabeth Grace Foleyhttp://www.elisabethgracefoley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-88602534029413281812021-07-04T22:54:13.001-04:002021-07-04T22:54:13.001-04:00Thanks John and Leigh! (Keep your fingers crossed!...Thanks John and Leigh! (Keep your fingers crossed!)Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-38395465055819729512021-07-04T10:01:59.930-04:002021-07-04T10:01:59.930-04:00Oh, Leigh, I've worked with Vladimir and Estra...Oh, Leigh, I've worked with Vladimir and Estragon many times - fun guys, but they don't focus well.Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-73868165385975241222021-07-04T09:56:16.963-04:002021-07-04T09:56:16.963-04:00Good points, Josh. I agree that Mystery Weekly ha...Good points, Josh. I agree that Mystery Weekly has gotten better and better, and Kerry's a great editor to work with. And you're right, about payment--I sold my 8th story to Mystery Weekly last week, and she sent me a contract and paid me that same day. Hard to complain about that.<br /><br />Another thing I might mention: Like AHMM, Mystery Weekly sometimes seems open to stories that contain a paranormal or otherworldly element--unlike EQMM, Strand, BCMM, and WW. <br /><br />Thanks for the observations!!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-62132304835101093542021-07-04T09:30:38.051-04:002021-07-04T09:30:38.051-04:00My experiences with the pubs you've mentioned ...My experiences with the pubs you've mentioned fall right in line with yours, John.<br /><br />A couple of additional comments re Mystery Weekly. Over the last year or so, I think Kerry's begun receiving a lot more submissions than she used to, and that explains why it's taking her a bit longer to respond than it did say eighteen months and more ago. On the other hand, when she takes a story she sends a contract almost instantly, and payment is made <i>the same day</i> by PayPal! Her rates are low, but she recently doubled them from a penny to two cents a word, with a minimum of $25 regardless of length, and that's better than quite a few other markets are paying. She and Chuck are doing a fine job with MW, and IMHO the magazine gets better every issue. The only thing I'd suggest is that they really ought to send contributors a free copy of the print edition; MW is the <i>only</i> place that publishes me that, if I want a hard copy for my bookshelves — and I always do — I have to pay for it. That's a relatively minor quibble, though; the good far outweighs the, I don't want to say "bad," so I'll leave it at ungood....joshpachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12123432071405643210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-41889634730184533622021-07-03T22:26:18.881-04:002021-07-03T22:26:18.881-04:00What a great way to start publishing, Leigh! As I...What a great way to start publishing, Leigh! As I've said before, early acceptances give the writer a lot of needed encouragement and confidence. And to get an award for that story, too . . . Wow!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-8567019381329148232021-07-03T22:05:32.531-04:002021-07-03T22:05:32.531-04:00I hadn't seen that, Elizabeth. Thanks!I hadn't seen that, Elizabeth. Thanks!Leigh Lundinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-40367545003612583712021-07-03T22:00:52.921-04:002021-07-03T22:00:52.921-04:00Congratulations, Jeff!Congratulations, Jeff!Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-6570163603250916712021-07-03T21:59:47.586-04:002021-07-03T21:59:47.586-04:00I had written off hearing back from an editor when...I had written off hearing back from an editor when I received a surprise phone call from her, saying she wanted to publish my story. It became my first published story and later won an award. You never know.<br /><br />In the meantime, I've submitted numerous stories to Godot Publications (Vladimir and Estragon, editors).Leigh Lundinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-45491811350204037392021-07-03T21:59:12.328-04:002021-07-03T21:59:12.328-04:00Jeff, that's great news! I once had a story a...Jeff, that's great news! I once had a story accepted after a two-year wait, but six years?!? Keep me posted on this--I look forward to reading that story!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-57498194796694765122021-07-03T21:03:59.391-04:002021-07-03T21:03:59.391-04:00Thanks for the insights! I got word around March t...Thanks for the insights! I got word around March that a story I sent to an anthology and had been accepted in 2015 (!!!) is going to be published after all! This after waiting about five years and the editor saying the book was in Limbo (and after my sending it off to a few other markets in 2020---all rejected!) May come out in October after six years! I don't have a lot of patience, but I can fake it! :) Glad you have patience, John!Jeff Bakerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00316081079528920123noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-20604874622211168982021-07-03T17:34:57.643-04:002021-07-03T17:34:57.643-04:00You're very kind, Elizabeth--thank you. Those...You're very kind, Elizabeth--thank you. Those six stories' inclusion were a real surprise to me!<br /><br />As for WW guidelines, they're often hard to come by. For what it's worth, the ed.'s name is Alex Pollock, advertised wordcount for the mysteries is 700 (though they prefer much less), and payment (as mentioned earlier) is $450. Wordcount for romances is 800 and payment is (I think) $720.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-59257681212123397992021-07-03T17:29:43.577-04:002021-07-03T17:29:43.577-04:00Good luck with that revision, Steve, and with the ...Good luck with that revision, Steve, and with the four outstanding stories too.<br /><br />I too have four stories sitting at AHMM awaiting a decision.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-209087512674676252021-07-03T17:28:18.662-04:002021-07-03T17:28:18.662-04:00Hey Melodie. I once heard that the best thing eve...Hey Melodie. I once heard that the best thing ever to happen to writers was electronic submissions, and the worst thing ever to happen to writers was . . . electronic submissions. Because of the fact that it had now become so easy to submit, everyone was doing it and the competition was now bigger than ever.<br /><br />What a scary thing, to have violated the simsub rule that one time and get caught! I bet that WAS a lesson learned. It's always made me nervous, to the extent that I very very rarely submit simultaneously.<br /><br />Thanks so much for the thoughts!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-86137834996188726462021-07-03T17:23:36.298-04:002021-07-03T17:23:36.298-04:00Happy Fourth to you too, Adam! Yep, I love the fa...Happy Fourth to you too, Adam! Yep, I love the fact that you can check your submitted story's status, at Mystery Weekly. (It seems you can wait a few hours and check again and it's always changed, right up until the time you get the go/no-go decision--so they move fast in every way.)<br /><br />Thank you as always for stopping in, here!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84561762053694865382021-07-03T16:31:19.479-04:002021-07-03T16:31:19.479-04:00John, you're so modest you didn't mention ...John, you're so modest you didn't mention the six stories you have in the little book "2 minute mini mysteries" recently published by Woman's World! Subtitled "40 cases, can YOU crack them all?" On the last page, there's an incomplete set of guidelines for writing & submitting a mystery to them. It's all good advice, but doesn't mention anything about the fiction editor's name, story length, payment, & other things that might factor into a decision to publish a story or not.Elizabeth Dearbornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14714209544959819305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-28034388135078498472021-07-03T16:11:04.663-04:002021-07-03T16:11:04.663-04:00I just checked my spreadsheet. I currently have 14...I just checked my spreadsheet. I currently have 14 stories in submission purgatory SOMEWHERE, and four of them are at Alfred. I received a rejection from them about two weeks ago and am revising that story, too.Steve Liskowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07107703903536520140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-76795599867793381362021-07-03T15:30:35.679-04:002021-07-03T15:30:35.679-04:00My experience matches yours, John! I do find it t...My experience matches yours, John! I do find it takes longer to get replies now than it did before digital submissions. Back 10, 15 years ago, there were a lot fewer writers willing to spend stamp and envelope on submissions, I guess. Wish we weren't still stuck with no simultaneous submissions, and have to report that the one time I ignored the rule, I got caught with two mags wanting the story. Not my classier moment. Lesson learned.Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-83434034047307012202021-07-03T15:01:41.879-04:002021-07-03T15:01:41.879-04:00John, as always a very useful column! My experien...John, as always a very useful column! My experience on wait times has been similar. And I love Mystery Weekly not only for the fast responses one way or the other, but also because I know I can check where my story is in the queue (sort of like counting other shoppers ahead of me in the grocery store checkout line). Anyway, happy 4th!Adam Meyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13002576075065193119noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-34766261883890808872021-07-03T13:50:33.912-04:002021-07-03T13:50:33.912-04:00Me too, Eve! Awhile back I got a rejection, and w...Me too, Eve! Awhile back I got a rejection, and within an hour that story was back out to someone else with NO changes--and it sold right away. All this is an inexact science for sure, and the only way to be successful is to keep trying. <br /><br />Many thanks for the comment!John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-87107246436261120022021-07-03T13:48:32.240-04:002021-07-03T13:48:32.240-04:00Susan, I know well how successful you've been ...Susan, I know well how successful you've been at AHMM--congratulations! <br /><br />I love your note that these long waits can give us time to be optimistic. How true! What's funny to me is that I often have such high hopes for stories than eventually get rejected, and how surprised I am that others get snapped up right away. Just shows what a poor judge I am of my own writing.<br /><br />Thanks as always for sharing your thoughts here.John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-27216607170202807132021-07-03T13:47:00.590-04:002021-07-03T13:47:00.590-04:00Totally agree with all of your post, John. I'...Totally agree with all of your post, John. I'm willing to wait for the right place; but as soon as I know for sure it's a rejection, after a quick sulk and check for anything I can do to improve it, the story goes out again!Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-10716936202076768732021-07-03T13:19:40.037-04:002021-07-03T13:19:40.037-04:00It's encouraging to read that your experiences...It's encouraging to read that your experiences are not so different from mine. Waiting to hear can be frustrating but at least it gives me time to be optimistic. I haven't cracked The Strand yet, nor EQMM, but I'm glad to say AHMM has been good to me.Susan Oleksiwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09160467661648533041noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-26123209287974108472021-07-03T13:17:00.687-04:002021-07-03T13:17:00.687-04:00I used "usually" a lot of times in that ...I used "usually" a lot of times in that past response to a comment. I think folks who use a lot of usuallys are usually trying not to be pinned down on anything specific . . .John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.com