Hatrack River Writers Workshop   
my profile login | search | faq | forum home

  next oldest topic   next newest topic
» Hatrack River Writers Workshop » Forums » Open Discussions About Writing » IGMS

   
Author Topic: IGMS
Greenscreen
Member
Member # 6896

 - posted      Profile for Greenscreen   Email Greenscreen         Edit/Delete Post 
So here I am asking questions about the IGMS, I was curious, what is IGMS. Short story magazine?? How does one write for it. Can a HRer write for it? I'm starting a project and a short story may be the first result and the first succesful project fo my career. OD you think I have a chance at publishing in it?
Posts: 61 | Registered: Nov 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
steffenwolf
Member
Member # 8250

 - posted      Profile for steffenwolf           Edit/Delete Post 
IGMS is Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show, affilited with Hatrack River. There's probably a link straight to it on the top of your forum page (there is for me anyway). If not the address is:

http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com


Posts: 299 | Registered: Oct 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
steffenwolf
Member
Member # 8250

 - posted      Profile for steffenwolf           Edit/Delete Post 
As far as whether you have a chance to get published in it--who knows? Like other magazines, all you can do is try, and maybe you'll find success.
Posts: 299 | Registered: Oct 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Greenscreen
Member
Member # 6896

 - posted      Profile for Greenscreen   Email Greenscreen         Edit/Delete Post 
has anyone here tried?
Posts: 61 | Registered: Nov 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
KayTi
Member
Member # 5137

 - posted      Profile for KayTi           Edit/Delete Post 
I think a lot of us have, and several have been published. I have something sitting in their slush pile right now, I've got my fingers crossed. It's a quirky space story that I thought was a good fit for IGMS. That's the key, really, reading a couple of the issues to find out what kinds of stories they publish, then sending them something like that.

There are plenty of other short story markets out there, so if you're just getting started, have no fear. There's always another market to submit to (I haven't decided what's next if IGMS rejects my submission, but a good friend suggests to always have a fresh envelope ready to slap a new cover letter on a manuscript and send it out the same day you receive a rejection. Many authors would agree. IGMS accepts emailed submissions so it's not quite the right visual, but you get the idea...)


Posts: 1911 | Registered: Mar 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
JamieFord
Member
Member # 3112

 - posted      Profile for JamieFord   Email JamieFord         Edit/Delete Post 
Fellow 2006 Bootcampers, Jose Mojica and Margit Schmitt have both sold stories to IGMS.
Posts: 603 | Registered: Jan 2006  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Bent Tree
Member
Member # 7777

 - posted      Profile for Bent Tree   Email Bent Tree         Edit/Delete Post 
It is a tough market. I'd definately recomend reading a few issues before you submit. I think it is some of the best writing published.
Posts: 1888 | Registered: Jan 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
tchernabyelo
Member
Member # 2651

 - posted      Profile for tchernabyelo   Email tchernabyelo         Edit/Delete Post 
I've sold to it once but have not yet managed to do so again.

Eric James Stone is as close as all get out to being a regular there.


Posts: 1469 | Registered: Jun 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Nick T
Member
Member # 8052

 - posted      Profile for Nick T   Email Nick T         Edit/Delete Post 
Hi,

As Tchernabyelo stated, Eric James Stone has had quite a few stories published there.

It's a market with a good reputation and pay-rate, so it's very competitive. As KayTi said, I wouldn't think of IGMS as your only possible market for the story. Rejections can happen for reasons beyond your control and for reasons unassociated with the the quality of the writing (i.e. not to the editor's personal taste, just published a glut of stories with a similar theme, etc.), so I'd try and think of IGMS as just one of your target venues. If you get in, it would be a huge credit.

Nick


Posts: 712 | Registered: Jun 2008  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
LDWriter2
Member
Member # 9148

 - posted      Profile for LDWriter2   Email LDWriter2         Edit/Delete Post 

On another thread someone thought we should see what OSC said about show since we are on the Hatrack forums. That got me to thinking about IGMS and if there was anything here that could help a writer get into IGMS. There is something here for WotF but not IGMS. This is the latest thread I found. It didn't really say much about writing. But I thought the "how to" would be a good discussion, if it hasn't been discussed so much no one wants to talk about it any more that is. I searched but I could have easily missed something.

I have submitted to them, following what is said on their guidelines, but of course I haven't gotten very far.

Evidently some here have gotten in so do they have any hints or know anything for sure about the type of stories and type of writing. As in how to write that way. Yes, I know read the magazine but even that doesn't always give enough info.



Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
andersonmcdonald
Member
Member # 8641

 - posted      Profile for andersonmcdonald   Email andersonmcdonald         Edit/Delete Post 
I've sent two stories there and received two rejections. The first was a kindly "we're sorry..." But the latest was a bit more encouraging... I hope.


Thank you for offering your story to Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show. We're sorry to tell you that we will not be using it; you are free to submit it elsewhere. However, we would encourage you to send us more of your work for consideration in the future.

Don't know if this means anything, but I'll take whatever I can get. Not sure it means anything.


Posts: 456 | Registered: May 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
genevive42
Member
Member # 8714

 - posted      Profile for genevive42   Email genevive42         Edit/Delete Post 
IGMS is definitely one of the better pro magazines but you shouldn't be trying to tailor your stories just to get into their publication. WotF is different, it's a career builder. IGMS is a good credit but there are others that are equally good or better.

Personally, I start with the big three - Asimov's, Analog and F&SF. Then I move to the other pro-pubs depending on where I think a story may fit. I've gotten a couple of personal rejections from IGMS and a handful of other pro pubs, but never a personal from the big three - not yet.

Edited to add: Check out Duotrope for more market information.
http://www.duotrope.com/index.aspx

[This message has been edited by genevive42 (edited October 09, 2010).]


Posts: 1993 | Registered: Jul 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
snapper
Member
Member # 7299

 - posted      Profile for snapper   Email snapper         Edit/Delete Post 
Hatrack member, skadder (a.k.a Adam Colston) has astory in teh current issue of IGMS. The reviewer on Tangent Online recommended, in fact.
Posts: 3072 | Registered: Dec 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
skadder
Member
Member # 6757

 - posted      Profile for skadder   Email skadder         Edit/Delete Post 
They have just posted a new issue, so I was in the one before (18).
Posts: 2995 | Registered: Oct 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Corky
Member
Member # 2714

 - posted      Profile for Corky   Email Corky         Edit/Delete Post 
andersonmcdonald, it means what it says: they couldn't use the story you sent them, but they are encouraging you to send them other stories.

In other words, they have hopes that something else you've written or that you may write will fit their needs and they'll be able to use it.

Encourage means encourage.


Posts: 603 | Registered: Jul 2005  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
andersonmcdonald
Member
Member # 8641

 - posted      Profile for andersonmcdonald   Email andersonmcdonald         Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks Corky. I just didn't want to make too big of a deal out of it. Yeah, I know it was still a rejection. But since it was different than the first one I got from them I wondered if maybe they saw something in it they liked.
Posts: 456 | Registered: May 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
LDWriter2
Member
Member # 9148

 - posted      Profile for LDWriter2   Email LDWriter2         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:

I've sent two stories there and received two rejections. The first was a kindly "we're sorry..." But the latest was a bit more encouraging... I hope.

Thank you for offering your story to Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show. We're sorry to tell you that we will not be using it; you are free to submit it elsewhere. However, we would encourage you to send us more of your work for consideration in the future.

Don't know if this means anything, but I'll take whatever I can get. Not sure it means anything.


I can relate, I've felt the same way a few times. I've tried to remember if their rejections of my stories have said that and I can't recall. Most other mags say that. One in particular said it in a different way and for one rejection I thought it might be note sent to me personally. But the second rejection said the same thing in exactly the same words so it was only a form letter after all, just worded differently.

At times I wonder if one of these mags ever not say it. One market sent a check list of around eight comments. Of course my story didn't get very far but they checked the send another box also, my first thought was when have they ever not checked that box.


Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
LDWriter2
Member
Member # 9148

 - posted      Profile for LDWriter2   Email LDWriter2         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:

IGMS is definitely one of the better pro magazines but you shouldn't be trying to tailor your stories just to get into their publication. WotF is different, it's a career builder. IGMS is a good credit but there are others that are equally good or better.
Personally, I start with the big three - Asimov's, Analog and F&SF. Then I move to the other pro-pubs depending on where I think a story may fit. I've gotten a couple of personal rejections from IGMS and a handful of other pro pubs, but never a personal from the big three - not yet.

Actually, I now consider IGMS one of the biggies. It's one of the newer ones, those three oldies are still top but I think there's a couple of newer markets that are right below them. But at one time F&SF was the very first market I sent a story to, for SF stories Asimov's and Analog were next. F&SF might have been the first pro market I sent a story to and when they said it didn't quite work for them I was determined to send one that did. I was encouraged in that when, back during my all too short period of good writing, I received a note from F&SF, JJA to be exact.

Still would be nice to have some advice on IGMS.


And I like ralan.com. Usually I check there at least once a month looking for new markets. Pro, Semipro, Pay, Anthos and contests.

[This message has been edited by LDWriter2 (edited October 09, 2010).]


Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Kathleen Dalton Woodbury
Administrator
Member # 59

 - posted      Profile for Kathleen Dalton Woodbury   Email Kathleen Dalton Woodbury         Edit/Delete Post 
Editors really don't have time to encourage authors who haven't shown at least some potential. If you get any kind of "send us something else" message in a rejection, they really mean it.

The last thing an editor needs in a slush pile is more stuff they can't use, so if they think you might be able to send them something they can use, they will certainly ask for it.


Posts: 8826 | Registered: A Long Time Ago!  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
andersonmcdonald
Member
Member # 8641

 - posted      Profile for andersonmcdonald   Email andersonmcdonald         Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks for the info Kathleen. So there's hope...
Posts: 456 | Registered: May 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
EricJamesStone
Member
Member # 1681

 - posted      Profile for EricJamesStone   Email EricJamesStone         Edit/Delete Post 
I'm one of the assistant editors for IGMS. The line about sending more work for consideration in the future requires a little extra effort on our part, so we generally include it only when we've noticed something promising about the story.

The IGMS blog had a couple of posts about what we're looking for (and not looking for) in a story:
http://sideshowfreaks.blogspot.com/2009/12/freak-filter_02.html
http://sideshowfreaks.blogspot.com/2010/07/freak-filter-redux.html


Posts: 1517 | Registered: Jul 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
andersonmcdonald
Member
Member # 8641

 - posted      Profile for andersonmcdonald   Email andersonmcdonald         Edit/Delete Post 
Eric,
I hope I didn't come across as cynical or unappreciative (of IGMS's response). On the contrary, I appreciated it very much. But I got to thinking I'd feel pretty stupid if every rejection contained the same message. Thanks so much for the information. Much appreciated.

Posts: 456 | Registered: May 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
EricJamesStone
Member
Member # 1681

 - posted      Profile for EricJamesStone   Email EricJamesStone         Edit/Delete Post 
Don't worry about it. I'm a writer, too, and I've done my share of rejectomancy.
Posts: 1517 | Registered: Jul 2003  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
LDWriter2
Member
Member # 9148

 - posted      Profile for LDWriter2   Email LDWriter2         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:

I'm one of the assistant editors for IGMS. The line about sending more work for consideration in the future requires a little extra effort on our part, so we generally include it only when we've noticed something promising about the story.

Since I restarted this thread and have also stated my own feelings about that statement, I want to add my own thanks for your time.

Looks like I have to rethink my assumptions. When at least half of your rejections have that statement on their form letter and certain markets always say it, its easy to think of it as just another line on a form like "good luck with the story". Especially when you never get beyond that point.


Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
LDWriter2
Member
Member # 9148

 - posted      Profile for LDWriter2   Email LDWriter2         Edit/Delete Post 
quote:

Don't worry about it. I'm a writer, too, and I've done my share of rejectomancy


Have to remember that term. Except that it sounds kind alike someone trying to speak or raise to the dead.



Posts: 5289 | Registered: Jun 2010  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
andersonmcdonald
Member
Member # 8641

 - posted      Profile for andersonmcdonald   Email andersonmcdonald         Edit/Delete Post 
Rejectomancy... blackest of the Black Arts. Acceptomancy is what I'm in training for.
Posts: 456 | Registered: May 2009  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
Brendan
Member
Member # 6044

 - posted      Profile for Brendan   Email Brendan         Edit/Delete Post 
Ah, I think we'd all like to be acceptomaniacs.
Posts: 789 | Registered: Aug 2007  |  IP: Logged | Report this post to a Moderator
   

   Close Topic   Feature Topic   Move Topic   Delete Topic next oldest topic   next newest topic
 - Printer-friendly view of this topic
Hop To:


Contact Us | Hatrack River Home Page

Copyright © 2008 Hatrack River Enterprises Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.


Powered by Infopop Corporation
UBB.classic™ 6.7.2