I've received the official confirmation from ASIM this morning for the sale of my short story "Scars of the Flame". It goes something like this: "We'd like to publish your story in so-and-so...Assuming this is acceptable, the editor will be in touch with more details."
I'm clearly supposed to answer something. What? "This is acceptable, thank you very much"? Sorry, I'm not English-born, so I manage the fiction-writing part, but the politeness bits go over my head.
Posted by tchernabyelo (Member # 2651) on :
I'd love to be able to help, but I've never had a letter like that.
I would guess that "Of course you can publish it, why do you think I submnitted the thing?" would NOT be an appropriate reply
Seriously, my suggestion would be to just respond: "Yes, I have no objections at all to your publishing "Scars of the Flame" in so-and-so, and I look forward to hearing from you further with more details."
And congratulations.
Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :
I thought of the first option as well, but I think we writers are the only ones finding it funny I'll go for the second choice. Thanks a lot for the help!
Posted by mikemunsil (Member # 2109) on :
Congrats!!!!
Yep, I was a bit nonplussed when I was asked something similar, and my first impulse was to say something like "Give me some time to think things over. OK, time's up, do it." but I restrained myself and just said "Yes, please do publish it." instead.
Strange, though.
And congrats again!!!
Posted by wbriggs (Member # 2267) on :
It's possible that ASIM accepts simultaneous submissions, in which case it's reasonable although very unlikely that an author may change his mind. So, yes, it's a reasonable question---although I wouldn't have asked, if I were them.
Posted by Elan (Member # 2442) on :
Odd statements like that may be prompted by prior problems. Here's a scenerio: Maybe somewhere along the line they published someone's story, and that person had simultaneously submitted to another publisher and gotten accepted at a higher rate, then came back and threw a hissy fit when ASIM had already published it.
It's like my friends who go rafting. When they bought a new raft, the instructions said: Do not eat raft.
You just KNOW there is some stupid person out there who tried to take them to court because they didn't warn people the raft wasn't edible.
[This message has been edited by Elan (edited November 23, 2005).]
Posted by MaryRobinette (Member # 1680) on :
If you haven't already replied, just pretend that the email said, "Congratulations!" and respond with, "Thank you, I'm delighted."
Posted by Silver3 (Member # 2174) on :
Thanks everyone ! Yeah, it occurred to me as I read the thing that they probably had prior problems with authors. I settled for "I'll be glad to have my story published in ASIM#28 and I look forward to hearing from the editor." Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :
Hey Congrats Silver,
I was about to submit to ASIM, but they are in a non-reading period from December 1 and my backside doesn't get into gear until January.
