posted
Yes, IGMS should qualify as a professional sale.
Edited to add the link to SFWA's list of membership-qualifying publications and publishers (meaning a sale to them qualifies as a professional sale). IGMS is on SFWA's list.
[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited September 17, 2008).]
posted
IGMS has a turnround of about 90 days. I tend not to send a story to it first off simply because of that response time.
Other possible pro venues (depending on genre) are Asimov's, Astounding Stories, Fantasy and Science Fiction, Realms of Fantasy, Strange Horizons, Clarkesworld, Doorways, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
It really is worth doing a fair amount of market research. Duotrope and Ralan's, combined, should tell you plenty and get you a much better idea of where your story might have the best chance of selling.
posted
Try the pro markets anyway. So long as you think it's actually SF (or fantasy), send it to a market that says it wants SF (or fantasy). Even if it doesn't much match what they're publishing, well, they keep saying they want variety in their stories...
Posts: 8809 | Registered: Aug 2005
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(2) And in my experience, mentioning a WOTF semifinalist finish, or even finalist, doesn't make a difference. It's not a true credit. If anything, the story seemed to come back from F&SF even faster.
Edited to add: Definitly don't mention that THAT particular story was the One--because it didn't win, therefore, something must be "wrong" with it from the editor's POV.
[This message has been edited by ChrisOwens (edited September 17, 2008).]
posted
If you send it to Astounding it's going to take a really long time to get back to you. I believe they changed to Analog decades ago.
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posted
Unless the story lacks a speculative element, or directly defies the writers' guidelines posted to the web sites, why not take a shot at Asimov's, Analog, TMoF&SF, etc? They're the top SFWA markets for short fiction. Don't rule them out! Submit. All they can do is reject. Or buy. If you never submit, they can never buy. It's an easy equation.
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posted
So if you can only send it to one place at a time, and hearing back can take months, how do your survive? Have about a dozen stories out at any given time?
Posts: 2195 | Registered: Aug 2006
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quote:Have about a dozen stories out at any given time?
Bingo
Some of us are trying to up our numbers down in the "Writing Challenges" area via something called The Race. Care to join? I'm an embarrassment, but it is actually motivating to me. I've got another window open right now with F&SF's submissions guidelines ... and a to-do to go to Staples to get some better paper to print on.
posted
Don't forget the writer's digest contest! Winners get professional consult on their writing career... okay, if you were wondering... I'm nervous about entering and I don't want to do it alone.
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