Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums - View Single Post - Anyone with magazine publishing experience?

Teresa Edgerton · 17th April 2007, 08:08 PM

But Simon, the kind of exclusivity you are talking about (800+ submissions a month, only a handful accepted), always comes with professional rates of payment.

Michael, I was thinking in terms of credits that would qualify someone for membership in an organization like SFWA; I should have been thinking in broader terms.

But that hypothetical editor at Asimov's isn't going to give more favorable consideration to a story no matter how many credits, professional or otherwise, the writer has, unless those credits are such that they provide a fair degree of name recognition for the author. Basically, in terms of career building, credits only have significance if they're on a comparable level to the market you are trying to crack. And even so, with prior credits or without them, almost always the story still has to sell itself.

To answer your question: Yes, you would almost certainly get more submissions if you pay for stories, even if it's only a small sum. And if you are trying to build a reputation, semi-pro magazines garner more attention than non-paying or pays-in-copies.

Just to give you an idea of what SFWA considers a professional publication (and of course other organizations and individuals may have other definitions, but a lot of writers are looking for credits that will get them into SFWA) here are their requirements:

Payment for all works of fiction (other than reprints or serializations), either in advance of publication or on publication, at the rate of either (a) at least $2000 for a single work or (b) at least 5c/word
and
Must have published consistently for a period of at least one year before the market will be considered qualifying
and
Must have a print run or circulation of at least 1000 copies, or the equivalent in other media (e.g., demonstrated downloads in electronic media); and

Is not self-publication, vanity press, or other type of author-paid or fee-charging press, as demonstrated such as (1) by having published at least ten distinct works by different natural persons during the date range; and (2) by authors not having paid or been requested to pay fees or give consideration of any kind.

17th April 2007, 08:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Teresa Edgerton Ink-stained Wretch Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: California Posts: 4,611	Re: Anyone with magazine publishing experience? But Simon, the kind of exclusivity you are talking about (800+ submissions a month, only a handful accepted), always comes with professional rates of payment. Michael, I was thinking in terms of credits that would qualify someone for membership in an organization like SFWA; I should have been thinking in broader terms. But that hypothetical editor at Asimov's isn't going to give more favorable consideration to a story no matter how many credits, professional or otherwise, the writer has, unless those credits are such that they provide a fair degree of name recognition for the author. Basically, in terms of career building, credits only have significance if they're on a comparable level to the market you are trying to crack. And even so, with prior credits or without them, almost always the story still has to sell itself. To answer your question: Yes, you would almost certainly get more submissions if you pay for stories, even if it's only a small sum. And if you are trying to build a reputation, semi-pro magazines garner more attention than non-paying or pays-in-copies. Just to give you an idea of what SFWA considers a professional publication (and of course other organizations and individuals may have other definitions, but a lot of writers are looking for credits that will get them into SFWA) here are their requirements: Payment for all works of fiction (other than reprints or serializations), either in advance of publication or on publication, at the rate of either (a) at least $2000 for a single work or (b) at least 5c/word and Must have published consistently for a period of at least one year before the market will be considered qualifying and Must have a print run or circulation of at least 1000 copies, or the equivalent in other media (e.g., demonstrated downloads in electronic media); and Is not self-publication, vanity press, or other type of author-paid or fee-charging press, as demonstrated such as (1) by having published at least ten distinct works by different natural persons during the date range; and (2) by authors not having paid or been requested to pay fees or give consideration of any kind.