agilebrit: (Sad)
[personal profile] agilebrit
Annnnd Won His Soul has garnered its second rejection.

The next place I want to send it to only takes snail mail subs.

The thing is over 15,000 words long. Seventy-four pages, plus cover letter.

Not only is that a large investment in ink and postage and time in line, but, dude. The chances of getting it published in that particular market are vanishingly small. On the other hand, at least I'll know in a week or so if they want it, because they have a nicely fast turnaround time.

But markets that pay professional rates are thin on the ground for something like this. The length is problematic. Duotrope's gives me eight results that are semi-pro and up. Of those, two are unsuitable; one is for kids (which this is defintely not) and one is a shared universe (which this is not a part of). One is a contest whose results will not be announced until June. I've got something at Tor right now, so they're out. I have something at TM as well; although they do take multiple subs. I'm not sure they'd want it anyway, because there's some "graphic content" in there (whatever that means, hoo-boy, but I'm pretty sure that some of the stuff that happens in it would greatly squick more sensitive readers. I pulled no punches with this one.) It's already been at WotF.

This leaves two on the list, one of which pays a penny a word, and one not on the list, which pays a flat $100. Which, you know, okay, but I'd rather get pro rates if I can, because who wouldn't. So it seems I have little choice in the matter but to jump through this particular hoop, if I want a chance at getting my Magnum Opus actually published someplace that will pay me serious money for it.

You can't win if you don't enter.

Right?

Date: 2012-12-06 07:04 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gorengal.livejournal.com
I believe I read this piece of advice in the distant, distant past, but I can't recall where...how about sending them just the first chapter/scene or two, with an outline of the rest? And perhaps convey how happy you would be to send them the full story via email?

Date: 2012-12-06 07:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] agilebrit.livejournal.com
"Do not query for fiction; send the entire manuscript."

Which is bog-standard in the industry for "short" fiction, but argh.

Also, doing that would entail creating a synopsis, which is not part of my skill set and is the reason my novel is still languishing on my hard drive instead of out at agents' right now.

Alas, I fear I am stuck like a stuck thing.

Date: 2012-12-06 07:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gorengal.livejournal.com
Argh. Sorry. :(

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