And Now...How?

Say you’ve committed to writing for publication, chosen your market, ordered sample magazines, and studied their writing. 

You’ve opened yourself to critique, taken advice, and locked in for the long haul. You suspect you won’t get published right away, but you’re committed. You’ve got a plan, made crucial decisions concerning your schedule and personal habits, have clear focus on what you want to write, and an idea where to submit.

So now, you ask …how?

Let’s assume you dabble in short fiction—although as I’ve said, these steps can be adapted to different genres and markets, although publication for novels, non-fiction books, children’s illustrated books or poetry chapbooks follow slightly paths.

In any case – where to start? Well, you need to determine the genre.  Let’s say, (showing no personal preference), you’ve decided on horror/dark speculative fiction. You could type “horror fiction/dark fiction magazines” into Google, and come up with hundreds of results. Herein lies an important question, immediately: where do you ultimately want to go?

Potential Destinations

First of all, there are many different payment scales, but rather than use labels like “token payment”, “non-payment”, “contributor copy payment”, “semi-pro” and so on, let’s break it into four categories:

1. “4theluv”, non-payment, non-exposure: these journals are run by folks with little publishing experience or background, featuring little exposure. Often, these are online “ezines”, and the only contributor copy you receive is a .pdf.  Anthologies printed through Lulu.com often – but not always – fall into this category.
2.  “token payments”: magazines and ezines that offer flat payment for fiction, ($5, $10, $25), or offer payment per word – say, .005 cents – but still have a payment plateau.
3. “semi-pro and above”: magazines that offer at least .01 - .02 a word and don’t have payment cap but rather a word count cap, or anthologies that offer at least $60 - $80 per story.
4. Reputable magazines and anthologies, regardless of payment: Certain magazines are run by knowledgeable people, featuring well written material, that simply can’t pay every contributor in cash, and usually pay with contributor copies, or feature cash-prize contests. These magazines often have decent circulation and are well regarded. Their claim of “exposure” and “publication credit” actually holds merit.

Relief and Coach’s Midnight Diner fall into this category, (again, no bias), as do most college literary magazines – depending on the size of the college, and the nature of the publication.  Last year, I was a reader for my grad school’s literary magazine, The Harpur Palate , which pays contributor copies, but has received critical acclaim, and holds several notable, well-paying contests. A note: most college literary magazines don’t accept genre fiction, and those that do usually gear towards fantasy and science fiction. A good example is The Fairy Tale Review, a co-publication of The University of Alabama Press.

One genre magazine that’s fairly reputable and only pays in contributor copies is The Ghost Story Society’s All Hallows magazine, which I find interesting, because the website itself isn’t that impressive. However, I’ve heard many good things from notable writers. Also, Morpheus Tales, a new magazine in the UK, has featured many interesting writers who’ve done well, and Fear and Trembling Magazine – though only offering token payment – shares the corner market on Christian horror with Coach’s Midnight Diner.

Why cover this first? Honestly, because I wish someone had done the same for me three years ago. If you’re choosing this route to publication, consider your list of credits as a writing resume. Even though the quality of your writing and story, the needs of a publisher, your professionalism, and God’s Will are the ultimate factors determining publishing success, there’s much to be said for “reputation by association”.  Who you hang out with, associate with – who you’re published by and with – can make an impact.

I’ve seen lots of opinions, blogs, and rants on this topic – some of them pretty scathing, almost demeaning. A very good blog about this topic posted recently by Christian Horror Writer, (note: not writer of Christian Horror), Maurice Broaddus addresses this issue with candor.  Here’s my take: in the beginning, I don’t think it matters. During college, when you’re working for pennies in the dinning hall or at the supermarket, you’re not worried about your resume. You’re learning good work ethic, timeliness, responsibility, and earning enough to scrape by.

As you start to send fiction into the market, I think it’s the same way. Hitting a few “4theluv” markets in the beginning is more for your benefit. It boosts morale; you put process into effect, and refine it. At some point, however, an important question needs to be asked: where do you want this to ultimately go?

Why Are You Doing This Again?

If you’re writing for your own enjoyment, (which we all do to some extent), and have no career plans for writing, you can do what you like. However, if you’re interested in a career, you need to look closely at where you’re submitting work, analyzing the quality of their format, their writers, their circulation, and their pay scales.  If you’re in this bracket, the following three are huge priorities:

1. You want to gain some “street cred”
2. You want to gain some fans
3. You want to get paid

For the most part, you won’t obtain these by submitting to “4theluv” and “token payment” publications. Honestly, I am extracting myself from #1 and #2, and applying myself to #3 and #4 (though you should  break these rules as you see fit) Say you submit a few older stories to ezines, simply to have links to stories from your website that browsers can read in a mouse click. Feel free. Say a close associate who runs a token payment anthology solicits a story, and you have no previous writing conflicts – why not? Be careful, though, and I write this warning as someone who, again, wishes I’d been counseled this from the very beginning.

So now – all that stuff is out of the way. You’ve finished your first story, typed ‘The End’, proof-read it to death, and learned how to recognize different types of publications. So where do you find them?  And how do you approach them? Tune in next week to find out.

Relief's Editor-In-Chief Kimberly Culbertson points readers to some helpful advice from a wonderful writer.

Relief Author and Pushcart Nominee Christopher Fisher posted an article over at So You Wanna Be Published . Here's a teaser:

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, but not your novel (or poem, or essay, or short story).

When I was reviewing manuscripts for The Texas Review, there were two particular things in a story that would turn me off quicker than anything. The first was a narrative voice that lacked confidence. The second was a story that was poorly imagined. At the heart of both of these flaws, I think, is a basic lack of courage. In the voice or the action or both, there is no gusto, no “umph.”

Why? Is the author unsure of himself? And if he’s unsure of himself, why should I read the story he has to tell me?

What You Need to Give Up

Kevin Lucia continues his series on the Path to Publication and discusses a few things that writers might just have to give up if they want to become serious about writing.

As a preface, I’d like to touch on two things, both of which relate to my previous entry and set up this one. First, I’d like to point out a recent blog entry by horror novelist Brian Keene, whom I referenced in my last entry. He recently re-posted an old blog entitled “Time, and How to Make It,” in regards to finding time to write. It’s relation to the tone of this series is uncanny (Warning: Contains ‘R’ rated language in spots, mostly in regards to how aspiring writers should just sit their BLEEPs down in front of the computer and BLEEPing write).

Second, I’d be remiss if I didn’t also point out rising Christian Suspense Novelist, Eric Wilson. Recently, Eric had the joyous occasion of announcing to family, friends, and colleagues that he was finally able to quit that dreaded “day job” and write full-time. How was he able to do it? Well…hopefully he won’t be offended by this, but please reference Brian Keene’s blog; Eric happens to write his BLEEPing BLEEP off. After plugging along through four novels that boasted rave critical reviews but only average sales, Eric persevered – trusted God as well – and hit the mother load: a whole slew of movie novelization and tie-in deals, as well his much anticipated new series: Jerusalem’s Undead.

It occurred to me as I sat down to write this blog that I might very well be the victim of my own hyperbole. As I thought about all the things an aspiring writer should consider giving up, I realized maybe these things aren’t that big of a secret and everyone already knows them. However, even if they aren’t elements of rocket science, sharing them is by no means a bad thing. So, in no particular order, here they are:

1. Television:

I cringe when I realize how many hours I wasted in front of the ole’ Idiot Box.  Not only are we talking about hours wasted, television saps our mental focus, shortens our attention span, and I honestly believe tires our eyes out, so that when we finally sit down to write after watching five hours of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine re-runs, (which I’ve never done, of course), we’re so tired, we pass out onto our laptop or manuscript.

Some may reserve certain shows as “creative muses” or “inspirations.” I, in fact, have one: Supernatural, on the WB. However, we run a different risk here, and that’s allowing our works to be too derivative of outside influences. This is for each person to judge, and admittedly it’s hard today to come up with an entirely new concept, hence the Biblical adage: “There’s nothing new under the sun.” However, we may find ourselves unconsciously copying themes or re-treading ideas from our favorite shows, so guard against this.

2. Some Aspect of Social Contact:

This is very dependent on what type of person you are. I tend to be a bit of a hermit, with a small circle of friends, most of whom have unfortunately moved away, so it usually doesn’t pose much of a problem.  However, social butterflies may struggle with this. Balance is very important because you don’t want to cut off life-long friends in an obsessive pursuit of a writing career, especially if you’re still at its very genesis, with few–if any–deadlines or obligations. It’ll be different for everyone, but the following equation will become familiar throughout this article: time spent doing other things = less writing time.

    a. athletic endeavors:

I’ll make this a sub-topic because admittedly it addresses a narrower segment of the population, but it’s something I’m currently struggling with. I’ve played basketball all my life; even spent three years coaching men’s basketball at Davis College. As a former college player who now plays for exercise, love of the game, and fellowship—especially with fellow Christian athletes—this has become my struggle. Often, I find myself distracted while playing, thinking about all the writing I’m missing. Still, I’ve come to believe health and fitness very important to a writer, (see next point), so I don’t want to give up basketball entirely. My solution: limit my participation to open gyms and things at my convenience, and not get shackled into commitment-based leagues and tournaments. It still gives me that basketball buzz, and I get good exercise and fellowship, but I’m not bound to it.

3. Snack foods, junk foods, and soda:

Yep, I’m going there. Because of the astounding mental and physical, (in regards to eyes), effort it takes to write, we need to be in the best shape we can be—and I do mean physically. It’s only common sense: the better shape our body is in, the better our mind performs. Don’t worry, though, I only discovered this recently myself. When I seriously started writing two years ago, I gained a TON of weight and started having neck and joint problems—even saw my blood pressure spike—because writing is, after all, largely a sedentary pursuit. I cut back on some foods and, living in the country, I get plenty of exercise through chores.

However, last April I was accepted into Binghamton University’s Creative Writing graduate track, nailed my weekly column at The Press & Sun Bulletin, and accepted a new position teaching 9th – 10th grade high school English. Add a budding three-year-old and Tasmanian devil one-year-old, and I foresaw the result: late and early hours writing and reading, short hours sleeping. I sensed the need to be in the best physical condition possible, so I radically altered my diet. Nothing catchy or gimmicky, because really: no diet pill, plan, or “weight loss solution” can top a daily infusion of fruits, veggies, high grain wheat breads, lean meats, chicken/fish, less soda and more natural fluids. Halfway through grad school and a handful of writing credits, and I’m convinced I wouldn’t have been able to keep the hours I have, eating the way I used to. Plus, losing the weight and seeing the blood pressure go down was a nice side-effect.

**For those with homeopathic, natural food & medicine leanings, I did find the following supplements of benefit – used only according to their guidelines, of course. Here are some key things about herbal supplements: they only seem to have an effect while pursuing a healthy diet and exercise regiment, (which makes you wonder what’s helping more – the exercise or supplement), and they replace what the body may be lacking, so if you’re not lacking, it won’t help. Also, supplements need to be consumed on a routine, regular and consistent basis so your body stores them up: there IS no quick, on the spot energy solution except the age old one: caffeine. However, bananas have proven to be helpful in this area also.
Helpful: forms of ginseng, ginkgo balboa, Vitamins B & B+, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in orange juice in the morning and night (helps lower blood pressure and provide energy). Remember: consult a doctor or homeopathic chiropractor/doctor in your area first.

4. Other writing/reading related endeavors that don’t advance career or skill:

Well, that was a mouthful. In any case, many of us —myself included—often get involved in many writing-related activities in the beginning to help get our feet wet in the market, and that’s not a bad thing. Plus, being plugged into a variety of writing-related endeavors not only provides a wealth of experience, but it also stimulates the ole’ creative centers. And, there’s a track record for folks being editors of magazines and ezines before their big writing breaks. Suspense author T.L. Hines was a contributing editor for several different magazines leading up to his first novel, Waking Lazarus, and in an even more interesting story, Robin Parrish, former editor of the Christian entertainment ezine Infuze, was prepping his Dominion Trilogy for release on Infuze when Bethany House snapped it up.

However, it’s important to know when and where to say “enough” and decide what’s really important. If a writer eventually gets to the point when writing = money and/or exposure, then some hard decisions have to be made regarding what’s worthwhile. For most of us, however, the question becomes this: are the endeavors I’m wrapped up in further developing my craft or establishing my credibility as a writer? If the answer is “yes,” keep on trucking. If the answer is “no,” it may be time to cut some things loose, because as always: time spent doing other things = less writing time.

Things You Should NEVER Give Up:

1. Devotions, Time Spent With God:

This sounds like common sense, right? You’d be surprised, especially when multiple writing deadlines, graduate school work, family and work obligations pile up. However, the answer is clear: don’t slack off. I don’t want to turn this into “rewards theology,” (I.E. I read my Bible X amount of times a week, God gives me X amount of publication credits), but for me the results have been clear: in the last three years, I’ve paid ever stricter attention to my devotions and prayer time in the morning, and as I’ve done so, God has blessed my family and I in all areas, most especially in the one I always feared devotions and prayer would steal time from: writing. This is SUCH a subjective issue for folks I won’t give lengthy advice, just a simple page from my book: wake up a little earlier in the morning, allow yourself a good novel or the newspaper while you eat breakfast to allow your mind to wake up, and then—regardless of looming deadlines—do your devotions first, before anything else.

2. Family Time:

In truth, depending on where you are with children and other concerns, this is also very subjective and different for everyone. Will you, at times, as a writer, have to go away from family—spouse and children—for an hour or two every day to get a consistent writing time? Certainly, but this should only be done after careful discussion and mediation between spouses, and with the full blessings of spouse and/or children (depending on age). The bottom line is this: writing is inherently a solitary activity, and in many ways a writer must be committed to regular intervals of solitude. However, these must be taken with care, and a writer or writer-hopeful must always be realistic and put your spouse’s and children’s needs first.
And for heaven’s sake, when your children are begging you to play “Tea Time” in the playroom, shut off the laptop, put down the pen, and go—which I’m going to do, right now.

Related Articles:

• A Plan in Hand Beats Wandering in the Bush
• The Path to Publication
• No Batteries Included, Patience Required
• Hats, Coats, and Thick Skin Only