The Fanfiction Writer's Guide to Publication
Marks Robert B
I've been meaning to finish this, so here it is; for all those fanfiction
writers who are ready to make the leap...
I hope it helps everybody,
Robert Marks
A Fanfiction Writer's Guide to Publication
By Robert B. Marks
Copyright 1998 Robert B. Marks, all rights reserved
Fanfiction is a great medium for practicing the art of
writing, a training ground for new writers in fact, but there
comes a time in most fanfiction writers' lives when they are
faced with a decision: to break out of fanfiction into semi or
fully professional writing, or to remain a fan writer.
Breaking into semi or fully professional writing is not easy
by any stretch of the imagination, but it is the more rewarding
path, once it bears fruit. This guide is to help fanfiction
writers make the transition from a fan writer to a paid writer.
A great deal is not said in this guide, as much technique will
come with practice; however, this will make things easier.
STEPS IN THE TRANSITION
1. Look in the mirror and give yourself an ego trip. I'm not
kidding; writing of any sort for paying markets requires a thick
skin, and it is likely that you will be rejected far more
frequently than you will be accepted. So, always remember that
you are a good writer, and don't let the rejection letters get to
you.
2. Complete the manuscript. This is self explanatory for short
stories, but it is not necessarily for anthologies or novels. A
writer can sell a novel based on three chapters and a synopsis,
but it is much easier to make the sale if you can prove that you
can finish the work you've started. For a beginning novel, you
want to be in the 75,000 to 120,000 word range. For a novella,
you want to be in the 16,000 to 25,000 word range.
3. Choose your market carefully. A good idea is to pick up a
Writer's Market, which you can get at the local book store. You
want to look at the number of submissions (eg. if a magazine gets
2 submissions a month, there is probably a reason) and the rate
of pay. The professional pay for a story is set at three cents
per word. Some good markets to begin with are listed below.
4. If you are trying to get a book published, contact the
publisher first, either with a query letter, email or telephone
call (it is surprising how many publishers will solicit
manuscripts over the phone). This allows you to write "Requested
Material" on your submission, and prevents you from being lost in
the slush pile.
5. Draft a professional looking cover letter. In the case of a
novel, you should attach a brief synopsis (which can be general
plot points or chapter by chapter). Otherwise, you should say
something about the story in one or two sentences (eg. it is
about the end of the world and it is based on Deep Impact, or
something like that). Do NOT try to sell the story in the cover
letter; the story will sell itself, and trying to pitch the story
in your letter will only turn editors off. At the bottom of your
letter, you should attach a brief list of publication credits.
6. Reformat the manuscript. A submission manuscript should be on
8.5" X 11" paper (or its equivalent), and preferably on 20 lb.
paper. The manuscript should be double spaced in a courier 12
point font with 1.25" margins all around. The pages should be
numbered in the upper right corner, and should have your name and
story title in the upper left corner. On the first page you
should include your address and word count. If the magazine asks
for competition format, your name may only appear in the cover
letter. You may paper clip the story if you wish, but don't
staple it unless you check first with the editors.
7. Mail the story out, but to one publisher at a time; editors do
not like simultaneous submissions. If you are mailing out a
novel, you should place the novel in a manuscript box (the box
you bought your paper in should do). Otherwise, place the
manuscript in a large envelope and mail it out. You should
include a SASE (self addressed, stamped envelope) in the mailing,
and if you wish to receive confirmation of arrival, a self
addressed, stamped post card. Address the envelope to the
editor.
8. Keep writing, and don't let the rejection letters get you
down. In general, you will be competing with hundreds of stories
for publication, so success will come with persistence.
Remember, it took Harlan Ellison a year to sell his professional
story.
9. If you manage to get a sale, learn what rights you are
selling. Most magazines and publishers will buy first
publication rights, which means that they will publish it first,
and then after a set time, it can be reprinted. Beware "work for
hire", as that means that you are paid once, and then the work is
no longer your own.
If you should sell a novel, retain an agent to negotiate the
contract; they generally know far more than you do about
contracts, and can help immensely. When looking for agents, you
will need to know what sales they have made recently, what rights
they can negotiate, and what fees are involved. Most legitimate
agents will only charge photocopying fees. Any agency that
charges reading fees is suspect, as they are not making all of
their income from selling your work.
SOME GOOD MARKETS TO START WITH:
SHORT STORIES/NOVELLAS:
Analog Science Fiction and Fact (science fiction [hard science,
soft sociological], serialized novels): 1270 Avenue of the
Americas, New York, NY, 10020, USA, (212) 698-1381; edited by
Stanley Schmidt; 2,000-80,000 words; 5-8 cents/word for first
N.A. rights and nonexclusive foreign rights; reports in 1 month
for queries and manuscripts; can be emailed at
7115...@compuserve.com
Asimov's Science Fiction (science fiction [hard science, soft
sociological], fantasy, no horror or psychic/supernatural): 1270
Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY, 10020, USA, (212) 698-1381;
edited by Gardner Dozois; up to 20,000 words; 5-8 cents/word for
first N.A. rights and specified foreign rights; reports in 2-3
months; can be emailed at 7115...@compuserve.com
Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (fantasy and science
fiction): P.O. Box 1806, New York, NY, 10159-1806, USA, (212)
982-2676; edited by Gordon Van Gelder; up to 25,000 words; 5-7
cents/word for first N.A. serial rights, foreign rights and
anthology option if requested; reports in 6-8 weeks (but
generally within 4 weeks)
Weird Tales (fantasy [science, sword and sorcery], horror,
psychic/supernatural/occult, translations): 123 Crooked Lane,
King of Prussia, PA, 19406-2570, USA; edited by George Scithers;
up to 10,000 words; 3 cents/word min. for first N.A. serial
rights and anthology option; reports in 2-3 weeks (lately has had
a backlog, so actually a bit slower); can be emailed at
owls...@netaxs.com
NOVELS:
Baen Books (fantasy and science fiction): P.O. Box 1403,
Riverdale, NY, 10471, USA, (718) 548-3100; acquisitions editor:
Toni Weisskopf; pays advance and royalties; send manuscript or
synopsis and 3 consecutive sample chapters; reports in 6-9 months
Daw Books Inc. (science fiction [hard science, soft
sociological], fantasy, mainstream thrillers): 375 Hudson St.,
New York, NY, 10014, USA; acquisitions editor: Peter Stampfel;
pays advance and royalties; send complete manuscript and SASE;
reports in 3-5 months
Millennium (science fiction, fantasy, horror): Orion House, 5
Upper St. Martin's Lane, London, WC2H 9EA, England; acquisitions
editor: Simon Spanton; pays advance and royalties; send cover
letter, synopsis, and fifty sample pages (if outside of England,
use self addressed envelope and international reply coupon)
Tor Books (fantasy, mainstream, science fiction, horror): 175
Fifth Ave., New York, NY, 10010, (212) 388-0100; acquisitions
editor: Patrick Nielsen Hayden; pays advance and royalties; query
first and then send manuscript (address to "Editorial")
SOURCES
1998 Novel & Short Story Writer's Market, writer's digest books
rec.arts.sf.composition (several writers and editors can be found
here, including Patrick Nielsen Hayden)
--
The future has not been written, / The past is set in stone,
And I am but a lonely wanderer, / With time as my only home.
-- from _Demon's Vengeance_
Forthcoming: _Myth_ical Battlefields -- Computer Gaming World (late 1998?)
(working title)
Daniel Frankham
Great idea, Robert. It'll be handy to have all this info in one place.
I wonder if it'd be possible to also include the frequency of the mag,
and the number of stories they publish per year or issue (as they do
in _Writer's Market_) in future editions? It makes it easier to assess
the likelihood of selling something :)
One minor correction:
>Weird Tales (fantasy [science, sword and sorcery], horror,
>psychic/supernatural/occult, translations): 123 Crooked Lane,
>King of Prussia, PA, 19406-2570, USA; edited by George Scithers;
>up to 10,000 words; 3 cents/word min. for first N.A. serial
>rights and anthology option; reports in 2-3 weeks (lately has had
>a backlog, so actually a bit slower); can be emailed at
>owls...@netaxs.com
_Weird Tales_ is edited by George Scithers and Darrell Schweitzer.
===========================================================================
"Listen, you miserable, no-talent hack," she hissed. "Transline owns you
from the balls up. If you give us any more trouble we'll have you working
in the Gothic Romance factory under the name Rosemary Titmouse. Now go
home, sober up, and get a work on _Dying Earth X_" - Dan Simmons, Hyperion.
Robert B. Marks
: On 15 Nov 1998 06:17:04 GMT, Marks Robert B wrote:
: Great idea, Robert. It'll be handy to have all this info in one place.
: I wonder if it'd be possible to also include the frequency of the mag,
: and the number of stories they publish per year or issue (as they do
: in _Writer's Market_) in future editions? It makes it easier to assess
: the likelihood of selling something :)
I might, but I'm hoping that most writers trying to make the leap will get
themselves a market list; I'm just a starting point.
: One minor correction:
:>Weird Tales (fantasy [science, sword and sorcery], horror,
:>psychic/supernatural/occult, translations): 123 Crooked Lane,
:>King of Prussia, PA, 19406-2570, USA; edited by George Scithers;
:>up to 10,000 words; 3 cents/word min. for first N.A. serial
:>rights and anthology option; reports in 2-3 weeks (lately has had
:>a backlog, so actually a bit slower); can be emailed at
:>owls...@netaxs.com
: _Weird Tales_ is edited by George Scithers and Darrell Schweitzer.
Actually, the latest information I have (as of about 2 weeks ago) is that
Darrell Schweitzer is no longer an editor there; George Scithers is now
the editor.
Robert Marks
Alryssa OG
<4r...@qlink.queensu.ca> writes
>you should attach a brief list of publication credits.
I guess this is a bit less useful to any UK readers. But please clarify:
Publication credits?
--
Alryssa OG
"Doesn't anything come under warranty anymore?"
Robert B. Marks
: In article <72lrl0$f5f$1...@knot.queensu.ca>, Marks Robert B
: <4r...@qlink.queensu.ca> writes
:>you should attach a brief list of publication credits.
: I guess this is a bit less useful to any UK readers. But please clarify:
Actually, one of the book publishers I listed is UK based.
: Publication credits?
Places you've been published. Webzines, magazines, articles, poetry and books count.
Robert Marks
Kate Orman
In article <72lrl0$f5f$1...@knot.queensu.ca>,
Marks Robert B <4r...@qlink.queensu.ca> wrote:
>3. Choose your market carefully. A good idea is to pick up a
>Writer's Market, which you can get at the local book store. You
>want to look at the number of submissions (eg. if a magazine gets
>2 submissions a month, there is probably a reason) and the rate
>of pay. The professional pay for a story is set at three cents
>per word. Some good markets to begin with are listed below.
Another way to discover potential markets: go to a book shop, and have a
look inside some recent novels in your field to see who published them.
>4. If you are trying to get a book published, contact the
>publisher first, either with a query letter, email or telephone
>call (it is surprising how many publishers will solicit
>manuscripts over the phone). This allows you to write "Requested
>Material" on your submission, and prevents you from being lost in
>the slush pile.
At the very least, ask for their submission guidelines.
>6. Reformat the manuscript. A submission manuscript should be on
>8.5" X 11" paper (or its equivalent),
8.5" x 11" paper is US Letter Size. In Australia or the UK, use A4 paper
(297 x 210 mm) - I guess that's what's meant by "its equivalent".
--
Kate Blum Orman - "A broad too deep for the small screen"
kor...@laurel.ocs.mq.edu.au | http://www.ocs.mq.edu.au/~korman
Robert B. Marks
:>6. Reformat the manuscript. A submission manuscript should be on
:>8.5" X 11" paper (or its equivalent),
: 8.5" x 11" paper is US Letter Size. In Australia or the UK, use A4 paper
: (297 x 210 mm) - I guess that's what's meant by "its equivalent".
Precisely. I'll put that in the next revision.
Robert Marks
Magrat
Alryssa OG wrote in message ...><4r...@qlink.queensu.ca> writes
>>you should attach a brief list of publication credits.
>
For a fuller list of UK publishers, check out the Writers & Artists Yearbook
which places such as Waterstones and Dillons stock in the "Eng. Lit."
section (i.e. the bit with Shakespeare and all the other curriculum stuff)
Magrat
--
"Come to think of it, there are already a million monkeys on a
million typewriters ... and Usenet is NOTHING like Shakespeare."
--Blair Houghton
http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Lair/3366/index.html
news://msnnews.msn.com/msn.forums.sciencefiction.british