#0082 The Dating Game! (for Fiction Writers)

How to pair your work with appreciative places, Part Three

[Promo Announcer] Welcome back to season 2 of “The Dating Game!” Publishing Edition, where creatives seek out the best matches for their work. 

[RECAP of Season 2, Episode 8] Last time, three very different writers of creative nonfiction — Yes Chef, Mi Mi, and Right/Write — found their potential publisher matches. 

In this episode, we have invited three fiction writers in search of places that feel like home, whether in the future, in the past, or in the nursery. These contestants will quiz the three mystery publishers to figure out which might be their “just right” publications. Now, let’s get the show started!

[The Dating Game! host] Thanks, Promo Announcer!

Our first contestant has written stories for as long as she can remember. While other kids gossiped about prom during high school English class, she wrote a saga of star-crossed lovers set in World War II.  She’s started stories set in Medieval times, the 1950s, and lots of periods in-between. Her literary heroes include Diana Gabaldon, Isabel Allende, and Hilary Mantel.  

Please welcome to the show… Mary Jennifer Smith!

[Contestant #1, MJ] Thank you for having me on the show.

[host] You are welcome! Please share with us, Mary Jennifer Smith, a little about your current creative work you’re wanting to submit and your experiences with publishing!

[Contestant #1, MJ] Someday, I want one of my novels adapted as a television series, you see. Maybe I could try to mash up my World War I historical romance with my retelling of the life and loves of Leonardo da Vinci, kind of like Outlanders traveling back and forth through time?  Oh, I’m not sure… You see, I’ve written so many stories, historical, romantic, definitely literary. I wouldn’t know which one might be best on the screen… Somewhere I read that Isabel Allende starts writing a new book every January, so I’ve been trying that, too, you see… I’ve never actually quite finished any of them, but… 

[host] I see. Let me ask again, Mary Jennifer Smith, do you have any publishing experience? 

[Contestant #1, MJ] Not really. You see, I heard somewhere that novelists sometimes publish parts of their novels to get publishers and literary agents interested, which would be great.

[host] I see. We’ve now brought out our three eligible publishers. Please begin your questioning, Mary Jennifer Smith!

[Contestant #1, MJ] I love streaming double features, you see, and my picks are historical dramas and romances, always high production, never trashy. Tell me, all of you, a little about your tastes.

[Publisher #1] Established in 2013, we are a nonprofit literary journal dedicated to supporting writers and poets, encouraging readership, and promoting literary scholarship. We publish brash and velvety new work from around the globe, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, translations, literary reviews, essays, and interviews.

[Publisher #2] We are dedicated to advancing literature in the digital age by supporting the finest writing talent and encouraging reading across communities and generations, in schools, and around the globe. Our digital library of new literature by celebrated authors and by the best new and emerging writers is available for free. Since 2003 we have been at the forefront of a new kind of library—a global meeting place, if you will, where readers and writers meet…

[Publisher #3] We are a bare-bones fiction site … in a short story we look for: a solid beginning, soaring plotlines that lead directly to a satisfying and beautiful conclusion that has impact and relevance in the world…

[Contestant #1, MJ] From start to end, how quickly would you want our first date to end?

[Publisher #1] Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novel Excerpt.

[Publisher #2] Flash Fiction, Short Story, Novelette, Novella, Novel Excerpt, Novel.

[Publisher #3] Short Story, Novelette, Novel Excerpt.

[Contestant #1, MJ] Oh, Publisher #2 and Publisher #3, I see! I like that we might linger a bit longer. For all of you: How likely would you want to set up a special rendezvous?

[Publisher #1]  8.4% of fiction submissions accepted.

[Publisher #2] 1.3% of fiction submissions accepted.

[Publisher #3] 4.2% of fiction submissions accepted.

[host] Now that you’ve had time to think about these answers, Mary Jennifer Smith, please tell us: Which of these eligible publishers do you want to try to date?

[Contestant #1, MJ] All of them! You see, I like that Publisher #1 has the highest acceptance rate, I like that #2 wants novel submissions, and I like that #3 publishes beautiful stories.

[host is handed an index card by a crew member] I see. Because you were so vague with your information before the show, the producers suggest three things: 1) determine which stories are actually ready for submission, 2) narrow your focus (because “fiction” is too broad) for genres, perhaps Romance or Fantasy,¹ and 3) read in the genres before seeking matches in the future.

With that, we wish you much success, Mary Jennifer Smith!²

We’re back with our second contestant for this episode. This speculative fiction writer looks to Octavia Butler (Bloodchild and Other Stories), the “genius innovator of speculative”; N. K. Jemisin (How Long ’Til Black Future Month?); and Ted Chiang (Stories of Your Life and Others) for guidance as she pursues publishing a short story collection as well as making a living as a writer. 

Please welcome to the show… B A Queen!

[Contestant #2, BQ] Glad to B your Queen here today.

[host] Let me bow down, then, to you, B A Queen! Please share with us a little about your current creative work you’re wanting to submit and your experiences with publishing!

[Contestant #2, BQ] When I first started submitting my speculative stories a decade ago, I used my real name, Betsy Ann, and I never got a nibble. As so many women before me, including N. K. Jemisin, I chose to go with initials. Because I never liked my last name, I decided to go by Queen. And no, it’s not a reference to Beyoncé with her hive but to Janelle Monáe. IYKYK.³ I’ve gotten stories — some set in far-away galaxies and some on a future earth, all with my special flavor of belonging and connection — published as B A Queen. But I’m not anywhere near making a living as a writer. Unless you count my day job as a technical/content writer, like Ted Chiang had at Microsoft.

[host] So a nom de plume can make a difference sometimes with publishers? Okay then. And you ultimately want to live off your creative writing alone. Gotcha. We’ve now brought out our three eligible publishers. Please begin your questioning, B A Queen!

[Contestant #2, BQ] I am a Queen and deserve to be treated as such. How much are you likely to spend on our first date?

[Publisher #1] Payment: Semi-pro. Details: CAD $0.04/word, up to a max. of $400.

[Publisher #2] Payment: Professional. Details: USD $0.08/word.

[Publisher #3] Payment: No monetary payment.⁴

[Contestant #2, BQ] #3, Nothing? Really?! Hmmm… Tell me how quick you are to text me for a follow-up date all of you.

[Publisher #1] 5.4 days.

[Publisher #2] 10.0 days.

[Publisher #3] 59.6 days.

[Contestant #2, BQ] #3, things are not looking good for you. For everyone, show off your Kingly ambitions.

[Publisher #1] Although any science fiction subgenre is fair game, our tastes lean towards slipstream, cyberpunk, post-apocalypse, and anything with a little taste of the bizarre. That said, quality always outstrips genre preference in terms of importance, so feel free to send us anything that even vaguely resembles science fiction.

[Publisher #2] We are the home of bold, experimental literary science fiction and fantasy. We want stories that make us think about our place in the universe and our relationships with each other. We want stories that blur the line between “genre” fiction and literary fiction. We want stories that reach toward the stars while never forgetting the people on the ground. And we want it all in under 1200 words. It’s a difficult challenge, but we have faith in you, fellow cosmonauts…

[Publisher #3] Seeking the wonderful and the bizarre, the beautiful and dark… we are a new, online literary journal that plucks fiction and poetry from skeletal trees and gives it a place to take root. We love writing that sings: strong, unexpected imagery; lyrical prose; and an afterimage that lasts long after the lights go out. We seek to be a haven for all things speculative. Give us your fairy tales and your fables, sneak a scary story under the mat…

[host] Now that you’ve had time to consider, B A Queen, please tell us: Which of these eligible publishers do you want to try to date?

[Contestant #2, BQ] Okay, well, #3 is the only one to use the term “speculative,” but the place is slow, cheap, and too young, so Pass. I like the vibe of #2, though I’d have to cut down some of my stories to flash fiction length. #1 sounds like a Prince, but not sure if it rates King status…

[host is again handed an index card by a crew member] B A Queen, the producers suggest you refine your future searches via Science Fiction and Fantasy Genres⁵ as well as Short Story Length. They also mention further narrowing under each genre by the Style of the particular story, such as Experimental, Literary, or Surrealist. 

With that, we wish you much success, B A Queen!⁶

We’re back with our third and final contestant for this episode. 

Please welcome to the show… Mamie Tyro!

[Contestant #3, MT] Thanks.

[host] Please share with us, Mamie Tyro, a little about the creative work you’re wanting to submit and your experiences with publishing!

[Contestant #3, MT] I’ve always loved books, and I knew I wanted to instill a love of reading in my own children. Once they were school age, I volunteered to read in their classrooms and in the school library. Now that they are in high school, I’ve started to write little stories for younger kids.

[host] Are these little stories appropriate for picture books, early readers, or chapter books, Mamie Tyro?

[Contestant #3, MT] I’m not sure… I thought the publishers could figure it out?

[host] And are you an illustrator? Or do you have an artist you’ve teamed up with for your stories?

[Contestant #3, MT] Ummm… no, I’m not good at drawing. But a friend of mine might sketch something…

[host] No worries. We’ve now brought out our three eligible publishers. Please begin your questioning, Mamie Tyro!

[Contestant #3, MT] Sometimes my tummy is unsettled and sometimes I’m ravenous. If we go out to dinner together, will there be options for my variable appetite?

[Publisher #1] Up to 450 words.

[Publisher #2] No specific word count limits known; this project is new and has been listed for less than six months.

[Publisher #3] No specific word count limits known; publishes Children, Middle grades. 

[Contestant #3, MT] Ummm… let’s pretend I’m looking through one of the dating apps. What would you say under your photo to grab my attention?

[Publisher #1] We are an award-winning magazine for children ages 2-6. We promote the healthy physical, educational, and creative growth of young children through interactive activities and stories. We are accepting poems; crafts; recipes; activities; rebuses; and simple, age-appropriate fiction and nonfiction.

[Publisher #2] Where stories come to life through the combined magic of words, illustrations, and the creative spirit. Picture books, early readers, middle grade fiction, and holiday-themed short stories appropriate for children ages 2–12. Please, no AI generated text. Your submission should include: A cover letter with a brief introduction to your work and a short bio. A synopsis of your story (no more than 300 words). The full manuscript (for picture books, include the text and layout suggestions if applicable).

[Publisher #3] We publish diverse children’s books with messages of social justice, mindfulness, the redeeming power of imagination, the lessons of history, the rewards of scientific literacy, and the need to understand and steward the natural world—books to offer sparks of light in confusing times. We publish a wide range of children’s books, including board books, beginning readers, picture books, and middle grade titles. We publish both fiction and nonfiction. We are committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we welcome stories from diverse authors. Please browse our website and catalog for examples of the books we publish.​

[Contestant #3, MT] Will you play hard to get after our first date?

[Publisher #1] If you have not heard from us within ninety days, please assume that we will not be able to publish your manuscript… Please allow about three months for a response. Do not send status inquiries before that time. Your submission may be considered for the other magazines depending on content.

[Publisher #2] All submissions will be reviewed by our editorial team, and we will respond within 4 weeks if we are interested in moving forward with your work.

[Publisher #3] The editors may not respond to all submissions. After waiting 180 days, assume your submission will not be accepted… Due to the volume of manuscripts we receive, we are unable to respond to every submission. We do, however, make every effort to consider each submission. If we are interested in your manuscript, we will respond within six months of receiving it. 

[Contestant #3, MT] Are you into — oh, what do the kids call it? — Polyamory? You know, threesomes…

[Publisher #1] Please do not send artwork. We prefer to work with professional illustrators of our own choosing.

[Publisher #2] Submission guidelines for artwork: Original illustrations that complement and enhance children's stories. Artwork must be suitable for a variety of age ranges from 2 to 12 years old. Please, no AI generated artwork. Please submit digital artwork in high resolution (300 dpi). Accepted file formats include JPG, PNG, or PDF. Include a brief description of your illustration portfolio or any previous work.

[Publisher #3] It is NOT necessary to provide illustrations with a picture book story. We will review the text on its own merits. If you have illustrated your story, we’ll consider your art separately. (Note that we may be interested in the story but not the artwork, or vice versa.)

[host] Now that you’ve considered your options, Mamie Tyro, please tell us: Which of these eligible publishers do you want to try to date?

[Contestant #3, MT] Maybe all of them? I don’t know…

[host is yet again handed an index card by a crew member] Mamie Tyro, the producers suggest you do a deep dive into children’s publishing, specifically find out about the strict word counts per age ranges. Once you have a better understanding about this niche area,⁷ you will better your chances of finding a good match.

With that, we wish you much success, Mamie Tyro!⁸

[Announcer] And that’s The End of this episode as well as this season of The Dating Game! Publishing Edition, where creatives seek out the best matches for their work. 

Be sure to show us some love ♥️, let us know your thoughts on this episode and any of the others from this season (#0080 and #0081), share The Dating Game! Publishing Edition widely, and tell our boss woman you want her to greenlight another season!

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Next time: A return to rejection...

1. I settled on one of the fiction contestants to write historical fiction, before I discovered Duotrope doesn’t have “historical” as a Genre or Subgenre for searches. What?? As weird an omission as Substack not having a category for LGBTQIA+. See Robin Taylor’s recent post for more info.

2. Instead naming this most generic of writers “Jane Doe,” I reviewed the most popular female first names by decade via the Social Security website and concocted Mary Jennifer Smith. (Shortened to MJ as a nod to Michael Jackson.) The answers came from Duotrope and was accurate as of the week of April 14th for #1 Your Impossible Voice, #2 Narrative Magazine, and #3 Doric Literary.

3. If you don’t know, that’s okay. Check out “Q.U.E.E.N.” featuring Erykah Badu from Janelle Monáe’s second studio album, The Electric Lady, released way back in 2013.

According to the song’s Wikipedia page: “While the album focuses on the empowerment of women and the need for women to control their own images, the single ‘Q.U.E.E.N.’ also focuses on the empowerment of other oppressed peoples. The title is an acronym for Queer, Untouchables, Emigrants, Excommunicated, and Negroid. Throughout the song, Monáe uses a question-answer format to explain the stereotypes, misconceptions, and oppression of those in the LGBT community, untouchables (those in poverty), emigrants (those who were forced to leave their home countries due to dangerous/unlivable circumstances), the excommunicated (those who have served/continue to serve time in prison), and the negroid (black people of all origins).”

4. Unlike most literary journals and magazines, those in the science fiction and fantasy realm actually pay writers for their work, usually by the word.

5. “Speculative” is recognized throughout publishing as a category of more literary storytelling with science fiction and fantasy elements, yet Duotrope doesn’t include it as a way to focus searches. Sigh.

Check out Moksha, free for writers and artists (though that’s not clear from the home page), and under “Open Publications,” there’s an up-to-date list of places for speculative, science fiction, and fantasy with open calls for submissions.

6. I came up with the character B A Queen before I even knew about the Janelle Monáe song! Originally, this writer was going to specialize in Afrofuturism, but I felt I couldn’t do that category justice in this dating game format. Answers from Duotrope and the websites current as of the week of April 14th from #1 Fusion Fragment, #2 Orion’s Belt, and #3 Crow & Cross Keys.

7. Children’s publishing is a whole other universe requiring so much specialized knowledge. Get started at The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

8. The Mamie Tyro character came from looking up synonyms for newbie (tyro means a beginner in learning or novice). For the first name, I wanted one that sounded like “mama” and referenced a more traditional and nonthreatening woman, such as Mamie Eisenhower. Answers from Duotrope and the websites current as of the week of April 14th from #1 Humpty Dumpty Magazine, #2 Spinning Wheel Stories, and #3 Tilbury House Publishers. Note that #2 and #3 are book publishers, not journals or magazines.