Success!

They are still holding it with a decision pending - so the considering is still present tense . I'm still hoping to post here with a full out success!

@doctorjest creepy scary story

@doctorjest scariest doll I've ever heard of

@crlisle and @g-l-bertram, thanks to you both for giving it a read! 🙂

Factor Four Magazine just published my story "The Last Quest of Corbin the Coward," a light-hearted tale about a knight who wants to retire, but the gods won't let him.

Enjoy!

https://factorfourmag.com/the-last-quest-of-corbin-the-coward-by-david-hankins/

Posted by: @czing

I know this thread is mostly people talking actual sales but one of my HMs just got held for consideration by a professional market and for me that is a success!

So, I know the standard is to not reply to rejection letters even to say thanks, but am I okay to send an enthusiastic thank you message in response to a held for consideration? 

Czing, they sent that notice as a kindness to you to explain the additional delay. Editors are extremely busy people, and the less correspondence they have to deal with from writers—especially for stories still under consideration—the better. Be happy they extended the kindness, and wait patiently for results, that’s my practice and advice to you. Staying out of editors’ hair will mark you as professional. Adding needlessly to their workload, kind though your intentions may be, will not.

Thank them when you one day meet at a convention. Or when they send you an acceptance notice. ?

@lost_bard I really enjoyed your story! Loved the light-hearted feel

After 38 rejections: To the semi-pro market The Antihumanist, my 1000 word “The Scrubbing Bubbles“ (about entropy and old age) -SOLD-

Download and read for free, the 4th edition, here: https://theantihumanists.com/2022/05/29/4th-edition/

@angelslayah Congrats on the sale! I was amused by Herman’s attempts to slow entropy. Fun concept!

The YT channel "What Lurks Beneath" posted the video with stories from my book! Tons of views already (45000+ so far). I won't know how many of those convert to book sales for a few days. He already reached out and wants to do another video. I sent him over another script today. Summer is approaching and I want to get typing and investigating for my second book. 

https://youtu.be/uwuUAOms9A8

So I have been working on Volume 2 of my self-published series. Seeing how it is an anthology format and I don't have a ton of time on my hands. How much money do you think would be reasonable to pay other authors for short stories?

I was thinking $50 per story? no royalties? Co-author credit?

I have no idea what standard pay is for something like this. That is how much I paid artists for pictures.

Anyone with suggestions? 

@zappey1, there's a really broad range for what "reasonable" means, which runs all the way from non-paying (which is the only fully unreasonable rate in my book, unless you include the vanity presses that want you to pay for the privilege of publication) through to pro-paying at $0.08 per word and above. For a self-published series I wouldn't usually expect to be seeing pro-pay rates, though. There are so many questions that play into it -- how many stories you want to buy, what the length range of those stories should be ideally, how much your budget for these stories is, and so on -- which makes it difficult to say "X is the answer". If I did, I'm pretty sure I'd be wrong, no matter what I suggested.

In the end, if you're looking to solicit for submissions with a full online presence and listing, I'd probably prefer to offer a word-rate to a flat rate (especially if you're listing on the Submission Grinder--they let you list markets by pay-per-word amount, and if you're offering a high token rate, then the pay per word will look REALLY good for the shorter length stories, so you might see a bias from that) -- otherwise, if you're looking to do something more private or directly solicited, I'd just familiarize yourself with the kinds of rates other publications offer, so that you are informed about the discussion you'll be having.

If it's mostly a question of not knowing, go to the Submission Grinder, and look around at other anthologies. You'll see a variety of rates--such publications from larger, more successful publishers generally, but not universally, offer higher rates per word than smaller, independent publications like the anthology you're considering here. But you should be able to gather quite a bit of information to help make your decision.

@doctorjest So $50 for 5k is not realistic ? 

Posted by: @zappey1

@doctorjest So $50 for 5k is not realistic ? 

Actually, that's not an uncommon semi-pro rate for smaller anthologies, paying at $0.01 per word. You'll see quite a lot of markets offering that rate.

@doctorjest Any ideas where to ask at? 5er (or is it fiver?)

They have to be very specific to fit the anthology 

Posted by: @zappey1

@doctorjest Any ideas where to ask at? 5er (or is it fiver?)

They have to be very specific to fit the anthology 

I think your best bet would be to get listed on the Submission Grinder, here: The Submission Grinder (diabolicalplots.com)

You'll need a webpage for your publication, and you'll need to publish your criteria, but there's otherwise little in your way here. It's probably the most commonly used avenue for writers to find markets, and includes a newly added section that can be perused, as well as the searchable criteria. This way, you can have writers find you, rather than having to chase down and find them.

You can be very specific--in addition to publishing genre, length, and payment information, as well as open/closed deadlines as appropriate, you can specify additional information (some markets are only looking for stories in a specific world, others from a specific prompt, or based on a specific pre-existing IP, some with limited demographics for submission, and so on). Most markets put themselves there, and certainly a large number of writers use it as a way to find places to submit their work to.

@zappey1 you may want to make sure to do your homework on contracts. I am guessing a lot of the people here on this forum would not consider a publication that doesn't have clear contracts - I know that even though I've only ever had one short story published I wouldn't consider it, so I'm guessing the folks with more quals under their belts definitely wouldn't.

@doctorjest Thanks for the lead. I will have to check it out when I get some time. I also do not have a website. Soooooo I will probably have to get one going. ? 

I have had about 10 folks tell me I need to get one going. 

@czing I would not be trying to get professionals. Starting writers (college kids) that want to make $50. They would maintain the rights if they wanted to republish. 

Posted by: @zappey1

@czing I would not be trying to get professionals. Starting writers (college kids) that want to make $50. They would maintain the rights if they wanted to republish. 

There are still multiple reasons to have a good contract. The purpose of the contract is to avoid trouble later.

I don't know if they still do it, but SFWA used to have sample contracts that you could start with.

@martin-l-shoemaker I believe that they do, and they can be found on their Contracts Committee page -- Contracts Committee - SFWA

The contracts are listed for multiple types of publication and agreement, with notes and guidance around how they can be used. @zappey1, you can also look at the contracts offered by similar market publications, but it's certainly a good idea to start with something solid like this. Contracts protect you and the writer both, formalizing the explicit rights, terms, and so forth.

I did do some things without contracts (in my career, rather than my writing), when I was younger and much more inexperienced, on the basis of gentlemen's agreements and so on. 0/10 would not recommend.

I got offered $150 to write a script for that YT channel (5k words). I think it is a good deal but I would need to retain the rights for future publishing. 

What do you guys think? Good deal or no? It will take lots of investigation work for the script he wants.

Exciting news! Another YT video shout-out. These have really helped book sales this month!

https://youtu.be/3ds9PmdZkQY

I think I might do one more colab with him to help promote the book but then wait until volume 2 is almost done (maybe Christmas time?). I can't have all the stories from the book out there for free.

Or what do you guys think should I keep letting him post stories as long as it keeps getting extra copies to sell?

My sci-fi flash fiction "xomeone" has been accepted to the Dark Side of Purity, Vol. 3
https://lindzmcleod.co.uk/submission-calls/f/the-dark-side-of-purity-zine-call
this is essentially a donation on my part, as the proceeds go to a charity (NARAL) but the bar is therefore, maybe, low.

I'm pleased with it, tho! 

Hey guys!

Just a reminder to not give up on finding a home for those HMs. After several rejections, I just sold my first HM to an anthology.

You just never know. 

Congratulations @nvhaskell! Which anthology? When/where can we read it?

Serendipitous timing: I sent a flurry of HMs just yesterday! Beneath Ceaseless Skies are very efficient: they've already rejected the one I sent their way ?  

I've not sold anything but as of today every single short story I have in a fit state to be submitted, has been. I have 16 out doing the rounds, one held for consideration. 

@ease BCS and Clarkesworld have quick turn arounds. If you want your head to spin, submit to The Dark. I got my last R from them in 37 minutes. HAHA.  

Even though the contract is signed, they haven't announced the formal line up yet so I am hesitant to say. I will post it when they give the all clear. It should be out early next year.

@pdblake Ooh, 16 is a highly respectable number. I have around 12 out right now which is the most I've ever had on submission at one time.

Posted by: @nvhaskell

Hey guys!

Just a reminder to not give up on finding a home for those HMs. After several rejections, I just sold my first HM to an anthology.

You just never know. 

Congratulations! I look forward to reading it when it comes out!