In the last post, Ron asked if I'd put together some of the tell-tale signs that a zine doesn't meet professional standards. And yes, you can be a professional market without paying. :) As you know, many writers and organizations believe that if the writer isn't paid that it's not a pro market. But we're talking online zines here and unless you're writing sci-fi there are very few markets that pay professional rates.
1. One of the first things to look at is the over-all appearance of the zine. Is it readable? Is it easy to maneuver? Are the links working? Would you be proud to have your story displayed on the site or embarrassed to have anyone see it there?
2. Is there a submission page? Believe it or not, I've found sites that have no guidelines in place. All they have is an email address and a sentence or two that tells you send your best stuff. A good zine should have not only a submission address but a word count, formatting instructions, and a few paragraphs that explain what they're looking for.
3. Is there a masthead or page where you're introduced to the staff? It's nice to know who you're going to be working with. A short bio and link to the editor's personal blog can help a writer decide if they want to work with this person. And how they maintain their own websites and blogs is a good indicator of how they'll manage their zine.
4. Have the stories that are posted been edited? This also applies to editorial content. Are they filled with misspelled words? Are they formatted properly? Is the punctuation where it's supposed to be? Now, not everyone is going to like every story on a site, but after reading two or three, do you find yourself scratching your head and wondering how these stories ever got published? A good editor will publish the best stories they can find, they'll make sure that they're edited and easy to read.
5. You can generally tell how long a zine has been in business by scrolling to the bottom of the page and checking out the copyright date. On a blogzine, the archives will generally show how long they've been in business. New zines can be tricky because you don't know if there will actually be a first issue or not. And for zines that have been in business for a long time you can tell if the issues are posted in a timely manner or just helter-skelter.
6. How fast do they respond to submissions? If the response time listed is longer than three months you might want to find another market. Believe it or not, I've seen zines with eight months or longer response times. I can understand this with a professionally paying market because they'll be swamped with subs and it can take that long to wade through them. I have noticed that many zines are now posting submission periods where they accept subs for one month, then respond in the following month which makes it easy for both editor and writer.
That's some of the basics to look for. Every writer has to decide for themselves if they are comfortable with the market. You need to ask yourself if you can work within their guidelines, and can you format your story the way they want it done? And I know it's been said, but a writer really should study the market they're submitting to so they can be sure their writing is a fit before submitting.
Many writers refuse to submit to non-paying markets. You'll usually find the payment schedule in the guidelines or within a contract that is posted on the site. On the other hand, there are some non-paying markets such as Out of the Gutter and Needle (print zines) where the company you'll be keeping is worth more than a few cents a word. These zines also get reviewed in places like Bookgasm which is a huge plus especially if your story is singled out. And yes, there are online zines such as ThugLit(closed now), Beat to a Pulp, Spinetingler and PulpPusher where the company is stellar and you're proud to see your story posted alongside authors you admire.
I guess that pretty much wraps it up, but feel free to tell us what you look for when submitting and things that worry you about possible markets.
7 comments:
Thanks, Sandra. Real spade work and much appreciated. For myself, I'd add to point 1 the graphics used. The quality is important, but also the subject matter. I recently decided not to submit a story to an otherwise reputable-sounding zine because of the sleazy graphic used to brand it.
Readability online is another factor - meaning easy on the eyes. Enough white space, space between the lines so the type can "breathe," a sans serif font, frequent paragraph breaks, and dark type against a white or light background.
White type on black looks classy, especially for noir and downbeat material, but it's fatiguing for the eye after a few paragraphs. For readability, you need every bit of help given the poor resolution of type faces on a computer screen and the fact that they're lighted from behind.
All good points, Ron. And who you submit to really boils down to the writer's taste in zines. That's after you decide if they're worth submitting to.
Excellent guide Sandra.
For me, the top three things are how the site looks (it doesn't have to be beautiful, it should just be functional and provide easy access to the work); the quality of the work on the site; and who the editor is. I'm much more likely to submit to a pub where I've had some contact with the editor or know their writing.
Hey Sandra,
I prefer markets that respond to submissions. "We only reply if we want your piece" is not my favorite response plan.
Stephen
Knowing who the editor is, is a major factor, Chris, especially in the world of zines. The Internet is so fleeting and anonymous that knowing who's in charge is important.
I hate those, too, Stephen. ThugLit did that, but at least you got an email when it arrived so you knew it was there and there was an date so you actually knew if it had been accepted or not.
Even so, I like to know if I'm close to the target when submitting, so I do like receiving a rejection letter that might give me a clue.
I'm with Stephen. Sadly, more and more print editors--reputable ones! at paying markets!--are adopting a similar "no response means no" attitude.
A pox on their families!
And a swarm of locust! I would think that with email it would be so much easier for editors to send a response.
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