“Advice On How To Get Your Sci-Fi Published” by Melinda Brasher
Hi folks,
This is the first guest post on my blog, and I’m excited to introduce fellow independent author, Melissa Brasher:
“How to Get Your Science Fiction Published in Magazines”
Guest post by Melinda Brasher
Submitting your stories to science fiction magazines can be a long and painful process, since even the most talented and well-published authors get rejections. For me, it all proved worth it the day I saw my story, “Foreign Bodies,” published in a professional online magazine—alongside a color illustration commissioned just for my story.
If you’re new to the process, or right in the middle of trying to get your whole catalogue of stories published, here are some hints for submitting to science fiction magazines.
Do your Research
As they all say, read the guidelines carefully and submit exactly the way they want. This includes file types and special formatting. If they don’t mention it at all, use “standard manuscript formatting.” And if they request documents in .doc, do NOT send the newer .docx files. If a magazine stipulates “no space opera” or “no vampires,” don’t send your space-opera-vampire saga, no matter how earth-shatteringly wonderful it is. Find another magazine for that masterpiece. It’s also best to read issues of the magazine you’re submitting to.
Send Polished Drafts Only
This should go without saying, but I’m going to say it anyway. Only present your absolute best work, revised multiple times, and proofread by other eyes than yours.
Don’t Treat it like a Novel Submission
For short stories, your cover letter (if requested) should be very, very short, not like a novel query. Include story name, genre, and word count, but unless they ask for it, don’t give a summary or even a hook. And certainly don’t say how wonderful it is. Include any writing credits and wrap it up with your contact info.
Use “Good” Rejections
If a magazine gives you a “good” rejection, keep submitting to that magazine. I’ve had several stories or travel pieces accepted by magazines that first gave me good rejections. Though some magazines include a “please try us again” line in all their rejection letters, many magazines only say it if they really mean it. They saw something in your piece that they liked, and would like to read something else. Some magazines also have tiered rejections, and you might get something like “this came really close.” Definitely don’t give up on that magazine.
A really good rejection is personalized. It’ll say something about your story. Here’s an example: “This is nicely written and I enjoyed where the story was going, but then the story just seemed to stop. What of the third wave? Did Edwin’s struggle against Peter really end there? Best of luck placing it…please try us again.” This is the second similar comment I’ve received about one of my stories. It’s part of a series of interconnected stories, and the editors’ comments tell me I need to punch up the ending more—make it stand alone better—if I want to sell it on its own.
Examples of other “good” rejections: “While I enjoyed the final twist, the story as a whole isn’t what I’m looking for right now,” “What we really liked about this story: character driven, real people/personalities, tentative hope at the end. However, it didn’t quite emotionally grab us.” I’m looking at that story now, to see how to improve the emotional connection. And here’s another: “Yours was high quality. Try us again.” I did try that magazine again, and my second story was accepted.
Listen to Editors
If they ask you to rewrite, don’t go diva and insist that it’s perfect the way it is. The editors’ suggestions will very likely improve your piece. My most professional sale came after the editor’s request to reduce the word count and simplify one section. I did as requested, and they ran the story. What’s more, I think it’s stronger now. On another story, the editor asked me to tweak the ending a bit—not change it, just make it a little stronger. It was another of my series of connected stories, and I needed it to stand on its own better. Now it does (read it for yourself free on On the Premises). Editors are often very perceptive people, and because they have more distance from the piece, they can see things we can’t.
Manage your Income Expectations
Don’t expect to get rich. The professional-rate magazines are very competitive. However, there are quite a few magazines and anthologies out there that do pay a bit (often from $10-60). Plus, a paying magazine, even if it’s only a token payment, gives you more writing cred.
Embrace the Rejections
Don’t be afraid of rejection. Remember that the only way you can get acceptances is to get rejections. So keep submitting. Don’t worry; the rejections get easier. And along the way, you may get some useful critiques of your work, critiques that will help you get better.
A great resource:
Ralan.com — listings of speculative fiction magazines, divided by pay rates. Also includes writing links and other resources.
To read some of Melinda’s Brasher’s science fiction, check out
“Stalked” in On the Premises. Free online
“Passcodes” in The Future Fire. Free online
“Foreign Bodies” on Intergalactic Medicine Show (subscription required to read whole story)
“Sand and Fire” in Spark Anthology IV
Her YA fantasy novel, Far-Knowing, is on sale until the end of October for only 99 cents (links below.) You can also download “Chaos Rises,” a short-story prequel, free.
What people are saying about Far-Knowing:
“Both well written and entertaining.”
“Far-Knowing pulls you in right away.”
“The world-building is spot on.”
“A fascinating view of how magic could work.”
“Hard to put down.”
Download Far-Knowing on Amazon
Download Far-Knowing on Barnes and Noble
Download Far-Knowing on iTunes
Download Far-Knowing on Smashwords
Download “Chaos Rises” FREE on Barnes and Noble
Download “Chaos Rises” FREE on iTunes
Download “Chaos Rises” FREE on Kobo
Download “Chaos Rises” FREE from Smashwords:
Melinda Brasher loves visiting alternate worlds through books and exploring this world through travel. She’s currently quite obsessed with Alaska, and has lived in Poland, Mexico, and the Czech Republic, teaching English as a second language. Her short fiction appears in Ellipsis Literature and Art, Enchanted Conversation, Electric Spec, and others. Visit her online at melindabrasher.com
