Know Your Market
By
Scott Wilson
One of the hardest tasks for writers, especially ones just starting out, is finding the right market to publish their fiction. With the vast range of online e-zines and print publications there is no short supply of publications to choose from, but which ones are right for your story?
Choose a market that fits your story's genre. Whether you write horror, fantasy, or science fiction, filter for publications using an online list such as Duotrope (http://duotrope.com/index.aspx) or Ralan (http://www.ralan.com/).
Make sure you keep to the word limits. Even one word over may exclude your story from a particular magazine. If the magazine's guidelines state that the word count must be between a specific range, make sure your story is in that range. Editors get annoyed by writers who don't read the guidelines, yet expect the editors to read their stories.
As a writer, you will have spent considerable time preparing your story and revising each draft until you are happy with the finished product. To get your story published, you need to also spend time researching the markets you believe are most suitable for your story. A good start is to check each publication's website, read some of the stories already published. Know your market by researching publications in your genre.
Acquaint yourself with the publisher's style. What you think is horror and what the publisher thinks is horror may not be the same. It can be extremely frustrating for an editor to sift through a slush pile of mismatched stories to find ones that fit their magazine. While your story may be absolutely brilliant, it will likely be rejected if it doesn't match the publisher's style.
Another helpful tip is to see how many authors the magazine has published; some editors have their favorite authors and don't take on new writers very often. Some publications publish the same authors, including the editor, in every issue. While this may be listed as an active market on a directory, it may not really be open to you so don't waste your time by sending your stories there.
If your stories keep getting rejected, consider joining a writing group to get feedback. Most editors don't send out personal critiques of your story to help you understand why they haven't accepted your submission. A writer's group can help you hone your craft and understand how an editor might see your story, and these kind of online groups are free to join.
Remember, a rejection does not necessarily mean your story is no good. It may not be the right fit for the publication. Researching your market will decrease your frustration and increase your acceptances.