Saturday, May 16: Mississippi Mud
AND THE WINNER IS . . .
by John M. Floyd
Like most (if not all) of you, I’ve been reading short stories for many years, and like most (if not all) of you, I especially enjoy mysteries. Also, as a writer of that kind of fiction, I like shopping for markets that might be good showcases for it, and that might even occasionally pay me with something I can take to the bank — or at least use to buy envelopes and stamps.
What are the markets for mystery shorts, and short stories in general? Well, here are the three categories that come to mind: magazines, anthologies, and contests.
Many of my writer friends love contests. Every time we get together, they tell me how many stories they’ve sent in to this competition or that, and what results they’ve received from contests they entered months ago. There are very few first-place wins among these reports — occasionally there’s an honorable mention, and a lot of never-heard-back-froms.
Here’s the thing. I’m not a huge fan of short-story contests. I realize some of you probably are, and that’s fine. But here are my reasons for being a Doubting Thomas:
- Contests usually require never-before-published manuscripts. They don’t allow reprints, for obvious reasons — but the problem is, never-before-published manuscripts are also prime candidates for the best magazines. Places like AHMM and EQMM and The Strand aren’t interested in previously published material. Why not send your original stories to those folks first?
- The odds aren’t good. I think you stand a better chance of having your story published in a respectable magazine or anthology than of winning first place in a respectable contest. And let’s face it, anything other than first place might not be something you’d want to include in your cover letter when you try to sell that story later. When some editors see the words “third place” or “honorable mention,” that just means there were stories in that contest that were better than yours.
- There’s usually a long wait time involved. I don’t like the idea of having my story sit in a judge’s stack of entries for weeks or even months before it gets read. I’d rather have it circulating to various publications. (But maybe that’s just me.)
- Contests often require entry fees. Many will disagree with this point as well, but I just don’t like to pay anyone anything to consider my writing. That includes everything from vanity publishing to so-called “reading fees.” Unless we’re talking about subscriptions, donations, etc., I’m still a believer in the old adage that money should flow to, and not from, the writer.
Does that mean I will never enter a short-story contest? Who knows. I’ve done a lot of things I didn’t think I would do. Does it mean you shouldn’t? Hey, that’s up to you. This is my opinion only. I just like knowing that a story I’ve worked hard on is being used in the most effective way, and that I’m giving my offspring their best chance to be successful in the world.
That’s my argument. I’d certainly welcome your views on the subject.
Whether you agree or not, and whether you decide to enter a contest or submit your work to a magazine, I wish you the best of luck. May your story be a good one, may your editor (or judge, as the case may be) be smart enough to recognize its worth, and may fortune shine down upon you.
Meanwhile, write another one. And another. And another . . .
Couldn’t be more in agreement. Contests bring the county fair to mind. “And folks, once again Aunt Bea’s apple pie wins the blue ribbon.”
For no particular reason I’ve been reading about the era of the pulp magazines lately. If only we had that many markets today! Even having Mike Shayne or The Saint return would be nice.
I too wish there were more markets today for short stories, especially mysteries. I’ve read pieces by several folks (including the late Louis L’Amour, who wrote some crime shorts as well as westerns and seafaring stories) that say authors during the Pulp Era could actually make a living writing nothing but shorts. One thing, I suppose, was that there were so many pulp magazines, the other was that the payment per word was high. (Must have been nice.)
Everything you say is true, and I agree. But, when a story I wrote for a contest came in second (and the winners were selected by vote of the readers of this particular e-zine, for the first time I had an inkling that just maybe someone else might find something of value in a story I wrote. I haven’t entered any contests since – nor made any sales, either – but I continue to write and submit with a bit more confidence in myself.
Like John, I am not a fan of writing contests. I believe that the standard of professional writing is the market place. If you can convince a reputable editor that your work stands up against other professional authors, then you’ve arrived. But not before.
Larry, I congratulate you on placing in the contest you mentioned, and I do think anything that builds confidence is a good thing. Remember, though, that if your story was well-written enough to come in second in competition, it’s probably worthy of publication as well, so if it remains unpublished I hope you’ll try it at a print (or even an online) market.
I also believe that a win like yours, based on readers’ votes, carries more weight than one based on a judge’s (or judges’) decision.