Market Round-Up March 2007

© Jodi M. Webb – All Rights Reserved

 

We all want to make money writing but sometimes we write things simply because they refuse to remain unwritten.  But they won’t sell.  Oh, they might be good (even great) but they’re a little too “literary” for most magazines and everyone knows you’re lucky to get a comp copy from a literary magazine operating on a shoestring. Wrong! I was delighted to find several thriving literary magazines that offer payment. Just remember literary magazines have very strict guidelines: they only read during certain months, their word counts are not suggestions, and they want it to arrive their way (most want mailed copies although a few only accept email submissions).

 

My first market is a merry mix of all types of writing that don’t seem to fit into any cookie cutter image.  The Sun is a great spot for personal memories as well as short stories and poetry.  Also, check out their Readers Write column—nonfiction pieces of a few hundred words on a different topic each month—April 1 is the deadline for “Rivals”. Although this is a paying market, Readers Write authors only receive a 6 month subscription. The Sun Writer’s Guidelines: http://www.thesunmagazine.org/writer_guidelines.html Sy Safransky, Editor The Sun 107 N. Roberson Street Chapel Hill, NC 27576

 

 

If you’re avante-garde this next market may not be for you, their feel is more classical. The editors seem to enjoy Faulkner-esque stories but don’t worry if you’ve never ventured past the Mason-Dixon line.  They also include stories and poetry with rich characters, even if they aren’t Southern. The Southern Review Writer’s Guidelines http://www.lsu.edu/thesouthernreview/submissions.html

 

 

The next is over 30 years old, impressive for a literary magazine.  They are one of the few markets that will also consider drama and excerpts from novels-in-progress. It’s a Canadian market so remember to use IRC’s for SASE if you’re not Canadian—they’ll also send replies by email if you prefer. Grain Magazine Writer’s Guidelines http://www.grainmagazine.ca/submissions.htm

 

 

Imagine not having to share space with poets, essayists, memoir writers, and literary critics?  It’s all fiction, all the time. That’s still only about fifty stories a year but it’s a lot more than many literary magazines that cover many different types of writing. Glimmer Train Magazine Writer’s Guidelines http://www.glimmertrain.com/writguid1.html

 

Jodi’s Tip: Fiction-writing always seems to get pushed aside in favor of paying assignments and looming deadlines for me.  I need some “fun” writing back in my life. So, in hopes of developing my fiction writing, I’ve decided to assign myself a few contests. I’m choosing one contest a month—this month it’s the Toasted Cheese mystery contest. I’m finding that all my writing benefits when I schedule in a little fun writing and who knows, maybe I’ll end up published! In your quest for publication has writing become less fun?  Are you battling writer’s block?  Try a contest, the crazier the better. 

 

 

About the author:  Jodi M. Webb spent years writing articles for dozens of magazines such as Pennsylvania Magazine, American Profile, and Christian Science Monthly. But recently she’s been discovering a wonderful new market: business writing. Her new specialty includes catalog copy, customer newsletters, and writing in the voice of her alter-ego the Organizer Genie. Like every writer Jodi feels she has a book(or two…or three) in her but she hasn’t managed to get an agent or publisher to agree with yet. Stay tuned for updates!

 

 

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