Thursday, December 06, 2007
Where to Send It?
I just finished what I would call a "nice" crime story, maybe verging on lit fic, but centering on a small town sheriff. A crime takes place but it is not hard-boiled or noir. I could try EQMM but they tend to only take name writers. So where do I send this piece? It's about sadness and angst, not about violence and exploding heads. This is my dilemma. Where do I send stories that really center on the human element but take place in the world of crime? If I had the technical skills, I would start a zine that looked for this type of story. Megan does it and Bryon from time to time. But who else?
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15 comments:
You know, if you hit the right lit mag, they might be interested. Perhaps take a look at a few older copies of BEST AMERICAN MYSTERY STORIES and see some of the less than usual suspects from which they get stories and runners-up.
A big list of lit mags is available at newpages.com, too.
I don't think that's true about EQMM (or AHMM for that matter). From my experience, and from talking with both Janet and Linda, I have the strong impression they make their selections based on the work and not the author's name. Of course, a lot of very good authors submit to them, which is why they end up publishing a lot of named authors.
Have you tried Heliotrope? They're supposed to be looking for that type of story. At least that's what they say over at Crimezine.
Sandra
The first 15 or so stories I wrote are in lit mags. I have one coming out this month in Bayou Review, one a few months ago in Storyglossia. The problem is if there is any crime in it, they tend to view it as crime. Also except for the big 20, nobody reads them except the authors in them. If you look on Duotrope (my favorite site for finding places to publish) on the crossover mags, it's very few.
Heliotrope has had one of my stories for some time. They haven't responded to emails so maybe they're away. Thanks. guys. I will try EQMM. What the hell!
And you're right Dave. A writer is competing with the best in those venues. They have quite a pool to choose from.
The eclectic littles to send CF to first (After it returns from EQMM and AHMM and quite possibly THE STRAND...and ZOETROPE ALL-STORY), leaving aside the explicitly CF littles like CRIMEWAVE and MURDALAND:
ONTARIO REVIEW
BOULEVARD
WITNESS
MANOA
THE GEORGIA REVIEW
VIRGINIA QUARTERLY REVIEW
TIN HOUSE
...FICTION and SOUTHWEST REVIEW seem less likely. Maybe BLACK CLOCK.
...the above list is based on what they've published over the last several years, that I've read, btw...
Todd-when I said I published stories, it wasn't that group of mags I published in. That's the cream of the crop. Mine were more like Portland Review, Potomac Review, Baltimore Review, etc.
Love to get one of that group. Maybe I will try them. My writing group also suggested lit rather than crime.
Hell, if it has a gun in it anywhere send it to Neil.
I already did.
At one point, the sheriff goes into a cabin with his Glock in hand, but that's about it for guns and there is only one incident of violence. I guess it really is a lit story.
Truthfully, it's not right for PWG. It's not the right note to bring it back on. I've read the anthology, which i bought at Bouchercon in Chicago and it's not like those stories. I gotta work on this toughness issue. I gotta see No Country again and get inspired.
Ha. Or start omitting punctuation.
Other littles that Might play:
A PUBLIC SPACE, Brigid Hughes's project after she and PARIS REVIEW parted ways
ROSEBUD
and WORLD LITERATURE REVIEW regularly publishes nonfiction About crime fiction, but not much CF (or other F) per issue.
PLEIADES might be worth investigating, as well. And, hey, your portfolio with POTOMAC, etc., including MURDALAND, will probably look reasonably good to, say, ALASKA QUARTERLY REVIEW, in the cover letter.
Thanks, Todd. Good ideas all.
Patti,
Contact me and lets discuss this. I have started two sites for fiction and looking for a possible montly or quarterly zine....
Aldo
I just sent the story out to Ellery Queen on Dave's advice that they might like that kind of story. When it comes back, as it is sure to do, I'll send it to you next.
I have other stories though. I can send you one called Monkey Justice, which has the same literary/crime line thing.
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