Login   Sign Up 



 




  • more advice sought on sumissions
    by cherys at 10:47 on 23 July 2007
    Hi everyone
    I'm organising a collection of short stories to send out to publishers and wondered about the etiquette. I don't want to pester them for submission guidelines but thought some people on this site might know.

    As well as cover letter, biog and sample stories, should I send a list of the stories themselves with details of previous publication? And if so, should that list include a micro-synopsis of each story? I've done one but am doubtful of its usefulness. they don't always precis well as so much is dependant on mood and character.

    If anyone knows what is expected/welcomed in a submission of short stories I'd be really grateful for feedback.
    Thanks.
    Cherys
  • Re: more advice sought on sumissions
    by Steerpike`s sister at 19:36 on 23 July 2007
    To me (not that I have experience) it seems silly to synopsise a short story. As you say, so much is mood and characterisation and so on. For a novel it's differerent because, well, it's longer. If you are sending the whole story anyway then why do you need to send a synopsis of it too?
    Others may know better than me of course.
  • Re: more advice sought on sumissions
    by EmmaD at 19:44 on 23 July 2007
    I would say that you definitely need to put in a list of the titles, and, yes, with pub credits, but as Leila says, not summaries. The main function of the synopsis of a novel is to show that you can plot properly, which isn't really the issue with short fiction. The sample stories will demonstrate that you can structure a story properly, which is what they want to know.

    Emma
  • Re: more advice sought on sumissions
    by cherys at 08:46 on 24 July 2007
    Leila and Emma,
    Thank you both. I agree.
    Cherys