I think there are only two ways to look at this… either they are accepting anything that anyone sends them… or they are so impressed with the quality of WW that they will take any submissions from members…

I dunno...

Perhaps whoever interviewed them could ask the same questions?

Dee

I think I'm the only one to have read a copy so far, so I might be able to answer James's question.

I likened the mag to a school magazine in its quality of production only. It is basic but it is still in its early stages. I haven't read all of the two copies that I have, but about five stories from one, and a couple from the other. Generally, the standard was pretty high. If you go by the general assumption that the majority of stories submitted to any pulp fiction mag are pretty rubbish then they must be filtering out a lot of crap.

I did find one story that was difficult to read; the sentence structure was such a pain that I gave up. The others were fine (odd typo, missing word) and are very much along the lines of EC comic/ fireside horror yarn. Entertaining, 'orrible, but with a line of black humour.

I sent two stories. He's accepted one, but I've no response on the other.

Colin M

Well, we could always submit a very poor story from a different email address, giving a different name, to see if it's rejected...

Oh, and a little while ago someone told me that there was a poetry anthology coming out, and the publisher seemed to accept everything sent to them. As a test to this, I put together a poem that didn't really suit what they were looking for, and was not particularly impressive. I've yet to hear from them...


I'm still pleased to have a story in Thirteen. I love that story (One Hell of a Battenberg) and re-edited it a number of times before considering sending it.

I've asked the editor of Thirteen to respond to the comments on their interview and on this thread, so we shall wait and see.

I was thinking of emailing THirteen my RLG on the mosquito. Trouble is it starts with the same line as Dee's 'Thoughtform'.

D'you think they'll notice?

jumbo

Edit, darling! Rewrite edit!

Now don't you get me wrong, I think we need a decent horror mag, and I like the idea of Thirteen and would like to see it go places too. Having a story published is wonderful, in whatever medium, I just didn't feel I knew that much about the mag, having not seen it. It's going to be great on WW as we all see our stories published, and discuss them here.

I'd like to know what their readership is, and who decides what the best story is? Is there a reader's letters page for feedback etc?

JB

This conversation feels a bit like Groucho Marx saying 'I wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have me as a member'. The fact that Thirteen magazine has taken on so many stories from WW doesn't mean that their editorial process is flawed or that they're taking anything, it simply means what I've suspected for a while now: that there's an awful lot of work on this site good enough to be published. And so it will be. Congratulations to the Thirteen alumni.
Best
Sion

Don’t get me wrong! I’ve no complaints about Thirteen, although from what Colin describes, £3.50 per issue sounds very expensive. I’m delighted they want to publish Thoughtform. I’m just a bit gobsmacked at the number of members who have had stories accepted.

There again – as Sion says, there is a huge wealth of talent on this site. We can hardly complain that, having found such a rich seam, Thirteen continues to mine it.

Makes you wonder why other magazines don’t approach us.

Dee.

Well, as a horror/dark fantasy writer, there aren't many outlets for me I'm afraid. I'm not really in the People's Friend category. I keep battering 3rd Alternative and Interzone, and have just sent a story to Black October in the States. I'm yet to hear, but I like the idea of Thirteen. It needs our support!

I'm not sure I like the idea of being mined though Dee. We'll just have to wait and see how deep the shaft goes...

Did I just write that?

JB



<Added>

If anyone knows of any good sci fi/horror mags I can pester, I'd really appreciate it.

JB

Have you seen Dark Tales?

http://www.darktales.co.uk/

That one's a quarterly magazine, I read a couple of issues, and feel that they have a decent mix of stories. At first the only way to enter was via their competition, which you had to pay to enter, but I believe they've now changed that.

Andrew Hannon, editor of Thirteen Magazine, has asked me to post his response to some of your comments:

'The first issue, raised and accurately commented upon by Colin Mulhern, is that of the quality of the magazine. He's absolutley right - it is very basic. But that's pretty much the point - the emphasis is on the stories, unreservedly. We are in an embryonic state and the magazine is entirely funded by myself and my sub-editor - while it would be nice to pay the printers more to improve the aesthetics of Thirteen, our sole emphasis is on providing a showcase for horror stories. Our aim of getting a distributor, as mentioned in the interview, can only be realisticly achieved if we get a few issues under our belt, and unfortunately for the moment we simply cannot afford to produce a nice glossy magazine.

Someone mentioned our lack of advertising, but this isn't for want of trying - we have approached a variety of (in our opinion) suitable companies but, as you find out pretty quickly, you're lucky to even get a response most of the time, let alone a positive one. The aim has to be for us to show a demand for a magazine like Thirteen, both from writers and readers, and then we can move it up a level. So hold onto these early issues - they might be worth more than you think one day!

Another issue (which made me smile) was the conspiracy that Thirteen doesn't reject stories. It's not true! It is the only unpleasant part of the job, having to tell someone that their work isn't good enough. I know we have accepted quite a few stories from WriteWord writers but I don't think that should be so surprising - you are writers, afterall! Bear in mind the fact that we also have quite a number of slots to fill so we can be quite lenient sometimes and allow stories in that might not find homes in other magazines. We do our best to make them more readable if there are any major problems with grammar or punctuation, etc, but as it says on the website, we look for good ideas. I also feel that taking a chance and accepting a story from a new writer can spur them on in an industry which can so often make you feel like you're wasting your time and everyone elses, as though sending a draft novel to an agent or publisher was an offensive and ridiculous thing to do. Let's face it, we've all had the rush of excitement when opening the headed envelope from the publisher we sent our manuscript off to months previously... and the kick between the legs when you read their impersonal, generic letter of rejection. As an editor, if I see even a spark of talent, I feel it is my duty to do something positive with it, not extinguish it. However, it is not in my interest to publish something which doesn't stand a chance, nor is it in the interests of my subscribers.

One of the comments pondered on what would happen if a fake email was set up in an attempt to get a deliberately bad story (with the same opening line as another submission?!) accepted. I find this slightly disconcerting to say the least. We receive so many submissions and doing something like that would make no real sense - it isn't fair on genuine submitters and it would waste my time. A bad story will be rejected, and I'm pretty sure I would spot the same opening line anyway. I take the idea in my stride though - as I was once told, you'll always be up against something, no matter what you're trying to do. Our intentions are good - we are not ripping anyone off and we have paid out almost £700 of our own money to writers, so it is a little frustrating when you get the impression that starting up a magazine and being brazen enough to say to people "Yes, we like your story and we want to publish you" is met with suspicion. Perhaps it seems like too much of a good thing, but in time I hope we will prove ourselves.

Generally, however, I am delighted with the way the magazine is going and the attitude of people like Colin who accept that we are still getting started and are prepared to support us. It is genuinely appreciated and makes all the effort worth it, so thank you! I enjoyed the reminiscing over magazines in the past and it is flattering to be discussed alongside them.

I hope this has helped sort out some of your queries - if not, please feel free to email me.'

Andrew Hannon,
Editor
http://www.thirteenmagazine.co.uk

Wow that's great. An actual real response from an editor about their magazine!

Like I said, I think this kind of magazine needs as much encouragement as it can get. I don't think anyone means to be cynical, it's just as writers dealing with a whole heap of rejections all the time, you become slightly jaded and questioning when you get somewhere.

I'm looking forward to seeing a copy!

JB

I think it's great to get such a quick response.

I feel bad now for ever having any doubt. It's sad the way that we can become so cynical, because of some of the bad experiences we've had.

Andrew,

Thank you for such a rapid and well-considered response.

However I must clarify one point. I think you’ve confused two comments. Someone suggested a spoof submission – OK, I don’t buy into that at all. But the comment about the two stories with the same opening line was a different issue.

Since the start of this year we have been running what we call RLG (Random Line Generator). On the first of each month someone posts an opening line and anyone who feels inspired can write a story or a poem from it. These can be any length, any theme. The only stipulation is that they all have to have the same opening line and, obviously, the story/poem must be relevant to the line.

Thoughtform, my story which you have accepted for your December issue (thank you! ) was written for the July RLG. John (Jumbo) was thinking about submitting his story but was worried that it has the same opening line as mine. So no conspiracy at all there!

Good luck with Thirteen.

Dee.