Jan 09 2009
Get in with the Big Boys
Who: Fantasy & Science Fiction
What: Just what it says on the wrapper. Science fiction and fantasy fiction.
How: Get in here and you’ll be in rarified company.
Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine was the original publisher of SF classics like Stephen King’s Dark Tower, Daniel Keyes’s Flowers for Algernon, and Walter M. Miller’s A Canticle for Leibowitz. Yeah, those old saws.
“We prefer character-oriented stories. We receive a lot of fantasy fiction, but never enough science fiction or humor.” Hey, that would be a good way in… and believe me when I tell you that you want in because this would look wonderful on your writing resume, and they pay!
How long: Up to 25,000 words in length.
How much: You get paid $.06 - $.09/word, up to 25,000 words! At six cents per word and a 20,000 word story, that’s $1,200!
Is there a catch? Sort of, but it’s reasonable. They don’t want simultaneous or electronic submissions.
“Please type your manuscript on clean white bond, double spaced, with one inch margins. Put your name on each page, and enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Writers from abroad are encouraged to send recyclable manuscripts with a letter-sized SASE and an International Reply Coupon or 90 cents in US postage (69 cents to Canada and Mexico).”
They even give useful links:
- You can obtain US postage online from www.usps.com.
- And there’s a good article on standard manuscript preparation, at sfwa.org/writing/vonda/vonda.htm.
Where: Snail mail city! Send begging letters to:
Gordon Van Gelder
Fantasy & Science Fiction
P.O. Box 3447
Hoboken, NJ 07030
Hey! I write sci-fi/humor! Maybe I should stop being a lazy cow and do something with my life!
… Just as soon as nothing good is on TV. Oh look! “Rhoda” is on! Carlton the doorman is so funny!
Life is short, Clyde.
Re-runs are forever.
Hmmm, tempting… I have a decent piece, though I’m not sure it’s quite fantasy enough for them.
Best. Reply. Ever.