Science Fiction Publishers
Science Fiction Stories: the Time is Now
Author: Mark Mason
There are almost as many genres of writing as there are authors. For each author, there is a reason for writing. This is true for traditional writing mediums (such as books) and new media like blogs as well. Why authors write and what they choose to write about can be surprising and exciting. One of the most exciting and boundless writing opportunities is in the area of science fiction.
There are many reasons to write a science fiction blog. Perhaps the best reason is that the field is far from saturated, on the contrary there are few if any fantastic science fiction websites. There is some free science fiction out there, but too many of them have bland commentary; they simply expound on what is currently the rage from Hollywood. Unfortunately the media moguls in Hollywood have terrible judgment in this area. Why they are ignoring great science fiction short stories from the past century?
Time travel offers a great topic for science fiction short stories. Time machines, paradoxes, disasters, are all rich fields offering many unique stories. But what makes a great time travel story? It’s always about something you never expected such as a butterfly crushed on a boot, or a wife’s murderer who just happens to be a time traveling senator. In one book messages sent back in time help prevent a global disaster caused by the startup of a new powerful atom smasher. (Hopefully this is fiction). What we need is a new time travel science fiction blog.
But aliens and robots truly capture our attention. People scour the internet for either aliens or robots far more than for free science fiction or science fiction short stories. Everybody wants a robot butler. Everybody wants to know if alien abductions are science fact or science fiction. Have alien robots visited the White House, has an alien ever been elected? Now that would make a great science fiction blog post.
The time for science fiction is now. Aspiring writers with a science fiction stories trapped in their heads should come forward and be heard. People who have always been interested in becoming an author, but have never found the time to get started should start writing today. There are still so many science fiction stories yet to be told.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/fiction-articles/science-fiction-stories-the-time-is-now-482903.html
About the Author
To see an example of a science fiction writer that is rising up against mediocrity and striking out on his own, visit the science fiction blog of Dr. Sean O’Brien. His science fiction short stories about space and time travel appear on his blog at www.spacetimestories.com. His first novel will be ready by the end of 2008.
Tagged with: free science fiction • science fiction • science fiction blog • science fiction stories • space time stories
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You’ll actually be better off with an agent–your agent will help you polish your work and will know which editors are the best prospect for your book. And they’ll be able to get your book seen by all those editors who don’t accept unagented submissions.
However, at 120,000 words, you’re going to have a very hard time selling this book. For straight fantasy, especially from a new author, 100,000 words is the upper limit. For YA, it might be lower (I don’t know for certain).
Go through your book and cut mercilessly. Most new authors have way more than they need in their books, either unnecessary subplots, over-the-top descriptions, pointless dialogue, or just plain old verbosity and loose writing. Even if you can get it down to 110,000 words, you’ll be in better shape.
I realize this doesn’t answer your question, but my goal is to help you find the best route for publication.
Tor might still accept unagented submissions. Daw might be a good publisher for you, too. Or you could go with electronic publishing. I don’t think any e-publishers care one way or the other about agents. Go to fictionwise.com and browse the fantasy and YA books you find there, and start noting publishers. Buy and read a few to see if they’re anything like what you’ve written, then track down their submission guidelines. You won’t sell as many books, and e-pubbing doesn’t have quite the status as traditional publishing, but it’s a lot easier and faster.
L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers Of The Future accepts unsolicited science fiction manuscripts, but not by e-mail, only postal. Check on line for manuscript guidelines.
Here is a site that has information for you.
“Links to other web sites with lists of science fiction, fantasy, and horror markets
Print and electronic markets for ages 5-22”
Try
http://www.writersmarket.com
Have you finished the book? Because a publisher or an agent isn’t interested unless you have. Most publishers are headquartered in New York, with a few others scattered here and there.
That is a very broad question to answer. It is like asking what stores are good for buying shoes. There are just so many. 150 thousand books get published every year in America and that does not count self publishing. That is a lot of publishers and books for you to wade through.
You need to get yourself a copy of Writers Market and resist the urge to go right to the listings and actually READ the book. Then look at the listings.
Of course, you cannot approach the Top 10 without an agent. They are just loaded and do not accept unsolicited queries. They end up in the slush room awaiting form rejection.
Look for smaller publishers. Find some that are reading in your genre. But that is only where your research begins. Check them out – look at the other titles they are currently marketing. Check the books through Amazon, etc. Are they selling? Are any of them familiar? Go to a book store. Are any of them on the shelves? This is all essential in knowing if a publisher is actually delivering what they claim to be.
Then check the usual Writers Beware sites and make sure there are no complaints. If there are, avoid them.
Start developing a synopsis for your book and learn how to write a query letter. Nicholas Sparks has an excellent example of a query letter on his site.
As for money, avoid self publishing. It is a financial black hole and getting even worse due to Amazon’s attempts to corner the market right now. Prices will only be going up.
Persi’s Rule #1 = If you believe in your book and in yourself, you want to spend at least twice as long trying to publish it traditionally as you did writing it. Remember, Gone With the Wind was rejected 50 times. Nothing will happen overnight for you. Get used to rejection.
If you go to my profile, you will see I star all the good Q and A regarding publishing and writing. A lot of successful people have posted answers here. Feel free to use them. You will learn a lot. Pax-C
I would suggest entering some of the better known contests like Writers of the Future (http://www.writersofthefuture.com). Once you have a few honorable mentions or better under your belt, you will be known by those in the know in the industry. Also go to some of the conventions, especially the larger ones like the World Science Fiction Convention being held in Denver in 2008. A number of sci fi fans like Harlan Ellison have gone onto good careers. Get involved with a local sci fi writers group. The thing is to get out there and let people know you exist. The sci fi community is very accomodating to new writers. The important thing is to think about building a career.
Some publishers care; most don’t. Many writers simply change their nom de plum for other genre to solve the problem. I don’t. I use my real, honest to goodness name for everything I write. It doesn’t seem to make much difference at all because, I believe, the readers are not put off that I write in several different genre and tend to cross genre in many of my books.
On the other hand, I think there are some advantages to writing under a different name for certain things. I wouldn’t want my name associated with erotica. Not because I think there is anything wrong with erotica but because readers develop expectations after a while from a specific name and would be put off if I did that. Am I right? I don’t know, but I am sure I don’t want to find out.
I believe the same would hold true if I decided to write mysteries. I would probably change my name to something appropriate to the genre in which I was working. That I write hard and soft science fiction, space opera, suspense/thriller, contemporary fantasy, ordinary fantasy, speculative fiction of all sorts, and science fact under the same name, however, has had no impact other than that it might be an advantage. A quick look inside the flap or at the back cover notifies the reader of what it is I’m writing and they may choose not to go any farther with it because that is not what they were looking for.
In this business, name recognition is, in my opinion, more important than genre for promoting my work. Of course, I could be wrong on all counts. Experience, so far, has run counter to that view.
Just my tuppence on the subject….
J.
http://www.jrichardjacobs.net
“The speed of the brain is inversely proportional to the speed of the mouth squared.”
Publisher looking for science fiction novellas?
I have a 17,500 word ‘short story’ that I’m considering getting publish. I’m working on the rewrite right now, but what I’m really stumped about is how to find a publisher. The story’s science fiction, and divided in three parts, but I can combine them.
Also- any tips or sites for writing a cover letter, if they are necessary for novellas?
What do publishers think about a writer changing genres?
After a writer has published a few books of the same genre, how much will the publisher care if the writer wants to write in a different genre? Will it matter more if the writer is switching to a complete different genre such as mystery/thriller to romance? Is it better to make a small change such as fantasy to science fiction?
If the writer does switch between different genres, will the readers be more likely to turn away from the books or will they be more interested in reading the books due to the writers versatility?
Young Adult fantasy/science fiction publishers that don’t require an agent to get published?
I’m in search of a publisher–mostly fantasy, but science fiction might help–and even with Writer’s Market, I’m having trouble finding a good one that accepts novels over 120,000 words long and don’t need agents. Please help me!
How can a new science fiction author get published?
Many publishers won’t publish for authors that have never published before. So where do you start? Many popular authors started with short stories in science fiction magazines, but those magazines are not very popular nowadays, so there aren’t many places to get published, and they can be real competetive since there are so few. What can I do?
Can anyone recommend any reputable publishers for genres in fiction/adventure?
I’m a young writer, mainly writing fiction, adventure, some science fiction, and I would like to know which publishers to give some consideration to. I don’t have a lot of money to burn, though, so nothing too expensive. Or could you tell me if there are any I should avoid? Thanks for your time.
Where can I find a list of publishers who publish short science fiction stories?
what printing science fiction publishers would you think are good and accept e- mail submissions?
it would be good that the publisher is based somewhere in europe
Need to find a science fiction publisher in Long Beach, or talent agent to handel a new idea.?