A question to those who have been submitting - shorts in this case, but novels too, in essence of the question.

When you find the restrictive submission criteria, that if your story is picked up elsewhere, to notify the Journal and retract the submission... Yet, in many, their acceptance and publishing criteria date is set well out there.... like November for one I just submitted to.

So, do you just keep submitting the same story and then babysit those publishers that did NOT act swiftly enough when your work is picked up?

It seems an undue weight to put on the author.... achieve what you have been trying to do - publish - but then make sure you notify all those that moved slowly on your work?

Opinions/experiences please.

Seems a bit of a pisser to me. But "rules are rules" kind of thing? 

But to sit on a story for 4 months before the author knows, and ONLY if they decide to publish, with no courtesy shown the author if they pass on the work.

Welcome to academia.

I don’t know if it’s the same for literary journals, but in general pay per view or subscription journals gain complete copyright of your or your institution’s work. Sometimes they allow the copyright of previous versions of the work to remain with the author(s) or institutions, but that depends on the journal and probably isn’t applicable here.

I don’t know much about literary journals, but I assume you won’t have this problem with open source ones. If they exist.

Paradoxcloud Wrote: Welcome to academia.

I don’t know if it’s the same for literary journals, but in general pay per view or subscription journals gain complete copyright of your or your institution’s work. Sometimes they allow the copyright of previous versions of the work to remain with the author(s) or institutions, but that depends on the journal and probably isn’t applicable here.

I don’t know much about literary journals, but I assume you won’t have this problem with open source ones. If they exist.

Thanks very much. 

The little I have yet explored and submitted, there are those who want the exclusive, and those that are okay with multiple placement - previous placement more than dual submission/publications. Mixed bag.

The devil is in establishing "name-brand" of publishing, and losing control of the piece at the same time, I guess. At least for shorts, it seems a reasonable trade-off (as much as I don't like it) if indeed it helps create "name platform" so said writer doesn't have to keep selling each story/novel like it's meat by the lb. 

Remaining in control of shorts isn't quite as critical to me as keeping rights to novels in the end, if any of this compromise must be made.

The pain is to sus[end over the ridiculously long wait periods - basically tying your hands from submitting. 

So, I guess I'll submit where and when I want and then babysit the journals that waited too long. Pain. In. The. Ath. 

Yes, there is babysitting involved.

It's a little easier if you use Duptrope or something like it. When I as around a lot of short-story writers, that was what they were using to submit to and keep track of submission. It is a paid service now. I think there are others.

LJ Wrote: Yes, there is babysitting involved.

It's a little easier if you use Duptrope or something like it. When I as around a lot of short-story writers, that was what they were using to submit to and keep track of submission. It is a paid service now. I think there are others.

Thanks LJ.

Seems such a mix of requests/requisites from publishing journals. I have submitted a couple on their required forum "Submittable", then there are those that welcome email with attachment. 

Am I to assume this service Duptrope converts to all requested formats? Maybe not a good question to pose to you - unkind in its expectation maybe. 

Be sure, I always tell my wife, "It's okay to say you don't know when you don't know. I'm fool enough to try and wing it - and that causes trouble!" :)

Appreciate the insight. Thx

VladThatGuy Wrote: Seems such a mix of requests/requisites from publishing journals. I have submitted a couple on their required forum "Submittable", then there are those that welcome email with attachment.

Am I to assume this service Duptrope converts to all requested formats? Maybe not a good question to pose to you - unkind in its expectation maybe.

This is a question for someone who is more familiar with how Duotrope works.

I'm not going to promise you a good answer. But a kind writer might help you on here:

https://absolutewrite.com/forums/index.php

They are probably one of the better writer communities online on the traditional side of things. However, certain area of that community tend to have absolutely no patience. It happens when a writing community been around too long. You have a lot of members who been there awhile and big egos. The big egos are a staple of many writing communities. But, they are centered on more of the traditional side of writing if I'm to be honest.

And honestly, I love RoyalRoad, but this isn't a good place for traditional publishing questions.

LJ Wrote:

VladThatGuy Wrote: Seems such a mix of requests/requisites from publishing journals. I have submitted a couple on their required forum "Submittable", then there are those that welcome email with attachment.

Am I to assume this service Duptrope converts to all requested formats? Maybe not a good question to pose to you - unkind in its expectation maybe.

This is a question for someone who is more familiar with how Duotrope works.

I'm not going to promise you a good answer. But a kind writer might help you on here:

https://absolutewrite.com/forums/index.php

They are probably one of the better writer communities online on the traditional side of things. However, certain area of that community tend to have absolutely no patience. It happens when a writing community been around too long. You have a lot of members who been there awhile and big egos. The big egos are a staple of many writing communities. But, they are centered on more of the traditional side of writing if I'm to be honest.

And honestly, I love RoyalRoad, but this isn't a good place for traditional publishing questions.

Outstanding LJ. Thanks for your insight and offerings. 

I've observed your kindness through my 5 months here and appreciated the good nature and support you offer.

As for egos, yea, causes wars in certain circumstances. :( 

I don't accept disrespect, but I don't enter any forum seeking a fight, so I suspect I will manage. But thanks very much for your fair warning! Thank you again!