If you’re going to be submitting work to us, here are a few things you may want to bear in mind. We’ll be updating this list regularly, so check for our latest – we may suddenly have an urge for zombie romances (kidding – hell hasn’t frozen over yet).
- we’ve seen many things many times so be original.
- we’re picky buyers.
- we can tell if you know your craft – don’t send us your first draft and make sure you’ve covered the basics. It doesn’t have to be perfect (if an author tells me they’ve never submitted a story with a typo or an obvious spelling mistake they’re lying) – but it does have to be professional.
- zombies and vampires are a hard sell. Werewolves, though, are always welcome.
- we’re not into gratuitous gore or erotica – don’t send us anything you wouldn’t want your kid sister to see.
- my mother used to ask me why, since there are millions of beautiful words in the English language, did I have to use that one? Fucked if I know, but be moderate with your swearing.
- lots of high fantasy names will send us heading for the reject button.
- ditto lots of backstory about your fantasy universe that swamps the plot.
- thoughtful, character based stories are our thing.
- don’t shy away from politics or religion but anything racist or deliberately offensive will get you canned.
- if you’re writing science fiction, wev’e got to buy in to your world building. Hand-wavey pseudo science rarely impresses.
- no fan-fic – we’ve no desire to get sued.
- Enthusiasm, perserverence and an obvious willingness to take feedback and respond positively go a long way with us.