30th Nov 2007
Archive: Submission Guidlelines for “How’d They Do That?”
This project was open to submissions in mid 2007, and is scheduled for publication in March 2008. Even though no further submissions are being taken, we like to leave the guidelines up as a reference point for anyone considering future project collaborations with Notorious Press.
(If you can’t see the entire article, click on the title above this section.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Submission Guidelines for “HOW’D THEY DO THAT?â€
Quick Version:
Notorious Press invites authors to submit short fiction to be considered for inclusion in the upcoming mystery/crime anthology HOW’D THEY DO THAT? (temporary title) edited by Jenifer Nightingale-Ethier. General theme is that all stories will center on quirky methods of committing or solving a crime. That’s right, the “quirky” part can be acts by either the criminals or the investigators, or both. This title will be a PoD trade paperback with a release date of early 2008. (Probably first available at the Left Coast Crime convention in Denver, Colorado, March 1-4 of 2008.)
Paying $50 for new stories in the 2,000 to 8,000 word range. Very limited number of reprints may be taken. Deadline to submit is October 21, 2007. Submit or query to the editor by email: editorjen@notoriouspress.com , or see the publisher’s website: www.notoriouspress.com
More Details:
CONTENT GUIDELINES:
Notorious Press seeks 10-15 stories showing how crimes are either committed or solved in unusual, surprising or quirky ways. Any sub-genre welcome - hardboiled, cozy, police procedural, historical, and more are all fine. Talking ferret detectives? Careful, please. When we say “Quirky Methods of Crime” we really want the plot and/or method of resolution to be unusual or unpredictable. We’re not looking to see how outrageously you can craft a bizarre character. Make the resolution believable, but have method in your madness, and vice-versa.
Yes, we want the unusual, so we expect that in many stories the setup or resolution will have twists. But if your tale involves deduction give fair clues, not just obscure data-points. Make it quirky because of actions planned or chosen by the characters, not just fact or coincidences that work out for them.
This anthology is a MYSTERY oriented book, but crossovers with other genres will be considered. The setting can also appeal to SF, fantasy, romance, western, or other genres as long as the central plot is clearly of appeal to mystery/crime readers.
We would love to have a variety of styles from very dark & violent to light & breezy. Still leaves plenty of room to play with the conventions. Protagonists can run the gamut from Private Eyes to Cops to Amateur Sleuths and way beyond, along with any kind of perpetrators and victims. Murder is not required - any old crime will do. The crime can even go unsolved, if the storytelling takes you there and the reader is in on the solution. But please, if using stock characters or situations, do include new twists .
No “fan-fic†or unauthorized use of others’ copyrighted or trademarked characters. No porn. Sexual content, if included, should be relevant to character development or needed to advance the plot. If explicit depictions of sexual matters are the main focus of the action we probably won’t use it in this anthology. (But the same story might still be right for one of our future projects.).
New stories preferred, along with older but never-sold stories. But we will also consider a few pieces already published elsewhere in limited exposure releases, in print or online. (Contact editor or publisher for limitations - but generally things that were in print or on-line in 2006 or earlier are OK, and things currently on-line but which can taken down for all of the year 2008 will be considered. You don’t need to remove things to submit, just if you are selected, to be determined in November 2007.) Might even take a reprint of an old “classic†tale from decades back if it is on target.
BONUS: Re-name this Anthology!
Let’s face it, the current temporary title for this anthology is a little soft. We know that. It works fine as a sub-title, and to help solicit on-target submissions, but we really need a sexier title for the finished book. So if you submit a story with a title we adopt (with your permission) for the overall book we’ll gladly pay you double. Even if you don’t submit a story, send us the winning title idea and get $25, credit in the book and 2 free copies if we choose and use your suggestion. (In case of multiple submissions of the same chosen title, first one wins.)
RATES & RIGHTS:
Pay is about $50 per story, maybe more for a novella and less for a short-short. (Haiku for $2?) Word counts are somewhat flexible to allow for variety, but most selections will probably be between 2,000 and 8,000 words. Contributors will also get 2 copies of the finished book. We’d prefer to pay by PayPal, but other options are possible. If the publisher sells over 1,000 copies additional bonus payments will be divided among all contributors.
Notorious Press has first publishing rights for new stories, and may keep the anthology “in-print†for a long while, as it is PoD release. We would ask that stories not be placed elsewhere until one year after HOW’D THEY DO THAT? is released, except in the author’s own single-author collections. After that one year period, all rights revert to the author for possible additional sales. (Author retains copyright in any case.)
HOW TO SUBMIT:
The editor strongly prefers e-mailed e-submissions, so query her first before you try any other method. As for format, please try to send the story as an attachment rather than in the body of the e-mail. (Ask first if you need to send the story in the body of an email.) Stories should be in standard manuscript format, (one-inch margins, double spaced, Times New Roman or Courier font), and attached to your e-mail in .rtf or .doc format. Probably wise to put your contact info (name, e-mail, story title) in both the body of the e-mail and in the attachment, just to make sure. Please send inquiries and submissions directly to the editor, Jenifer Nightingale-Ethier at: editorjen@notoriouspress.com
Unpublished as well as experienced pros are encouraged to submit. If you have them, please include your most relevant publishing credits. This publication will also solicit a foreword and/or afterword from each selected author to include in the final book. Putting a word-count in the intro would be nice, too.
TIMELINES:
Submission window is July 1 to October 21. To avoid disappointment, submit early or query the editor first if submitting in the last few weeks. We’ll try to acknowledge the receipt of all submissions within two weeks, but please don’t expect a final selection decision until November. Simultaneous submissions not accepted, due to the rather short submission window for this project. If you have more than one tale to submit, send you best one first, with a brief list of the other submission possibilities. The editor will let you know if she would like to see any of the others.
ABOUT THE EDITOR:
Jenifer Nightingale-Ethier is a book reviewer for several online mystery fiction sites. She has been a moderator and panelist at large mystery fiction conventions, and works as a freelance editor, “story doctor” and consultant. Jenifer created and ran an international online book exchange program, and has been a bookseller and music teacher. She lives near Vancouver, Canada, and welcomes all authors to begin the barrage of baffling tales. Submissions and Queries should be sent to: editorjen@notoriouspress.com
OTHER ANTHOLOGIES FROM NOTORIOUS PRESS:
Notorious Press is committed to producing at least 2 anthologies per year, along with selected single-author collections and reprints of forgotten works in the Mystery/Horror/Fantasy realm. See the website for other submission possibilities: http://www.notoriouspress.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Questions specifically about submitting to this anthology should be directed to the editor, editorjen@notoriouspress.com
But any other general or specific question about Notorious Press is welcome at: info@notoriouspress.com
THANKS!
This project was open to submissions in mid 2007, and is scheduled for publication in March 2008. Even though no further submissions are being taken, we like to leave the guidelines up as a reference point for anyone considering future project collaborations with Notorious Press.
(If you can’t see the entire article, click on the title above this section.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Submission Guidelines for “HOW’D THEY DO THAT?â€
Quick Version:
Notorious Press invites authors to submit short fiction to be considered for inclusion in the upcoming mystery/crime anthology HOW’D THEY DO THAT? (temporary title) edited by Jenifer Nightingale-Ethier. General theme is that all stories will center on quirky methods of committing or solving a crime. That’s right, the “quirky” part can be acts by either the criminals or the investigators, or both. This title will be a PoD trade paperback with a release date of early 2008. (Probably first available at the Left Coast Crime convention in Denver, Colorado, March 1-4 of 2008.)
Paying $50 for new stories in the 2,000 to 8,000 word range. Very limited number of reprints may be taken. Deadline to submit is October 21, 2007. Submit or query to the editor by email: editorjen@notoriouspress.com , or see the publisher’s website: www.notoriouspress.com
More Details:
CONTENT GUIDELINES:
Notorious Press seeks 10-15 stories showing how crimes are either committed or solved in unusual, surprising or quirky ways. Any sub-genre welcome - hardboiled, cozy, police procedural, historical, and more are all fine. Talking ferret detectives? Careful, please. When we say “Quirky Methods of Crime” we really want the plot and/or method of resolution to be unusual or unpredictable. We’re not looking to see how outrageously you can craft a bizarre character. Make the resolution believable, but have method in your madness, and vice-versa.
Yes, we want the unusual, so we expect that in many stories the setup or resolution will have twists. But if your tale involves deduction give fair clues, not just obscure data-points. Make it quirky because of actions planned or chosen by the characters, not just fact or coincidences that work out for them.
This anthology is a MYSTERY oriented book, but crossovers with other genres will be considered. The setting can also appeal to SF, fantasy, romance, western, or other genres as long as the central plot is clearly of appeal to mystery/crime readers.
We would love to have a variety of styles from very dark & violent to light & breezy. Still leaves plenty of room to play with the conventions. Protagonists can run the gamut from Private Eyes to Cops to Amateur Sleuths and way beyond, along with any kind of perpetrators and victims. Murder is not required - any old crime will do. The crime can even go unsolved, if the storytelling takes you there and the reader is in on the solution. But please, if using stock characters or situations, do include new twists .
No “fan-fic†or unauthorized use of others’ copyrighted or trademarked characters. No porn. Sexual content, if included, should be relevant to character development or needed to advance the plot. If explicit depictions of sexual matters are the main focus of the action we probably won’t use it in this anthology. (But the same story might still be right for one of our future projects.).
New stories preferred, along with older but never-sold stories. But we will also consider a few pieces already published elsewhere in limited exposure releases, in print or online. (Contact editor or publisher for limitations - but generally things that were in print or on-line in 2006 or earlier are OK, and things currently on-line but which can taken down for all of the year 2008 will be considered. You don’t need to remove things to submit, just if you are selected, to be determined in November 2007.) Might even take a reprint of an old “classic†tale from decades back if it is on target.
BONUS: Re-name this Anthology!
Let’s face it, the current temporary title for this anthology is a little soft. We know that. It works fine as a sub-title, and to help solicit on-target submissions, but we really need a sexier title for the finished book. So if you submit a story with a title we adopt (with your permission) for the overall book we’ll gladly pay you double. Even if you don’t submit a story, send us the winning title idea and get $25, credit in the book and 2 free copies if we choose and use your suggestion. (In case of multiple submissions of the same chosen title, first one wins.)
RATES & RIGHTS:
Pay is about $50 per story, maybe more for a novella and less for a short-short. (Haiku for $2?) Word counts are somewhat flexible to allow for variety, but most selections will probably be between 2,000 and 8,000 words. Contributors will also get 2 copies of the finished book. We’d prefer to pay by PayPal, but other options are possible. If the publisher sells over 1,000 copies additional bonus payments will be divided among all contributors.
Notorious Press has first publishing rights for new stories, and may keep the anthology “in-print†for a long while, as it is PoD release. We would ask that stories not be placed elsewhere until one year after HOW’D THEY DO THAT? is released, except in the author’s own single-author collections. After that one year period, all rights revert to the author for possible additional sales. (Author retains copyright in any case.)
HOW TO SUBMIT:
The editor strongly prefers e-mailed e-submissions, so query her first before you try any other method. As for format, please try to send the story as an attachment rather than in the body of the e-mail. (Ask first if you need to send the story in the body of an email.) Stories should be in standard manuscript format, (one-inch margins, double spaced, Times New Roman or Courier font), and attached to your e-mail in .rtf or .doc format. Probably wise to put your contact info (name, e-mail, story title) in both the body of the e-mail and in the attachment, just to make sure. Please send inquiries and submissions directly to the editor, Jenifer Nightingale-Ethier at: editorjen@notoriouspress.com
Unpublished as well as experienced pros are encouraged to submit. If you have them, please include your most relevant publishing credits. This publication will also solicit a foreword and/or afterword from each selected author to include in the final book. Putting a word-count in the intro would be nice, too.
TIMELINES:
Submission window is July 1 to October 21. To avoid disappointment, submit early or query the editor first if submitting in the last few weeks. We’ll try to acknowledge the receipt of all submissions within two weeks, but please don’t expect a final selection decision until November. Simultaneous submissions not accepted, due to the rather short submission window for this project. If you have more than one tale to submit, send you best one first, with a brief list of the other submission possibilities. The editor will let you know if she would like to see any of the others.
ABOUT THE EDITOR:
Jenifer Nightingale-Ethier is a book reviewer for several online mystery fiction sites. She has been a moderator and panelist at large mystery fiction conventions, and works as a freelance editor, “story doctor” and consultant. Jenifer created and ran an international online book exchange program, and has been a bookseller and music teacher. She lives near Vancouver, Canada, and welcomes all authors to begin the barrage of baffling tales. Submissions and Queries should be sent to: editorjen@notoriouspress.com
OTHER ANTHOLOGIES FROM NOTORIOUS PRESS:
Notorious Press is committed to producing at least 2 anthologies per year, along with selected single-author collections and reprints of forgotten works in the Mystery/Horror/Fantasy realm. See the website for other submission possibilities: http://www.notoriouspress.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Questions specifically about submitting to this anthology should be directed to the editor, editorjen@notoriouspress.com
But any other general or specific question about Notorious Press is welcome at: info@notoriouspress.com
THANKS!
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