Cemetery Dance magazine to re-open to submissions later this year

[Brian James Freeman]

Yet, I do have a question: what is the value of opening to submissions besides the chance that some new writers will be discovered?

It's an excellent question and you answered it perfectly yourself. In CD #66, two of the stories originally arrived unsolicited. In CD #65, I believe it was three of the stories. Same deal with #64. Looking forward to #67, it's two or three. #68 will be three as well.

If you go back to the early days of the magazine, almost all of the fiction was unsolicited. A lot of those authors went on to be some of our bestselling authors in the book line.

New blood is good for any publication, and one of the reasons we keep publishing the magazine (even though it makes no financial sense to do so) is because we love finding new voices in the genre.

Of course, on the surface, you are correct about the odds. If we have 2 or 3 slots in each issue for unsolicited stories, and we publish 4 issues a year (the current plan), that's maybe 12 slots. If 500 stories arrive during the reading period, those aren't good "odds." But submitting to a magazine isn't like buying a lottery ticket or playing some other game of chance. If you're written an outstanding story that is perfect for the publication, your odds aren't 12 in 500... they're much better than that. But, of course, maybe your perfect story is just like another story they just purchased. Or maybe there are 12 other stories that came in that are just a little more perfect for the magazine. Submitting unsolicited stories to any publication is a combination of hard work (on your writing) and lucky timing (sending the right story at the right time).

Of course, the reason we were closed to submissions is because we have this tendency to not think about "slots" to fill, we just buy anything that really strikes our fancy... and that's how we ended up buying too much and having to close to submissions for a while. (Some stories bought out of the "slush" have also ended up in the Shivers anthologies.)

Thanks for the great question. I hope this information is at least somewhat helpful.

Brian

[JJ123]

I do think it is cool that Cemetery Dance will once again be open to submissions, but, at the same time, I've often wondered if it might be best for the magazine to simply keep using its usual contributors and remain closed to those who aren't already established. I may end up submitting a story (especially since it is being done through an electronic system, which I like better than postal mail), but I have to assume, simply because of statistical reality, that my work will not get accepted.

At the end of the day -- and there is nothing wrong with this -- Cemetery Dance will most likely go with the usual suspects. I think most amateur authors (like myself) would be best served trying other markets. And the announcement says the magazine will only be open for two months. To me, I think it would be easier on the publication's editorial staff if the publisher remained permanently closed.

Of course, that being said, I encourage some in this forum who have established themselves to go for it. Such as Richard and C.W. Hopefully you get in, it would be nice to see that. But I do hope I personally can resist the Cemetery Dance allure and move on to other markets. The magazine already has its go-to gals and guys, and it probably should simply retain that status quo.

Yet, I do have a question: what is the value of opening to submissions besides the chance that some new writers will be discovered? That might sound like I am begging the question (I truly hope I have used that phrase correctly here, I am going to look it up as soon as I submit this post; as we all know, begging the question was not originally meant to indicate someone bringing up the question), but I don't mean it as such. Like Mad Magazine (now there's another market I would love to find success with), it's difficult to get past the gatekeepers, and it seems as if the gatekeepers are happy enough to work with those they've worked with before and to only work with new talent on a selective, by-agent basis. The only thing I can come up with is the value of marketing: does Cemetery Dance thrive in part because many readers are amateur authors? I'm not sure that's true; obviously many are, but I would assume the product would still be popular without open submissions. Then again, maybe I should pose the interrogative to the group: do you read Cemetery Dance because you would like to be published in it someday?

In closing, let me say I wish everyone who intends to submit the best of luck. And yes, I concede, I may end up being one of them.

[RichardThomas]

yeah, totally stoked you guys are opening up submissions again. definitely will submit.

[Ben Staad]

"Most common reasons for rejection are: lack of power, lack of originality, slow pacing, poor writing, boring themes."

I think they may have read my work before! LOL

[Teriw]

Maybe someone should submit the forum story when it's done...if it turns out ok anyway. Going good so far.

[peteOcha]

Awesome news! Time to get writing!!

[Hedda Gabler]

nothing to see here

[TerryE]

Great news. Keep us informed.

[Brian James Freeman]

We’ll be ready to re-open Cemetery Dance magazine to submissions later this year, but we’re going to be doing things a little differently this time around. Read more on our website:


http://www.cemeterydance.com/extras/...ter-this-year/


Brian