This was a presentation offered at the 2023 LDSPMA writer’s conference by John M. Olsen. Any misinformation is the fault of the note taker.

Why write?

• Learn new skills
• Fulfill burning desire
• To get published
• To sell
• To test a magic system or plot concept.

Polishing tools (each has pros and cons)

• Clean up your manuscripts.
• Word Review/track changes,
• Schriver (best for big structural texts)
• Hemmingway (useful for small sections of writing. has a nice color code interface.
• Grammarly
• Prowriting aid (has a bunch of reports at the top)
• As you try a new tool, see what you like. Give the tools time to try.
• Tool fails: some tools give wrong data. You need to know tolls and use the tools for verifications.  If you have a clean manuscript, you will be heads and tails before your competition. Learn from the suggestions and research anything you don’t understand.

Structure analysis tools:

• Is for high-level structure. Does the story flow? Analyze the story by words in the story and could label their mood. John M Oson created his tool software. The graph is created by emotionally charged words.
• You can design your story in advance of challenges in the story.

Polish with people:

• Online critique groups Critters, Scribopnile, Melva> critique circle
• Local critiques and writing groups (league of Utah writers)
• Workshops (maybe available at conferences)
• Family and friends (with many grams of salt)
• Editors (maybe or maybe not for short stories)
• A short story has a main crisis and a little minor crisis.
• You need to have a thick skin to receive honest reviews.
• Feedback helps you become better in your craft. They catch things you don’t.

Formatting:

• Why do formats matters? Editors are looking for ways to reject.
• Follow the publisher’s precise instructions.
• Shows that you can follow instructions.
• William Schenn has a suggested format page. Has an electronic version line:
• https://www.shunn.net/format/classic/ or

Common requirements:

• Font
• Marines
• Line spacing

Things you didn’t’ know you needed to know:

• Author bio 50 words, 100 words, and 250 words.
• Headshot portrait (square room to be copped. A high resolution suggests you have a media kit on hand.
• List of previous publications if you have them
• What are your qualifications to write this story?
• List of expertise? Special expertise. Does it rate to your writing? Sciences hobbies or anything else that can apply to what you ae submitting.

How to I learn where to send my story?

• Search Facebook and other social media groups.
• Open call for SF and Fantasy
• League of state writers
• Ask fellow writes
• Network at writing events and conventions. Ask people where they submit.
• Writer lunches with Alli Cross and friends
• Ihop-con with Dave butler at IHOP. On Saturdays at iHop in America fork.
• Start your own group.
• Bookstores and libraries. Look for short story collections/anthologies, and story collections on the shelf. They are a place to submit.
• Amazon may present anthologies as well
• The grinder (submission grinder) you can track where stories have been submitted.
• Submit stories first to the high-end markets.
• Some higher-paying markets have a faster turnaround.
• As you work with publishers, they might move your submission from the scrap pile. If they turn a story down, ask them, what are you looking for next?
• Some publications will do reprints. (Send after you have the rights back) document when rights are back when accepted.

Submission methods:

• Clark’s world is fast
• Fancy electronic forms and status tracking (larks world)
• Email attachments in doc, docx, rtf, or pdf format.
• Include it in the body of the email.
• Every editor will have instructions. Follow them.

Professionalism:

• For some author editors and agents, this is a full-time career.
• Respect their time.
• Keep commitments
• Be easy to work with
• Expect the same professionalism from others. At cons, you need to have professional experience.

Tracking your work:

• It’s your job to know what you have written, where you have sent it, and what their response is. Include rights
• Spreadsheet and text documents
• Submission grinder free account. (Have your own copy besides on the software you use)
• Regaining the rights, you sold. Exclusive periods will vary often 3-6 mo. When you submit reprints let them know it is a reprint. Make sure, when you submit no one has a current exclusive
• Some pay on royalty share some publishers will have funding to pay upfront and no royalties. Royalties keep coming in as long as that story is in print.
• Magazines usually pay upfront.
• Anthologies usually have their own isbn.
• Fiction you print yourself is considered a reprint. You can post samples but not more than 10% of the manuscript. Publications posted on amazon are seen as reprints.