1. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931

    Beta Reading Seeking Beta for 1900 word story by November 30

    Discussion in 'Collaboration' started by Simpson17866, Oct 18, 2016.

    So one of my homework assignments for a Great Course in fiction writing - write a situation first as a surprise (the audience doesn't know something, but the characters might/might not), then as a suspense (the audience knows more than the characters) - accidentally turned into something that I think might be publishable after a bit of tweaking, and Glimmer Train still has a few weeks before submissions close for the year.

    Would anybody be willing to take a look? It's basically a single scene that starts with a guy bringing a woman home for a one-night stand, then revisiting the same scene from her perspective after we find out, at the end of his POV, that she wasn't telling him everything.
     
  2. Brindy

    Brindy Senior Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2016
    Messages:
    447
    Likes Received:
    450
    Location:
    Somerset, UK
    Hi, I'm happy to take a look, sounds intriguing.
     
  3. Raven484

    Raven484 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2016
    Messages:
    643
    Likes Received:
    364
    Location:
    Philadelphia
    I have time if you want to send it over.
     
  4. Sal Boxford

    Sal Boxford Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2016
    Messages:
    325
    Likes Received:
    250
    Location:
    UK
    I'd be happy to take a look. I haven't tried this beta malarkey before but I shall try my best!
     
  5. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,088
    Likes Received:
    7,422
    Why Glimmer Train?
     
  6. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    Just trying to start with the highest paying magazines for each story and working my way down as I collect rejection letters.

    This is my shortest story ever - 2000 words instead of 3500-5500 - so Glimmer Train's flat rate puts me above what any magazine would pay based on the word count (unless anybody knows a magazine that pays 35 cents/word)
     
  7. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,088
    Likes Received:
    7,422
    Surely, that's not your real reason for submitting to Glimmer Train, is it?
     
  8. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    Are they not a good magazine?
     
  9. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,088
    Likes Received:
    7,422
    The few issues I've read were pretty good. But your breakdown of how this story gets the biggest bang for its buck at Glimmer Train seems a little bizarre. I thought maybe you really liked Glimmer Train or had recently read a really great issue.
     
  10. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,429
    Likes Received:
    3,389
    Just because @Simpson17866 's reasons for Glimmer Train are different from yours doesn't automatically make them bizarre. bygones be bygones or some such phrase.
     
    Sal Boxford and izzybot like this.
  11. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    There are a lot of excerpts that I've been thinking about buying the issues to find out more about

    Francisco Delgado's International Politics
    Lillian Li's Parts of Summer
    M. Sean Rosenburg's Southern Candyland
    Julian Zabalbeascoa's Gernika
    Analisa Raya-Flores' The Boys Like Bones
    Sommer Schafer's The Final Sermon

    I was just under the impression that having a favorite story from the magazine you're submitting to is more "recommended" than required.
     
  12. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,088
    Likes Received:
    7,422
    It's not required. I'm not saying that. I originally thought Glimmer Train was your favorite journal or something and wanted to know why. I will say 1,900 words does seem a little short. Even their very short fiction contest is up to 3,000 or 3,500 words, I believe. Glimmer Train is next to impossible for most writers to get in.
     
  13. izzybot

    izzybot (unspecified) Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2015
    Messages:
    2,419
    Likes Received:
    3,884
    Location:
    SC, USA
    I've taken a couple shots at Glimmer Train and for me it was absolutely because they pay so well. Starting with the best-paying market and working down is a good strategy, imo (though there is a lesser-paying mag that's always higher on my list because I just love it and getting in regardless of pay would delight me). I like gettin' paid. 1900w does seem a bit short for them, though. Wasn't going to say anything myself because I've been kinda out of the game here lately.

    @Simpson17866 are you still needing more betas? I meant to reply to this thread (much) earlier; I'd be interested in PMing you about it to see if it's something I'd want to check out.
     
  14. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    Huh, I thought the guideline was "anything under 12k"

    Sure, thanks
     
  15. izzybot

    izzybot (unspecified) Contributor

    Joined:
    Jun 3, 2015
    Messages:
    2,419
    Likes Received:
    3,884
    Location:
    SC, USA
    I was just looking over their new site and can't find anything supporting the vague idea I had that that was on the short side. Could be they've changed their explicit guidelines since the new site went up, and I'm thinking of something on the old one? Eh, could also be thinking of a different one entirely.
     
  16. Spencer1990

    Spencer1990 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2016
    Messages:
    2,429
    Likes Received:
    3,389
    QUOTE="Simpson17866, post: 1502578, member: 56045"]Huh, I thought the guideline was "anything under 12k"

    Sure, thanks[/QUOTE]

    I just read the guidelines out of curiosity, and of all five categories, a ~1900 word story is acceptable. Although that might be on the low end of what they actually publish. I think it's worth the money to get a subscription and research what they actually publish vs what they accept for submissions.

    I don't know. I just won a thousand dollar scholarship for a story I wrote, and I plan to funnel it back into writing and pick up a few subscriptions for research. So my thoughts here are of opinion, not fact.
     
    Last edited: Nov 4, 2016
    Sal Boxford likes this.
  17. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,088
    Likes Received:
    7,422
    Spencer is right about 1,900 words being pretty short for what Glimmer Train usually publishes. This is an extremely hard market to break into. A story as short as the OP's will need to outstanding and basically flawless. And, even still, the length could be a strike against you just based on the kind of stories and the lengths they usually publish. Yes, there can be exceptions, but if you haven't read any issues, you probably don't stand much of a chance.

    What I called bizarre was the idea that it was a good idea to submit this story just because the OP is attracted to this flat rate. And there are a lot more magazines and journals that pay equally as good or better. Just because they allow people to send shorter stories doesn't mean that's what they usually publish. I have read a few issues and never seen a story that short in any of them. Have you read an issue of Glimmer Train? I assumed you had because you are really set on submitting this story to them. If you haven't read an issue, I would save the reading fee and order the magazine.
     
  18. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    Really? The best per-page rate I've found is only $50, and my story is only 8 pages. Glimmer Train's potential $700 sounds a lot better than someone else's potential $400, at least for my first time sending this one out.
     
  19. deadrats

    deadrats Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Messages:
    6,088
    Likes Received:
    7,422
    Yes. Really. Duotrope is a great website that will let you look up markets by pay (among other things). If you are serious about short stories and publishing, it is a great resource. But that won't make you actually read this magazine or any others. And people who are reading the journals definitely have an advantage.
     
  20. Simpson17866

    Simpson17866 Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2013
    Messages:
    3,406
    Likes Received:
    2,931
    I will take a look, thanks
     

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice