I just got an email from Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine informing me that they want to publish one of my stories ("Snow Blanket") early next year, and the contract should be coming in the mail. This is my very first publication, so I'm in a bit of shock.

Two questions immediately bubbled to the surface in my head, and I'm aware that I'm probably overthinking things...

1) I'd submitted a different story to a Glimmertrain contest for new writers who've never been published before. Does Ellery Queen accepting my story invalidate my submission to Glimmertrain? Or should it not count since I hadn't been published when I submitted it. Similarly, if, by some chance, Glimmertrain accepts my submission and publishes it before Ellery, would that impact the Ellery one, which was accepted into the "First Stories" department? Tricky

2) Between now and when Ellery physically publishes the story, do I mention on a cover letter (now that I actually have something to say on a cover letter) that a story was accepted for publication, or wait until the issue is out and nothing can fall through?

I'd appreciate any input from those who've been here before!
Eileen

First of all Eileen, Congratulations!

With regard to your first question, if I read it correctly, it seems to me that publication of the two submissions are mutually exclusive. If EQ publishes your story first, then you are "published" and that invalidates the GT criterion for unpublished writers. If GT publishes your story first, then the EQ story is no longer a "first story". By "publish" I mean in print, in the journal.

Your EQ story is your bird in the hand with a contract on the way, a contract from a reputable publication. That seems to me to be the choice.

With regard to your second question, say you have a story "forthcoming" in EQ.

Thanks for the congratulations and for the input, Jim! The length of time you have to wait to hear back from these magazines makes everything difficult. A lot (like whether or not you'll be published) can change in 4 months. EQ would definitely take priority here. Not that Glimmertrain is banging down my door or anything--I'm just troubleshooting and want to make sure that I handle any potential situations professionally.

Thanks, too, for the advice about "forthcoming". I'm so excited to finally have something to say on a cover letter.

Eileen

I just found a spot in the FAQs on GT's website saying that b/c of the automated process, they can't withdraw submissions, and that if a story gets accepted elsewhere, the author will just have to "break their hearts" when GT contacts them to publish it. They were referring specifically to simultaneous submissions, but I imagine the same would be true of my situation, so at least now I know there's proactive to be done.

What would be neat Eileen, what I would love to hear is that GT read your work and liked it so much that they are willing to publish it under a different category. That's what I'll be wishing. In the meantime, don't forget to kick back and celebrate the good news from EQ!

Edited: 06/17/2008 at 08:37 PM by Jim Kendrall