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The Need to READ Guidelines

What a better way to post my very first post in my blog than with a small rant.


As an editor, I get tons of submissions to assess. What boggles my mind is how many writers don't bother to read the guidelines. When they state no more than 1,000 words for a flash fiction piece, why send in 3,000 words? No matter how good that story is, it will be rejected. Why? It doesn't fit the flash fiction guidelines.


When an editor is looking for romance stories, why bother sending in a mystery? Oh, because it has two characters who are in love. I'm sorry, that doesn't place it as a romance because the main plot/genre is mystery. When 198 pages out of 200 pages is nothing but detectives and villains chasing each other, you can be sure it's not romance.

I can't stress how important it is to read guidelines. It's what separates a possible 'accepted' from a 'rejected' letter.

Rant now officially over.

Comments




  • Thanks for the advice. Rules and guidelines are there for a reason.
    smurfybench, 2 years ago | Flag

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