About once a week I post an opportunities list on our Virtual
Learning Environment, Blackboard. This gives news of many opportunities for publication,
performance or work. I vet what is offered very carefully, even though most of
the opportunities come from two very reliable sources.
Audience for the list
This is aimed mainly at undergraduates, though it is offered
also to our Masters students. As well as posting it on Blackboard, I email it
out to subscribers on a list. These are former students and also other people I’ve
met when I’ve offered workshops outside the university. I even use the list
myself.
How the list is vetted
Each opportunity must give the possibility of:
·
Leading to some sort of payment for the writer
e.g. competition prize or traditional royalty or fee.
·
Exposure of the writer
·
A really good line on the CV
·
Just good fun
·
A fair chance of success
In addition, any fee that is paid must
be fair and likely to represent the cost of running the competition. It must
never be a reading fee.
Sources
I use the list that is published every week by NAWE (National
Association of Writers in Education) and the lists that Mslexia publish both in
her hard copy magazine and on her web site. Note, not everything that these two
organisations flag up gets on to my list.
In addition, I’m often approached directly by publishers and
competition organisers.
How the list is updated
I usually update on a Wednesday or Thursday. I do add new things
in as they come into my mailbox but do the main update after I’ve received the NAWE
bulletin. Everything is listed in date order if there are cut-off dates. Then other publishers are listed alphabetically.
I delete any that are no longer current.
I supply the list as a set of clickable lists with some little
extra pieces for information e.g. is the opportunity themed? Why it’s good even
though there is no payment. Or I might add some personal knowledge I have. From
time to time I check that the links still work and the publisher is still operating.
How I use the list myself
I use this mainly to try and place my short stories and
flash fiction though people who have published my novels are also listed there.
First, I’ll enter my piece for a competition. Once that’s closed
I’ll send it to publishers, perhaps starting with those who have a limited
submission period. Here, I’m looking for placements for work I’ve already
completed.
There are also some challenges. Sometimes it’s a matter of a
certain themed opportunity appealing. Then I’ll just have a go.
Most of what is on the list is small press though the big houses
do push some things through occasionally. As soon as a text is rejected, I look
for something else from the list. It can be surprising. What one publisher hates
another loves.
I keep track of all submissions on a spread sheet. I avoid
sending to the same publisher too often. I am beginning to find that certain publishers
like certain types of my story e.g. my near future stories go to one, my quirky
ones to another and a third takes the more literary ones.
My spread sheet cells are colour-coded. Red means I can’t
send this anywhere else at the moment. Amber means it’s good to go to the next.
Green means it’s accepted. It’s nice looking at the green
Would you like to receive the list?
Simple. Just sign up here.
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