Markets for new genre writers 3
Jordan Lapp June 18th, 2007
Hey guys,
Music to write by: “See Right Through Me” by Mobile
Welcome to post 3 in the Markets for New Genre Writers series. If you missed it, the previous post was on the Space Opera e-zine AlienSkin Magazine.
Next up: Electric Velocipede.
Background
First published by John Klima in 2001, Electric Velocipede magazine focuses on Fantasy and Sci-fi. Klima mentions a few New Weird authors in the submission guidelines to give you an idea of what he’s looking for. A fine example of an author of the New Weird is Jeff Vandermeer . You can find an example of his short fiction in a recent issue of Clarkesworld.
Klima has this to say about what kind of fiction he’s looking for:
Science fiction is fine; I just don’t care for hardcore nuts and bolts. Fantasy is fine; I’m just not all that comfortable with elves, dwarves, unicorns, etc. Cross-genre is more than fine, and weird is just about perfect
Why is the magazine attractive to you?
In addition to the ‘zine format, Electric Velocipede also publishes chapbooks, so there’s an opportunity for double exposure. As a plus, some big names have been published in the ‘zine, so bragging opportunities abound.
A slight word of warning though. Klima recently posted a call for subscribers on the group blog “theinferior4+1″. Here’s an excerpt:
Another thing that’s become clear to me is that this zine will not be able to grow, and most likely, will not be able to survive if I cannot grow my subscriber base. I do not want to stop making Electric Velocipede; I plan on making issues far far into the future. My hope is that the decision to stop is something I make of my own volition rather than something that’s made for me.
Now, I believe that Klima’s magazine won’t fold anytime soon, and I wouldn’t feel any hesitation in submitting to the zine myself, but you can read the whole article and make your own decision.
Payment
EV does pay its contributors 1 cent per word up to 10,000 words for fiction, well below pro rates, but still respectable.
Submission Guidelines are here.
The mag is very good reading. QWhile i have never sent them anything, I have heard that they treat their writers well, too.
Clearly I fat-fingered that post!
I’m curious, What are pro rates?
$0.05 a word?
Michael:
Thanks for commenting! Mr. Klima certainly does have a good rep out there, and he’s got a good eye for talent. All the more reason to submit there.
Michael#2:
Without decent editors, we’re all just one typo away from obscurity.
Don’t ask me what that means. I have no clue
Steven:
5c a word is the accepted pro rate. It’s not especially good money. A 2000 story is thus worth $100, which is like 43 cents an hour for most of us. Wages even illegal aliens sneer at.
Yes, but they are writing things that Americans won’t write!
LOL! Well played, my friend