I hate reading though a long page of guidelines only to find the words 'Currently Closed to Submissions) at the BOTTOM of the page. Be like the Pigeon Review :)
My first instinct with things like that is that they just don't think of it. I can't imagine it being malicious. But I can image the mentality of "Well this way it makes sure they read the whole guidelines." But I hope that isn't the case because a. it's condescending and b. it just isn't reality. People just scroll and feel frustrated.
Right! We see it so often. I can never understand why except that maybe they don't think of it? Oof, the worst is when there is no mention and you must go to the submittable page to find out.
After seeing a glowing review for a helpful and friendly magazine I am far more likely to submit to them. This is how good magazines move up the ranks. Thank you for these reviews. I find them very useful.
You are generous, Benjamin. Some mags are just slack on this matter and you have to email to find out why you can't submit when they say they are open. Usually goes with other 'begone, lowly writer' behaviour.
In the interests of perfection in guidelines, how about adding (up front and in bold):
a) An industry wide font standard (e.g. TNR 12) and formatting standard.
b) An indication of who is running the show and a general geographical location and whether they only accept work from left-handed Catholics living in the CBD of Kookamunga.
c) If and when anyone will respond to you (sorry, 'timely' doesn't cut it)
d) Free material on site that shows what they are after (i.e. none of this 'buy a copy to find out that we only publish crap but at least we got $20 out of you' malarkey
e) Submission fees, payment rates and any non-standard contract issues in bold and up-front.
I hate reading though a long page of guidelines only to find the words 'Currently Closed to Submissions) at the BOTTOM of the page. Be like the Pigeon Review :)
My first instinct with things like that is that they just don't think of it. I can't imagine it being malicious. But I can image the mentality of "Well this way it makes sure they read the whole guidelines." But I hope that isn't the case because a. it's condescending and b. it just isn't reality. People just scroll and feel frustrated.
Right! We see it so often. I can never understand why except that maybe they don't think of it? Oof, the worst is when there is no mention and you must go to the submittable page to find out.
After seeing a glowing review for a helpful and friendly magazine I am far more likely to submit to them. This is how good magazines move up the ranks. Thank you for these reviews. I find them very useful.
You are generous, Benjamin. Some mags are just slack on this matter and you have to email to find out why you can't submit when they say they are open. Usually goes with other 'begone, lowly writer' behaviour.
In the interests of perfection in guidelines, how about adding (up front and in bold):
a) An industry wide font standard (e.g. TNR 12) and formatting standard.
b) An indication of who is running the show and a general geographical location and whether they only accept work from left-handed Catholics living in the CBD of Kookamunga.
c) If and when anyone will respond to you (sorry, 'timely' doesn't cut it)
d) Free material on site that shows what they are after (i.e. none of this 'buy a copy to find out that we only publish crap but at least we got $20 out of you' malarkey
e) Submission fees, payment rates and any non-standard contract issues in bold and up-front.
I kept expecting to see the pay rates and fees mentioned in these guidelines, too.
Ah, when they are open for submissions I believe this is shown (no fee/no pay in our records)