Well, we’ve now been through the cost of writing and where you can look to publish your fiction. We know that there are paid subscription listings available and a few of you may subscribe to other places like Absolute Write or the Freelance Writing Job Bank. As you go through the listings, though, you may ask yourself whether or not the publisher is “worth it.” Here are my top tips to help you create your own set of writing submission criteria for any publisher.

What is the Publisher’s Online Reputation?

If I’m researching a publisher, I like to check out what other writers are saying about them by organically searching for their name or variants thereof. I read through forums, blogs, comments, etc. to see if there are any negative comments about a publisher. If there’s only a few, I may follow up on the author’s blog to see if the comments were credible. Remember, a lot of inexperienced writers may take rejection very poorly–even if the writer was in the “wrong.”

Besides chatter online, I also look for news about their business or how well they promote their writers. Sometimes, I may accept a lower rate per word depending upon how well a publisher might treat me and my work.

Ask Other Writers

Depending upon how “on-the-fence” I am, I may ask some of my trusted writer friends if they’ve ever heard of “X.” This recently came into play when I had heard a rumor about a well-known horror publisher filing for bankruptcy. By referring to your pool of writers, they sometimes have links, contacts or references that you don’t have access to. Word of mouth is a powerful tool, and I personally would prefer a vote of confidence from one of my more experienced writer friends than going into the blind. This doesn’t always mean things will work out–but a personal note of satisfaction goes a long way.

Self-Published versus Small Press

In my post entitled, Are Self-Published Writers Considered Vanity Press? I had pointed out this stat:

78% of titles come from small press or self-publishers out of as many as 86,000 self-publishers, compared with six major ones in New York.

It will be inevitable that you’re going to run into small press publishers. Provided the terms of the contract are appealing, and you’re happy with the quality of the work, small press publishing can be an excellent experience. Some self-published authors establish the “name” of a small press publishing house, however, so do your homework if they are soliciting? Why is this so?

Take a long, hard look at the Horror Writer’s Association Membership Requirements and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writer’s Association Membership Requirements (or the SFWA). Both have fairly strict rules about membership requirements–the SFWA goes as far as to display which publishers qualify for consideration. Within the industry, there is a wide range of professionals who have varying thoughts about self-publishing. By adapting a professional publication name, writers can avoid the stigma. This just means you may have to look closely at a small press publisher if you’re considering going that route.

Online eZine versus Print Publication

When you publish something on your blog, is it actually published? Who owns the content? What happens when you negotiate rights? In Duotrope’s Digest: Notes for Writers accurately pointed out:

Don’t Post an Unpublished Story on the Web unless it’s in a password-protected forum of some sort. Most publishers consider works that have been freely available to the public to have been previously published.

Speaking from personal experience, you will want to ensure that your rights are spelled out if you publish anything online. Online eZines can offer a really good start for new writers. I did a lot of work through the Flames Rising Horror Webzine which led to paying assignments and a great start for my portfolio. Sometimes, established writers will utilize webzines (both paid and unpaid) because online markets offer visibility on the internet worldwide at the drop of a hat. We may see more publishers push to online markets or eBooks as the cost of publishing continues to rise.

Paid Market versus Non-Paying

Well, I had promised I was going to address the benefits and drawbacks of each and here they are. First off, just because a market pays doesn’t necessarily mean that they are more legitimate than a non-paying market. Seriously folks, look at the end result or the publication to determine its worth. Wikipedia has been written by volunteers yet look at how much we rely on it for information. Fansites are another resource that often solicit for or need content like the Yog Sothoth Fansite for HP Lovecraft.

What you consider to be a “valid” non-paying market is more of a matter of semantics than anything else. Yes, some publishers probably wouldn’t consider writing for a fansite as a valid credit, but others might–especially if that fansite is a) within the genre you’re targeting and b) that editor or publisher is one of their biggest fans.

Some less-than-ideal publications may offer payment to attract writers, but it may not change the fact that their product is produced at a copy shop (and looks like it was, too.)

Quantity of Publications versus Quality

Every writer has to start somewhere, but the trick is to figure out what it is that you want. If you want to be a fiction writer, you need people that are interested in reading your work. Your career probably won’t take off if you’re so picky that you only publish one story every five years based on your hefty criteria. You need readers that follow you because having a good fan base will help generate buzz and bolster your online reputation. It’s not easy, as I’m finding out with my Violet War urban fantasy novel series.

Any sane editor will notice, however, if you have multiple listings for the same free webzine or publication. When you do write for free—list them only once in your writer’s porfolio and choose relevant pieces to what you’re target market is.

Remember that no matter if you publish for a paying or non-paying market, when you put together your writer’s resume, you don’t necessarily have to disclose who paid you and who didn’t. Keep your presentation and the ideal places you’d like to submit in mind, and at the end of your long journey you may be able to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

In the end, you have the power to decide which publisher is legitimate and which isn’t. Editors across the board, on the other hand, may have different ideas based on their quality criteria. In my experience, every editor is different and it is in your best interest to do what is best for you based on your own set of criteria.