Business suggestion...

[j_cheney]

OK, so I've fluffed up "The Dragon's Child" and it's ready to go out...only the market I want to send it to is still closed. Hmmph!

I think that Ralan should start a side business...where you can send him your story and he'll suggest 5 good market matches for it. All for the reasonable cost of...say $5. (Somehow, I think he's going to ignore this suggestion.)

It's very difficult to 'know' all the markets. I currently have subscriptions to: Shimmer, Black Gate, Baen's Universe, Asimov's, Fantasy (actually, I think this issue might be my last)and Speculations. In addition, I have recent copies of ROF, Weird Tales, Locus....And I still don't feel like I've seen a tenth of what's out there.

OK, so if anyone knows of a good market-niche-locater out there, (who's willing to work dirt cheap) let me know!

Comments

[kara-gnome.livejournal.com]

Oh, god, I love your idea of a market locator! It's freaking brilliant. I honestly think this whole market thing is the worst part of writing.

I think it's now clear why people write novels, and it has nothing to do with that whole "more room" myth. No! It's because they can legitimately send out one thing a year, and that is to someone who will do the market nasty for them. :)

Pipe Dream....

[j-cheney.livejournal.com]

The big problem for me is that it's super hard to know what mags want. Honestly, I think I have a feel for Baen's, Shimmer and Black Gate, but that's only because I read them. I read some of the others and I have no idea.

The bad part is that whoever starts this business (I don't think Ralan will volunteer--he already does enough) will have to charge way more than $5 to make it worthwhile. Probably more than we make selling the stories. ;o)