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Gerald Budinski
Stablehand

Date Joined May 2008
Total Posts : 1

Posted 5/20/2008 11:52 AM (GMT -4)

I think it is a shame in this age of green awareness that you still require paper submissions. How many trees are slaughtered for this requirement? Then (unless you use a scanner) you have to expend the energy to type the story back into the computer again. Maybe this helps feed someone's family but that effort could be put to better use elsewhere.

I shouldn't pick on just you. All the major magazines require it. I thought you might like to become an innovator in the field.

Thanks for your time and attention,

Gerald Budinski

Mike Lynch
Acolyte

Date Joined Mar 2007
Total Posts : 311

Posted 5/20/2008 12:10 PM (GMT -4)

Because of the ease of submitting stories and proposals electronically these days, I think the idea of paper submissions is slowly coming to an end. This is especially true for magazines. I've been sending out my latest short story to a number of them, and almost all of the magazines want the stories submitted to them by e-mail. It may take a few more years for book publishers, but I think they will fall in line sooner or later.

Mike

www.mikelynchbooks.com

www.mlynchbooks.blogspot.com

www.silverleafbooks.com

crystalwizard
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 4606

Posted 5/20/2008 12:53 PM (GMT -4)

Gerald Budinski said...

I shouldn't pick on just you. All the major magazines require it. I thought you might like to become an innovator in the field.

Which 'you' are you referring to, Gerald?

RHFay
Sage

Date Joined Nov 2007
Total Posts : 1573

Posted 5/20/2008 3:23 PM (GMT -4)

I rarely bother with paper submissions. E-subs are easier. I don't do it to be green, I do it because I'm lazy. (Well, not really, more like time is a precious commodity.)

"I'm going to do what the warriors of old did. I'm going to recite poetry!"

Richard H. Fay - Azure Lion Productions

http://azurelionproductions.com

Rob Santa
Sage

Date Joined Apr 2004
Total Posts : 1391

Posted 5/20/2008 3:46 PM (GMT -4)

I was curious about the "you" also.

Rob Santa

Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction

and CEO of Ricasso Press

erazmus
Master

Date Joined Jul 2005
Total Posts : 4475

Posted 5/20/2008 4:46 PM (GMT -4)

No one I know or work for takes paper submissions, but that is because I'm not a "pro". The few remaining markets that take paper submissions only are mostly "professional", the elite of the old established markets. The ones which will actually get you enough notice to establish a "carreer" writing fiction that is more than a joke about your hobby.
And no one anywhere is going to change that. Those markets do not take e-submissions for a reason, actually several reasons. One of the big ones is they don't have to listen to us wanna-be writers.

So if some group of non-writing fans wants to take a crack at organizing a publicity campain and a boycott-- well good luck cause no one who can be alienated out of their audience is still in it and the publishers would obviously rather go out of buisness than change anything.

In the small press and newer markets, its hard to find anyplace that will take a mail sub, so that battles won.

Mike

Michael D. Turner
"Psyched Up" in _Turn the other Chick_-ed. E. Friesner-Baen books
www.baen.com
"Dutchman Rescue"in Continuum SF #6
www.continuumsciencefiction.com/orders.htm

"An Incident at Black Tongue Tavern" in _Bash Down the Door and Slice Open the Badguy_ from Fantasist Enterprises:

www.fantasistent.com/books/anthologies/BASH.php
"Pink Plastic Flamingos" in Big Pulp
www.bigpulp.com/m.html
"Stains" in Tales of the Talisman 3-1 www.zianet.com/hadrosaur/index.html
"Morning Coffee" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/morning-coffee-by-michael-d-turner/
"The Jewel Below" in Flashing Swords
flashingswords.sfreader.com/issues/issue8/vol2-iss8-05.htm
"Happy Landings" in Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/happy-landings-by-michael-d-turner/
"Teller of Tales" in Every day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/teller-of-tales-by-michael-d-turner/
Read "Silver Shells" In Every Day Fiction
www.everydayfiction.com/silver-shells-by-michael-d-turner/

crystalwizard
Forum Moderator

Date Joined Nov 2006
Total Posts : 4606

Posted 5/20/2008 6:15 PM (GMT -4)

What I can't figure out about the markets that 'only' take paper submissions is why they enjoy typing all that text into their word processors when it's so much easier to just use what the author emailed.

Never meddle in the affairs of a wizard unless you are soggy and hard to light!

Managing Editor of Flashing Swords

Visit my art gallery on art wanted
All my books in print

Anthony G Williams
Greybeard

Date Joined Apr 2007
Total Posts : 397

Posted 5/21/2008 4:00 AM (GMT -4)

I suspect that they insist on paper in order to put a small barrier in the way of all the hopeful authors who would otherwise bombard them with electronic versions of their latest efforts. You have to be a bit more serious to apply to them...

And I suppose if they're interested they either ask for an electronic version or run the paper through a scanner with OCR software.

Tony Williams
Scales (2007), The Foresight War (2004)
Homepage: http://www.quarry.nildram.co.uk

SFF Blog: http://sciencefictionfantasy.blogspot.com/

Jaqhama
Adventurer

Date Joined Oct 2007
Total Posts : 401

Posted 5/22/2008 9:08 AM (GMT -4)

Gerald Budinski said...
I think it is a shame in this age of green awareness that you still require paper submissions. How many trees are slaughtered for this requirement? Then (unless you use a scanner) you have to expend the energy to type the story back into the computer again. Maybe this helps feed someone's family but that effort could be put to better use elsewhere.

I shouldn't pick on just you. All the major magazines require it. I thought you might like to become an innovator in the field.

Thanks for your time and attention,

Gerald Budinski

You better not pick 'on just me'...I'll kick your arse.

Oh...hang on a minute...I don't have a magazine.

Ok...you can carry on now.

Cheers: Jaq.

You can read some of my stories here:

Skulkers. Jack be nimble, Jack be quick. RAT's. La Carcajou. Jet Bike Boogie...at www.pulpanddagger.com

Swamp Story. Down South. Florida Haze.Wild Justice...

at www.bikernet.com (Plus many of my motorcycle related articles.)

The Covert OP. Chick Prick...at www.milstory.com

Rob Santa
Sage

Date Joined Apr 2004
Total Posts : 1391

Posted 5/22/2008 11:53 AM (GMT -4)

I'll still kick it, just for being the kind of pompous, Green Earth fad bandwagon-jumper who wears leather, leaves his computer in hibernate mode all night, dries clothes indoors in the machine, and circles the parking lot looking for a closer space.

Rob Santa

Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction

and CEO of Ricasso Press

che2000
doc caliban

Date Joined Oct 2006
Total Posts : 438

Posted 5/23/2008 11:49 AM (GMT -4)

I don't drive, don't leave me computer on when I'm not using it, don't own a tumble dryer... but I do own at least three leather jackets (and a suede one) and several pairs of leather shoes.

Does this make me a bad person? (em... probably, just ask the cows).

"That blackguard Flashman, who never speaks to one without a kick or an oath--"

DAWaverly
Quirky Weirdness

Date Joined Jul 2006
Total Posts : 224

Posted 5/23/2008 12:38 PM (GMT -4)

Electronic is not necessarily GREEN. In the USA the majority of electric power is generated by burning coal. Submitting and reading electronically makes use of this non-GREEN power.

Publishers that only accept print submission are very likely to recycle the paper. Print publications can be recycled by the reader as well.

From this point of view, print can be looked upon as more GREEN than electronic.

And yes, I spend hours and hours thinking up these weird things...

- Deven
Blogtide Rising

published
"The Journey" at Every Day Fiction

forthcoming
"An Awakening of Shadows" in The Infinity Swords anthology from Carnivah House
"All That Glitters" at Every Day Fiction arriving 30 May 2008.

Rob Santa
Sage

Date Joined Apr 2004
Total Posts : 1391

Posted 5/23/2008 2:14 PM (GMT -4)

Not weird at all, Deven. National Geographic and Discover magazine have both run extensive articles on recycling and "what is better, paper or plastic" type of stuff in the last few months. I was amazed at how some of the things I do on a regular basis are considered "bad." Some of them were so unbelievable as to be unstoppable, and I won't bore you with any details here. Suffice it to say I've been turning the light off when I leave the room my whole life and will try to take further steps in the near future.

Rob Santa

Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction

and CEO of Ricasso Press

Rob Santa
Sage

Date Joined Apr 2004
Total Posts : 1391

Posted 5/23/2008 2:18 PM (GMT -4)

And with regards to leather, I too own a few leather coats, several pairs of shoes and belts, and two hats. It doesn't make us ecologically unfriendly. The process itself is atrocious, green-ly speaking. Sorry, not going to stop me, though.

Rob Santa

Hopelessly Addicted Writer of Speculative Fiction

and CEO of Ricasso Press

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