Thread: Worth it to pay Glimmer Train's reading fee?

Hey guys and gals,

I have a story I'd like to submit to Glimmer Train but I'm not sure it's worth paying the $20 reading fee. Any other upper lit magazines people can suggest that don't have such a hefty price tag?

Thanks,
Lindsay

RH --

GT is a bit pricey, so it might be best to wait till one of their free to enter periods rolls around.

Ploughshares has an open reading period from August to the end of March, so just missed that one. But they are very well respected, pay nicely and I think it's a gorgeous magazine. One to mark the calender for. Happily, they accept online submissions now.

The Adirondack Review also accepts e-subs, year round. I'm not sure about payment, but they are another very highly thought of market.

Agni pays well, accepts e-subs, but their reading period isn't until September. Another VERY beautiful magazine.

Conclave is right in the middle of their submission period. They only pay in copies, but I've heard and read that they are an 'up=and-comer' in literary circles and a great credit. What's better is that they specialize in character driven stories like For All We Cannot See and I think you may have a great shot there. They do have an annual contest that pays $100 bucks.

Hope that helps!

-G.

Glimmer Train are a good mag, but personally I'd never pay a reading fee. The plus side is that the fees are for contests, so there's a potentially big payout, but competition is stiff also.

I'd either wait until July to enter their 'standard' category or (and) visit duotrope.com to research other markets. GUD and Night Train are both highly recommended paying markets, and obviously I'd recommend Oddville as a good non-paying market, but there are many others.

Nope.

They have opened periods every third month or so. So I'd just wait.

No telling what those crazy old chicks will like.

All right, thank you for the feedback. I've decided to wait for one of these "open periods" and in the meantime check out the other magazines mentioned. I already use Duotrope frequently but was curious what mags are considered "upper lit." Seems like magazines come and go so frequently so I'm interested in submitting to ones that have already proven longevity and high standards. ... not that I'm saying I'll get published in them, just that it's worth a shot

I would say it's definitely worth it if you can afford it (I'm actually waiting for the standard (free) submission period myself) because the payout is sometimes double or triple what the payout for the free submission acceptance.

You might also want to consider submitting to Tin House, there is no cost to submit and the payout is in the hundreds.