Know anything of Stone Dragon Press? Or like-minded publishers of Spec. Fic.? - Writers Forum

DavidMark · 04-14-2006, 11:28 AM

I already sent my manuscript for my 28,000-word novella 'War Seeker'. I had been on their site--the editor/publisher has a malicious sense of humor (but from my signature you can see I do too). Anyone ever had anything sent to, rejected, or published by Stone Dragon Press? Or know anything that might be worth knowing about speculative fiction publishers that are still accepting submissions for novella-size fiction?

mammamaia · 04-14-2006, 06:35 PM

SDP is a POD... is that what you want?... here's their google listing [red is my doing]:

Quote:

Stone Dragon Press - Home Page Small, printing on demand publisher specializing in speculative fiction, science fiction, horror, fantasy, and alternative lifestyles.

there is virtually no market for novellas, other than a few niche magazines that take them... no paying presses publish them in book form, because book buyers won't pay full price for a mini-novel... and only well-known authors' novellas will be included in a collection...

if this outfit claims they will print yours as a book, you will have to buy them for resale and do your own advertising, marketing, and distribution/selling...

Daniel Malone · 04-14-2006, 08:39 PM

I would check out iUniverse or Author House before anyone. At least they will submit your book to several web sites according to what you pay them.

DavidMark · 04-15-2006, 02:07 PM

Strange that SDP doesn't mention novel-length submissions anywhere--just fiction or book manuscripts. I suppose we're to assume that by book they mean novel (I'm still learning...). Yea, Mammamaia, that's what I was afraid of--that my novella wouldn't get into an anthology but some magazine that nobody reads. At least the approval to publish my stuff would be nice.

DavidMark · 04-15-2006, 02:10 PM

I'll check out those other sites, but am hesitant to pay for having my manuscript sent to web sites--uness your experiences have been favorable, Malone, yes?

mammamaia · 04-15-2006, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Strange that SDP doesn't mention novel-length submissions anywhere--just fiction or book manuscripts. I suppose we're to assume that by book they mean novel (I'm still learning...).

yes, in re fiction, 'book' means 'novel'... novellas are only published in collections or magazines... not as a book, unless it's for the children's or YA market, where shorter lengths are acceptable... see below for length divisions...

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Yea, Mammamaia, that's what I was afraid of--that my novella wouldn't get into an anthology but some magazine that nobody reads. At least the approval to publish my stuff would be nice.

anthologies that will print novellas by unknown writers are virtually guaranteed to be just money-making schemes that rely on the writers to buy the books that are never sold in stores... and very few mags will print them, because they haven't the space to spare... a rare few niche indies might, if it's short enough...

Quote:

Novel: Generally any work of prose fiction over 45,000 words, ranging to about 150,000 words.

Novella/Novelette: Short novel averaging 7,000 - 40,000 words. These terms are often used somewhat interchangeably, although novellas tend to be longer, and novelettes shorter.

Short Story: Prose fiction of about 2,000 - 7,500 words.

Short Short: Prose fiction under 2,000 words.

Flash Fiction: (also known as sudden fiction or micro fiction) Prose fiction under 1000, 500, or even 99 words, depending on the market or guidelines.

DavidMark · 04-17-2006, 11:02 AM

I'll keep those guidelines for length in mind, thanks. E-publishers I'm sure are less stringent, but what kind of exposure could I possibly get? Not very much I'm sure. There is one e-publisher 'Speculative Fiction Review' which is rather new. But it seems everyone is critical now of recent e-publishers that seem to show nothing more than an enthusiasm to receive quality manuscripts and forecast hopeful sales...