Eric's Sabbatical Project
Eric Aldrich’s videos focus on publishing short fiction in traditional magazines and websites. While Eric’s focus is on beginner writers and on genre fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, thrillers, romance), more experienced writers and writers of creative nonfiction will also find helpful resources.
What is Publishing?
Direct link to video: https://youtu.be/jgCziPMoCQ4
What Is Publishing? (13:07)
1:10 Self-publishing
1:37 Traditional publishing
2:46 Understanding publications
3:55 Literary magazines and websites
7:34 Websites
8:21 Let’s take a deeper look
8:41 The cover and the homepage
9:05 Subscription information
9:22 “About the Publication” section
9:39 Masthead
10:09 Letter from the Editor(s)
10:27 Contents
10:45 Contributor information/Writer bios
11:13 Submission guidelines
Is Your Writing Ready to Publish?
Direct link to video: https://youtu.be/z4uxcEx2pj4
Is Your Writing Ready to Publish? (22:07)
1:01 Self-publishing
1:18 Traditional publishing (reasons for)
2:37 “Professional Writer”
2:45 Many publications do not pay for fiction
4:36 What is a professional writer?
5:46 They [successful writers] write, they read, and they don’t give up.
6:14 Rejections
9:33 The experience of traditionally publishing your story
11:51 Is your story ready to share?
12:05 Publishable quality vs done
12:49 Do you know the basics of storytelling?
15:01 Assess your revision process
17:22 Find some readers to provide feedback
19:00 Getting the most out of feedback
20:04 Proofread carefully!
Finding Places to Publish Fiction
Direct link to video: https://youtu.be/SwgmZlL4sH8
Finding Places to Publish Fiction (24:38)
1:03 Finding publishers that are accepting submissions
1:18 Resource 1: The Grinder
7:04 Resource 2: Duotrope
7:55 Resource 3: Entropy
10:18 Resource 4: New Pages
14:03 Resource 5: Submittable
16:29 Resource 6: Social media
16:40 Twitter
18:56 Facebook
20:25 Professional organizations
20:41 Resource 7: The Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP)
21:22 Resource 8: The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of American (SFWA)
22:34 Society of Southwestern Authors (SSA)
The Submission Process
Direct link to video: https://youtu.be/6N3Vi7rMrDU
The Submission Process (29:37)
0:33 Choosing where to submit
0:55 Do you enjoy reading the magazine or website?
1:25 How accessible is the publication?
4:52 Submission fees
7:03 Read the submission guidelines
9:07 Proofread one last time
10:48 Cover letter
15:51 Author bio
17:30 Uploading and hitting submit
19:55 An example submission (Eric submits his sci-fi short story to Analog)
26:41 After you submit
Eric Aldrich
Eric Aldrich is a writer from Massachusetts resettled in southern Arizona. He teaches literature and writing at Pima Community College in Tucson.
Eric’s writing has appeared in Euphony, Terrain.org, Hobart, Deep Wild, Manifest West, Weber: The Contemporary West, and more.
His novella, “Please Listen Carefully as Our Options Have Changed” is available from Running Wild Press.
Eric reviews books for Full Stop, Rain Taxi, and others.
In addition to writing, Eric maintains a YouTube channel – Lo-fi Outdoors
Website: https://ericaldrich.net/about/
Instagram: @ericjamesaldrich
Twitter: @ericjaldrich