Fables is currently closed to Great Hall, Crown & Thistle, and graphic submissions. The next reading period is September, 2000.
Great Hall
Original fiction is published in the Great Hall. We'reto all forms of speculative fiction, including but not limited to: science fiction, fantasy, horror, surrealism, paranormal, sword & sorcery, space opera, urban fantasy. I'm less concerned with sub-genre and more concerned with the strength of the story. Similarly, I'm not that worried about the story's rating: if a graphic description of evisceration, rape, or sex with chickens adds to the story, I'm not squeamish. But since I judge stories as a whole, I'm not going to buy a story just because a couple of nasty scenes have been grafted on. Also, Fables does not publish fan-fic.
We have no limit on word count. Now the caveats. Short fiction is preferred, which for our purposes consists of short-shorts (<1,000 words), short stories (<7,500 words) and novelettes (7,500 to 17,500 words). However, please feel free to submit novellas (17,500 to 40,000 words) and query about novels (>40,000 words). Where appropriate, longer works can be serialized (or sent to Silver Lake Publishing, hint, hint.)
Crown & Thistle Inn
Retellings of traditional folktales are published in the Crown & Thistle Inn. We welcome stories from all parts of the globe. (And, if one of your favorite stories has already been included on the site, don't let that stop you; I have no objection to multiple versions of the same story.) Again, there's no limit on word count, though shorter pieces tend to work well.
If you used any sources, please let me know so they can be included in our informal bibliography. Also please note if this is a fairly straight retelling (as opposed to an original story inspired by folklore). I've discovered recently that it can be hard to tell, especially when dealing with folktales from regions/cultures I'm less familiar with.
Graphics
I'm interested in making Fables a more thoroughly illustrated site. Illustrators are urged to contact me with samples of their work, and then we can select an upcoming story as an assignment. I have no preference as to media (which also means I have no prejudice).
Additionally, artists who wish to display appropriately themed work should contact me about setting up a gallery.
Audio
We try to add a bit of the oral tradition to this site. Recordings may be unadorned renditions, or include sound effects. If you wish to read a story you have written, we would also like to acquire rights to display the written piece, but this is not required. We welcome audio recordings of stories currently included on the site. Please query about specific stories and technical requirements.
Payment
Fables is a semi-pro market, which means that, though we don't pay much, we do pay our contributors.
Great Hall, first rights: $10
Great Hall, reprint: $5
Crown & Thistle: $5
Graphics: $5-$15
Audio: $5
Serials and other exceptions are negotiated on a case-by-case basis.
Legal
Fables buys first or reprint electronic rights. In the case of first rights, we ask for exclusive use of the work for a period of 90 days (one issue). After this period, all rights revert to the author, artist or reader. Works are archived, but removed upon request.
We also request nonexclusive rights to make audio recordings of the stories we buy for the Great Hall and Crown & Thistle Inn. There is no additional payment, and we don't necessarily exercise this right (certainly not in a timely fashion, based on our track record so far); the author's decision about whether or not to grant this right does not affect the sale.
Gross Generalities
I like character-driven stories. (Boy, I bet you've never seen that before.) I also like to have a feeling for where and when the story takes places. If you're going to world-build, then build a world that feels real. (Please note that this doesn't mean that I'm encouraging you to drop an essay on your world's history into the middle of a story. The world should be real based on whatever point of view you've elected to use to tell the story.) I'm not a big fan of excessive techno-babble, but please make any technology realistic. Similarly, magic should be used in a somewhat systematic way: even if we the readers don't know the specifics of how magic works, we should have the feeling that there are some rules at work. Strive for consistency. Don't revert to blatant Plot Devices. I'm perfectly fine with blended genres, but please also keep in mind Card's Porcupine Principle: don't ask the reader to swallow too much. It's a rare story that can combine, say, FTL plus time travel plus ghosts plus....
All that being said, please remember that I called this subsection "gross generalities". There are no hard and fast rules. If you've got a strong story, send it in, and I'll judge it on its merits.
Submission Specifics
I will do my best to reply to all submissions promptly, and offer some feedback beyond "yes" or "no" (though I don't promise complete critiques). My response times have ranged from about half an hour to a few weeks, and if it ever looks like I'll go beyond a month, I'll send out updates on my anticipated schedule. If you've gone for four weeks without a response, please query.
Fables accepts simultaneous submissions; please just tell me up front that the piece is also under consideration elsewhere. We also take multiple submissions, within reason; however, in each issue I will typically only publish one piece by the same author per section, so it may take some time for all of your work to see print. We do publish reprints, but with some prejudice; please send them, but also don't be surprised or offended if we end up light on reprints. (My general preference is for original work, followed by print reprints, followed by electronic reprints.)
I prefer e-mail submissions for reasons of speed, but I will accept hardcopy or disks. Artwork should be submitted as .gif or .jpg attachments. Stories may be submitted as attachments in Word 97, Word Perfect, RTF, text files or pasted into the body of the e-mail. (We've got enough software floating around on the PC and Mac that we'll probably be able to read just about anything.) If you have a story formatted according to standard manuscript guidelines, that's perfectly fine. If you don't (or if you're submitting in a format that will wipe out all formatting anyway), don't worry. My main concern is that I can read the submissions. I'll take care of the HTML. General good advice: if you are submitting hardcopy, make sure it isn't your only copy.
Please send submissions to the following address:
Megan Powell
30 Silver Lake Terrace
Suite 47
Morton, PA 19070
submissions
Please include your name, snail mail address, e-mail, pen name, and any other pertinent contact information. A bio or cover letter is optional. Please also include appropriate postage for hardcopy submissions.
Upon acceptance, I'll finalize the information you'd like included in the bio (i.e. what if any e-mail address and URLs). Contributors will have the opportunity to review a preliminary copy of their work before the issue is released. At that point, any last minute changes, corrections and additions can be made.
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