Dreamspinner Press discussion

Do you have questions about the submissions or editing process? Ask them here and one of our editors will do their best to answer.

Yes!

What kind of stuff do you want to see/see more of/never see again (in terms of submissions)?

ok as a first time author trying to submit... how do you go about it when most sites are by invite only?

Norma - Dreamspinner is *not* by invite only. :) But calls for submission are always good starts.

Norma wrote: "ok as a first time author trying to submit... how do you go about it when most sites are by invite only?"

Dreamspinner accepts unsolicited manuscripts at any time, Norma, so hit us with your best shot whenever you have it ready. That said, Aleksandr is right that calls for submissions tell you exactly what we're looking for and we like to incorporate new authors in our anthologies.

Aleksandr wrote: "Yes! What kind of stuff do you want to see/see more of/never see again (in terms of submissions)?"

Hi, Aleks. I really don't want to answer that question because every time I do, we end up with months of concentrated submissions in one genre. We are looking for a balance of all genres. What seems to happen is a cycle of submissions heavy on westerns followed by a few months of science fiction and then shape-shifters. We've never stopped reviewing submissions based on genre, but if we have a high number of submissions in the same genre, the publication dates move farther out so we can maintain a balance of new releases in any given month. A good story, no matter what genre, will be accepted. Overall we accept more general, contemporary love stories than any specific genre.

This may fall under what you said about genre, but what about story lengths. Are readers wanting more novel length works lately or novellas? Or does it cycle through like the genres mentioned above?

Barbara wrote: "This may fall under what you said about genre, but what about story lengths. Are readers wanting more novel length works lately or novellas? Or does it cycle through like the genres mentioned above?"

Novels sell best. The ebook has made shorter work much more accessible, but if you look at the amount of space in a general bookstore for novels vs. short story anthologies, it will show you that most readers prefer the longer work.

Dreamspinner wrote: "...we like to incorporate new authors in our anthologies."

I can attest to that, Norma. Newbie here and will be published in the next anthology.

Congrats Marcie :)

Norma,

I submitted a story to Dreamspinner for an anthology last year and since then, have submitted about half for calls for submission and half for stories that I'd already written.

I have found the calls for submission gave me a useful prompt. I'd never have tried scifi otherwise.

By me, the descriptions in the call for Submissions can spark ideas.

John wrote: "By me, the descriptions in the call for Submissions can spark ideas."

We have several authors that love the anthologies for just that reason.

Sarah - happens to me all the time. "Transit" was supposed to be between 7-10k for an anthology and turned to 27k. ARGH. I'm just crap at shorts.

Even "Scorpion" was supposedto be "maybe a novella" (so around 30k). It ended up being 71k.

Yeah, all power to shorts writers. I simply can't do what they are doing.

You are so lucky, guys. I struggle to get past a drabble sometimes.

Sue wrote: "You are so lucky, guys. I struggle to get past a drabble sometimes."

I'm with Sue- sometimes 100 words is all I need!

Sarah,

I agree, the drabble is an artform.

It's several thousand too short to be published though *g*

Sue wrote: "Sarah,

I agree, the drabble is an artform.

It's several thousand too short to be published though *g*"

But a story of around 1000 words can be used for the newsletter. (hint, hint)

But a story of around 1000 words can be used for the newsletter. (hint, hint)"

I know, *huge sigh* on the other side of my dissertation.

Dreamspinner wrote: "Norma wrote: "ok as a first time author trying to submit... how do you go about it when most sites are by invite only?"

Dreamspinner accepts unsolicited manuscripts at any time, Norma, so hit us w..."

@Norma - if your submission isn't what they need for a particular anthology, they may consider your story for stand-alone publication. I have two of those coming out this year. :)

Dreamspinner wrote: "Sue wrote: "Sarah,

I agree, the drabble is an artform.

It's several thousand too short to be published though *g*"

But a story of around 1000 words can be used for the newsletter. (hint, hint)"

Or as free fiction on your website to promote your longer works. I've also used short stories as guest blog posts for other sites. :)

Sarah wrote: "Aleksandr wrote: "Sarah - happens to me all the time. "Transit" was supposed to be between 7-10k for an anthology and turned to 27k. ARGH. I'm just crap at shorts."

I feel the same way! I know so..."

Little Boy Lost was supposed to be a series of short books (like Stephen King's Green Mile series). They turned out much longer than expected. The entire series will end up being around half a million words. My fingers are cramping just thinking about it. :)

what do you editors think about first person versus third person? Do you see problems with a woman author writing first person stories from a gay man's POV?

Sarah wrote: "what do you editors think about first person versus third person? Do you see problems with a woman author writing first person stories from a gay man's POV?"

I'm interested to see the answer to this because my entire Little Boy Lost series is first person. My entire Forbidden Room series was first person - it's how I feel most comfortable writing.

J.P. wrote: "Sarah wrote: "what do you editors think about first person versus third person? Do you see problems with a woman author writing first person stories from a gay man's POV?"

I'm interested to see th..."

For me, no question you can get deeper into a character's mind and heart in first person. But is there a cognitive dissonence when a woman writes 1st person male? Sometimes I think third person is easier to write, because it doesn't hurt so much when the boys are in trouble. You can stand back just a bit.

Sarah wrote: "Sometimes I think third person is easier to write, because it doesn't hurt so much when the boys are in trouble. You can stand back just a bit. "

Unless you're one of those writers/readers that likes to feel the hurt with them :)

Sarah wrote: "what do you editors think about first person versus third person? Do you see problems with a woman author writing first person stories from a gay man's POV?"

About 60% of our writers are female and any number of those books are written in first-person point of view. Just as not all mystery writers are serial killers, not all writers of gay male fiction, regardless of the point of view of the narration, are gay or men. If the story is well written, it doesn't matter who the author is.

Casey wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Sometimes I think third person is easier to write, because it doesn't hurt so much when the boys are in trouble. You can stand back just a bit. "

Unless you're one of those writers/r..."

It's always exciting to read a lot of conflict, but for a writer it is absolutely miserable to have the character in real trouble. If you have the strong enough empathy to write a good story, you can't help but feel the hurt right along with them. We just have to suck it up and tough it out.

Aleksandr wrote: "Sarah - happens to me all the time. "Transit" was supposed to be between 7-10k for an anthology and turned to 27k. ARGH. I'm just crap at shorts."

Where I have the opposite problem! I write in the 7k to 12k range most of the time. Even my novella was only 18k. Writing a novel was a huge achievement for me! Now let's see if I can repeat it...

Shae

Aleksandr wrote: "Sarah - happens to me all the time. "Transit" was supposed to be between 7-10k for an anthology and turned to 27k. ARGH. I'm just crap at shorts."

I wish I could write short stories. My first novel was going to be a stand alone book when I sat down to write it. When I got to 185k and still wasn't done I figured I better break it into a series. Yes Jo is longgggg winded.

So now my question is...How long is too long for a single novel?

S.J.D. wrote: "Aleksandr wrote: "Sarah - happens to me all the time. "Transit" was supposed to be between 7-10k for an anthology and turned to 27k. ARGH. I'm just crap at shorts."

I wish I could write short stor..."

There isn't an absolute answer to that question. *ducks as Lynn throws tomatoes at my head* That said, anything about 120,000 is problematic in terms of formatting so that's where we try to top out.

Dreamspinner wrote: "There isn't an absolute answer to that question. *ducks as Lynn throws tomatoes at my head* That said, anything about 120,000 is problematic in terms of formatting so that's where we try to top out. "

Thanks! for the feedback. That's good to know. The second novel in the series is pushing that number so I'll keep that in mind when I make the break for the third in the series. Thank you

Hope your reflexes were good and you ducked in time :)

As I wrote in a post abit ago, I am so happy that Dreamspinner has published ETIENNE,THE AVONDAL STORIES
Bodies of Work
Drag and Drop
Break and Enter (Coming Soon).

Anyway just wondered if you approached other authors on crvboy? I loved so many of the stories on that site: but
Draginacht
David’s Initiation
David’s Recovery
The Partnership was one of my all time favorite stories besides Etienne stories of course. Anyway just thought I would ask. Thanks

oops and I forgot mention some other great writers on there like Tim Mead, Jack Scribe...I could go on and on but really most of the authors on that site are great.

Tana wrote: "oops and I forgot mention some other great writers on there like Tim Mead, Jack Scribe...I could go on and on but really most of the authors on that site are great."

They would have to approach us, Tana. We don't solicit manuscripts from authors except through our calls for submissions page.

yes I totally understand that but if anyone wants to read a great story go to www.crvboy.com and look for the author Draginacht, David's Initiation and so on. It well written even had tears in my eyes a couple of times.

Here's a question! I'm thinking of submitting to Dreamspinner but I haven't been able to find any listing of editors there to know who would be the best person to direct my manuscript to. Does such a thing exist, or will a general "Dear editor" suffice?

I like to do my homework ;)

Heidi wrote: "Here's a question! I'm thinking of submitting to Dreamspinner but I haven't been able to find any listing of editors there to know who would be the best person to direct my manuscript to. Does such..."

All submissions go to submissions@dreamspinnerpress.com. They will be read by our submissions team and then slotted to an appropriate editor by our editor-in-chief Lynn West.