Holidays represent a great
opportunity for writing a nonfiction piece as well as providing setting for a short story or even a
novel.
Most nonfiction
publications favor holiday submissions, Christmas being the most popular. They love these "evergreen" articles. However, tip number one, make certain to follow the guidelines. Usually
magazines and anthologies will give you submission deadlines. Don’t submit
either before or after them. It’s an automatic rejection.
Second, if there are no guidelines
provided, plan to submit at least six months in advance of the particular
holiday--with some publications, even earlier. If you happen to write horror
fiction, for instance, October is a great month for publication. However,
stories need to be submitted months earlier. Novels are different, of course.
But even if you’re self-publishing, you need to figure out how much time is
required. You don’t want your Christmas story published on July 4th.
Third, make certain that
the reference to the holiday appears both in the submission/query letter as
well as the subject line if you’re e-mailing. Editors need the info upfront.
Here is a short story
market that specifically wants holiday writing:
King’s River Life which,
although not a paying market, publishes numerous holiday mystery stories and
gives exposure in the form of publicity:
Are there any holidays you
particularly like to read or write about?
Good advice, as always, Jacquie. In the Anita Ray series I like writing about a holiday called Pongala, which is the largest gathering of women in the world. It is held in South India in February/March (depending on the stars), and up to 5 million women converge on Trivandrum, Kerala, to book a porridge and have it blessed by priests of a certain temple, conferring prosperity and peace on the family for the coming year. It's quite a sight to see millions of women standing behind their clay cooking pots waiting for the priest to blest the boiling porridge. The priests, of course, use motorbikes to get to their part of the city. I've seen it several times.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! That why I love your Anita Ray series--you really know what you write about. Exotic and informative mysteries.
DeleteGood advice, Jacquie, especially mentioning the holiday in the query subject line. Thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Allan, for dropping by as well as commenting.
DeleteGreat tips Jacquie!
ReplyDeleteI pray your weekend is blessed, safe, happy & fun!
Good luck and God's blessings
PamT
Thank you, Pam. Hope you have a great holiday.
ReplyDeleteGreat tips, Jacquie!
ReplyDeleteThe first four books in my Malone mystery series take place on a holiday and, the fifth, my WIP will too. :)
I think that is a great way to make each novel stand out!
ReplyDeleteI always welcome your great tips, Jacquie. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carole. Your comments are much appreciated.
DeleteAs a member of two book clubs--both into serious reading and discussion--I always check out recommended summer books. I also consider my own cozy mystery/Southern Gothics A RED, RED ROSE and BENEATH THE STONES to be beachy reads. Shameless self-promotion, I suppose, but they can provide a chill on a hot and sultry day. Thanks for the opportunity to comment on another excellent blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting, Susan. Readers should know about your novels. I've read them and can recommend them to others.
DeleteGreat information, Jacqueline! By the way, I'm a fellow SMFSer and every time you post blog topics I'm intrigued. Finally got around to checking them out. They are great--well done!
ReplyDelete