Tips on Writing for Holidays

Holidays represent a great opportunity for writing and being published. This includes nonfiction pieces, short stories or even a novel.

Most nonfiction publications favor holiday submissions, Christmas being the most popular. 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 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 4^th.

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:

http://kingsriverlife.com/submissions/ 

For listings of paying markets, check out Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity (publishedtodeath.blogspot.com) on a monthly basis. 

Are there any holidays you particularly like to read or write about?

Have you any tips or thoughts of your own you would like to share with fellow readers and writers?