Tor Open Submissions for Novellas - May 2018 and July 2018

[The Bluestocking]

Well done Bluestocking for getting in under the wire! Good luck everyone.

Working in Progress list is...

Gareth Lewis - subbed 30/07/2018 - 24k - dystopia
Serendipity - subbed 30/07/2018 - 22k - progressive science fiction
Dan Jones - subbed 02/08/2018 - 26k - urban mythology
Bluestocking - subbed 13/08/2018 - 39.4k - comic fantasy caper / heist
Venusian Broon - rumoured as maybe subbing

I guess there's 4 of us who have subbed unless @Venusian Broon has subbed but hasn't confirmed it here?

If anyone from the list gets their novella picked up by Tor, it would be interesting to see what genre appeals to them this year!

 

[-K2-]

'No jinx,' so I'll just say my fond hopes for all that submitted something!

K2

 

[Dan Jones]

I don't think VB went in for it in the end, he said it wasn't ready.

Well done BS! That's some mighty close subbing! They seem to getting through about 3 subs a day so far from what I can tell from the queuing system. Which means I might get a response in October or November and you might get a response after Xmas, BS.

It's the waiting that kills ya...

 

[Serendipity]

Thanks for the info Dan on VB. This list now stands as

Gareth Lewis - subbed 30/07/2018 - 24k - dystopia
Serendipity - subbed 30/07/2018 - 22k - progressive science fiction
Dan Jones - subbed 02/08/2018 - 26k - urban mythology
Bluestocking - subbed 13/08/2018 - 39.4k - comic fantasy caper / heist

If my guess is anywhere near right, they'll opt for the fantasy side of things - there's much less science fiction than fantasy in the market place these days, as fantasy sells better and they are a commercial organisation.

 

[HareBrain]

Good luck, the four of you! I've read two of these, and they're about as far from each other as can be (and both great reads) so I'm also eagerly awaiting Tor's reaction.

 

[The Bluestocking]

I don't think VB went in for it in the end, he said it wasn't ready.

Well done BS! That's some mighty close subbing! They seem to getting through about 3 subs a day so far from what I can tell from the queuing system. Which means I might get a response in October or November and you might get a response after Xmas, BS.

It's the waiting that kills ya...

I slid in under the wire like a darn female Indiana Jones in a skirt and high heels (with tremendous thanks to help from @Juliana @HareBrain @allmywires , 1 beta reader, and 1 beta/sensitivity reader)!

Whoever said writing is a solitary pursuit must be joking - writing the first draft is a one-person show but it's a bloody team-sport in the final stretch with beta readers et al weighing in, helping spot and tidy up the WiP to make it publicly palatable etc etc etc!

I'm not too fussed about waiting as life is crazy busy. The Moksha system reckons 38 days' wait but I read somewhere that Tor doesn't read the subs in the order in which they are subbed. I think the query letter might be the hook for snagging attention for getting to the front of the line? Why else would they ask for it?

 

[The Bluestocking]

If my guess is anywhere near right, they'll opt for the fantasy side of things - there's much less science fiction than fantasy in the market place these days, as fantasy sells better and they are a commercial organisation.

Tor just published Martha Wells' MURDERBOT novella series. That's SF. So they aren't totally leaning towards Fantasy, I don't think?

 

[Serendipity]

Tor just published Martha Wells' MURDERBOT novella series. That's SF. So they aren't totally leaning towards Fantasy, I don't think?

Which may mean they've semi-filled their quota of science fiction already... one just never knows.

 

[The Bluestocking]

Which may mean they've semi-filled their quota of science fiction already... one just never knows.

They may not even have a quota. It's probably "most appealing story wins" or something like that (well, "story that appeals the most to the editor wins", to be exact).

It's not like Tor - which publishes both SF and F - are going to reject a stonking good novella on account of a quota for SF?

Anyhoo - let's see what happens!

 

[Serendipity]

Agreed... I suspect I'll get my rejection by Christmas... then I'll be subbing to a couple of other markets that take that length... in the event of total failure, I'll be self-publishing this one - there's an important idea sitting in the background there that needs to get out into the public domain.

Sorry should explain... some of my stories have an original technical / science idea that I haven't seen in other stories e.g. my short stories, 'Agents of Repair' and 'Iceborne, Earth-born' that makes a difference to human life and the universe (though to be fair, a little of what I have said in Agents of Repair has already started to come about since its first publication).

 

[The Bluestocking]

Agreed... I suspect I'll get my rejection by Christmas... then I'll be subbing to a couple of other markets that take that length... in the event of total failure, I'll be self-publishing this one - there's an important idea sitting in the background there that needs to get out into the public domain.

Your post has prompted me to check the progress of my submission - currently #741 in line, 47 days estimated for a response. Translation: You probably won't hear from us until Valentine's Day 2019.

If I don't hear from Tor by Thanksgiving, I may shop my novella to another publisher or two that takes on Fantasy novellas. My lead protagonist (a cheeky little kitsune gal) has already inspired fan art even though her debut adventure (the novella) has not been published yet. So she deserves to find a home somewhere so she can go out into the world to cheer up grouchy people

 

[The Bluestocking]

@Cathbad - Maybe my next novella should be about dangling a certain Grandpa Draconis over the Pit of Doom?

 

[Cathbad]

Careful - that opening ain't so large. I might get my big butt stuck!!

 

[The Bluestocking]

Careful - that opening ain't so large. I might get my big butt stuck!!

Dude - this is the Pit of Doom. It is self-adjusting depending on the size of whoever is being dangled above it.

 

[Gareth Lewis]

I've just received my rejection.

 

[The Bluestocking]

I've just received my rejection.

Oh no! *Pats Gareth on the shoulder*

On the bright side, you can now sub your novella to other publishers!

Also: that was fast - about 4 weeks from subbing to response.

 

[Gareth Lewis]

Oh no! *Pats Gareth on the shoulder*

On the bright side, you can now sub your novella to other publishers!.

An unfortunately short list for 24k words.

I've submitted to F&SF magazine, and their rejections are usually quick to arrive.

Also: that was fast - about 4 weeks from subbing to response.

Yep. When I submitted it I was 102 in the queue. The day before yesterday I was 62. So it doesn't look like they're doing them in strict order.

Thanks.

 

[The Bluestocking]

Yep. When I submitted it I was 102 in the queue. The day before yesterday I was 62. So it doesn't look like they're doing them in strict order.

I'm #718 at the moment. Probably won't hear from them til early next year unless they pick up my manuscript earlier.

 

[Gareth Lewis]

Good luck to everyone left in the running.

 

[Serendipity]

Sorry to hear about your R, Gareth. Hugs and imaginary chocolate of the highest quality winging their way to you.

I suspect my R won't be far behind yours as I subbed the same day as you. Good luck Dan and Bluestocking.

Gareth Lewis - subbed 30/07/2018 - 24k - dystopia - rejected 24/08/2018
Serendipity - subbed 30/07/2018 - 22k - progressive science fiction
Dan Jones - subbed 02/08/2018 - 26k - urban mythology
Bluestocking - subbed 13/08/2018 - 39.4k - comic fantasy caper / heist