Mood and preference, Part 2

The other day I wrote a little bit about how preferences can impact an editor's decision whether or not to publish a story.

The second part of the equation is mood.

Let's face it, we're all human and our mood is impacted by so many things. And like it or not, mood has a lot to do with our decision-making process.

I don't remember exactly when, but about 12 years ago, an article I'd submitted, which exactly met the assignment criteria and I which I thought was pretty decent, was rejected out of hand. I was shocked. I'd published probably 25 articles with this magazine, most with this particular editor.

After about 3 weeks, I finally called the editor and asked why. He was shocked himself. "I can't imagine rejecting one of your stories," he said. I resent it and he bought it.

Turns out the week he happened to read my article, he was worried sick. His son had been fairly seriously injured in an accident. His son recovered, but he admitted to me that for about 2 weeks, nothing got a fair read at the magazine.

Unfortunately, this is a part of publishing we as writers cannot control. You don't know if the editor reading your short story just got their butt handed to them by their boss. You don't know if there was a big fight at home before work, or if they just hate Mondays.

The only solution really is to be very familiar with the publication, follow their guidelines carefully, and write the very best story you can -- the one that goes beyond bad moods.

Mood and preference, Part 1

Over the last month or so, the results of newspaper contests have come out here in Texas. A fellow publisher sent me the judge's comments for her paper.

"Your paper is excellent. Surely would've been first place winner. But I hate ads on the front."

Beyond some basics: spelling, grammar, etc., preference plays a big part of an editor's decision making process.

For example, I hate the "cat" books that populate the mystery world. Don't get me wrong, I think pets have a place in a book because in real life, pets play a major role in people's lives. Therefore, they can provide a lot of insight into character and can indeed play a major role in a character's life.

As an example, Elvis Cole, the main character in Rober Crais' excellent private investigator series, has a cat. The cat is important in that it provides some insight into Cole's life at home. However, unlike these cat books, the animal isn't out solving the crimes for us.

If I were a fiction editor of a magazine, or a fiction acquisitions editor at a book publisher, you'd have a hard time selling me a "cat" book. Or a dog book, horse book, or whatever. I fully recognize these are very popular books, but I don't care for them. My preferences might shine through.

In the 80s, the appearance of judo in Black Belt magazine declined precipitously. It was due in part to a decline of judo in the nation. However, I've been told by several folks that it was also due to a string of editors who had no experience with judo and chose takewondo and karate — which soared in appearances in the magazine — over other arts.

I know an editor of an online fiction magazine. He's devoutly christian and one curse word and your out. If the "good guy" even smacks of a belief other than christian, your out. It is not a christian publication, but he definitely has a preference.

Preference. It absolutely will help a mediocre story get published or a really good one get canned.

This is why it pays to learn all you can about the editors you might be dealing with. Listen to them speak at a conference. Catch on online interview with them. Read the magazines they edit. Notice what's there and what's not there.

It is one of those things that makes a big difference.

New Story Out

The King was recently published in issue number 11 of Crime Spree Magazine. This is a print magazine and can be ordered at www.crimespreemag.com.