The Collective is a new electronic monthly magazine delivered by email to subscribers, authors, and reviewers. The magazine is fully funded by a consortium of small-press publishers, who wish to raise awareness in the speculative fiction community of their publications, quality fiction on the Net and in print. We also wish to give a little back to the writing community for their support of the small press. Each member has dedicated themselves to providing quality markets open to all writers. This includes courteous and timely responses, prompt payment, a quality presentation and help when needed. To that end, we've established The Collective to showcase some of the best fiction to appear in our publications, offer professional rates for new stories, and keep all our markets open to Collective members.
Current members include Eternity Press, SpaceWays Weekly, Blindside Press, Flesh & Blood, JoPop Publications, and Mindmares. Each of these publishers has dedicated their time and money to offer this unique market. You must be a member of The Collective to submit to the magazine, but basic membership is free. Read the FAQ below to learn how to become a member and how to submit to us.
FAQ #1 -- How much do you pay?
The writer's essential question. The Collective pays 3 cents per word upon publication for fiction.
FAQ #2 -- What rights do you buy?
We buy one-time serial rights or one time reprint rights and hold one-time non-exclusive anthology rights for thirty-six months. All other rights stay with the author.
FAQ #3 -- You buy reprints at professional rates?
Yes, but not for stories submitted to our open-call for manuscripts.
FAQ #4 -- What reprints do you buy?
Each quarter, member publishers will nominate one story that it has published in the last twelve months or will publish in the next twelve months. All publishers will then select the best story submitted and publish it in our quarterly mega-issue along with an original story.
FAQ #5 -- How can I get my story get nominated?
The publishers of The Collective choose all nominated stories, which means that you must submit directly to the individual publisher. You cannot submit to any member project with the stipulation that it also be included in The Collective. Once you've signed a contract, publishers nominate the story most indicative of the kind of fiction they publish. Note that stories selected for any other member project paying three cents per word or more is not eligible.
FAQ #6 -- Why choose stories this way?
For too long, writers in the small press have struggled, often not even making enough from the sale to pay for postage. Our members want to reward these writers for their hard work and dedication by showcasing their fine work to a wider audience in the professional marketplace. We've joined together to make this possible. We also hope to attract writers to our publications who may not generally submit to the small press.
FAQ #7 -- How do you buy your original stories?
We will buy between 4 and 12 original manuscripts per year. As our paid subscriber base increases, we will be able to buy more manuscripts. We will only accept electronic submissions sent to a special email address set up for submissions to The Collective.
FAQ #8 -- Who will edit The Collective?
Each publisher will edit an issue in round-robin fashion. He will choose the best three stories submitted to that issue, and then the group will choose the best one. This will give each issue a unique texture and all writers an equal shot at publication.
FAQ #9 -- When will you open The Collective to unsolicited submissions?
The target date is July 15, 1999. Issue #1 will remain open until midnight October 1, 1999. I will be editing the first issue, Rigel Chiokis of SpaceWays Weekly will edit #2, and Jack Fisher of Flesh & Blood will edit #3. After open submissions close down, we'll take a 15-day hiatus to choose the feature story. On October 15, 1999, we'll open again to read for #2.
FAQ #9 -- Where do I submit my manuscript?
Although the "secret" submission address and the guidelines will get out, you must first be a member to submit. Basic membership is free, and you can join by sending an email to collectivemag@hotmail.com.
FAQ #10 -- I don't have an email address or don't want to give out my email address. Can I still submit?
The easy answer is no. The Collective's goal is to change the way the industry looks at the small press and electronic publishing. We abhor spamming, so you will only receive the monthly newsletter magazine. Your email address will be kept confidential and not even be passed along to member publishers. For those without email, Juno provides free email without Internet access.
FAQ #10 -- How about the group story?
Any story accepted by Eternity Press (excluding Pulp Eternity and The Darker Side of Eternity), Blindside Press (excluding The Cooperative), Flesh & Blood, Spaceways Weekly, Millennium SF&F, Roswell Literary Review, or Mindmares up until October 1, 1999 is eligible for inclusion in The Collective, Volume 1. Submit directly to these magazines and not to The Collective. Representative stories will be chosen solely by the individual publishers.
FAQ #11 -- How about poetry and nonfiction?
We are not accepting either one at this time.
FAQ #12 -- Will you have a hard copy edition?
We're working on that now. We'd like to gauge interest first. Would you pay $20 for 4 quarterly issues and four updates? If so, remember to state your interest when you email us. Also, we may do a yearly trade paper or electronic anthology.
FAQ #13 -- What can I do to help?
We cannot contact every small-press publisher. If you have placed work in a print market or in a paying electronic publication, tell them about us and direct them to Steve Algieri, Membership Coordinator (editor@pulpeternity.com). The more member publishers we sign on, the greater our reach and the more stories we can buy.
FAQ #14 -- What type of publications are eligible for admittance?
Anyone who publishes a print magazine, paying electronic publication, anthologies or books can be a member.
If you have any questions feel free contact any other member publisher.
The Collective seeks quality works of science fiction, fantasy and horror for its new e-publication. We pay 3 cents a word for fiction plus one contributor's copy upon publication. We buy First Worldwide Electronic Rights (with 90-day exclusivity) and hold one-tine nonexclusive anthology rights. We select stories in two different ways:
1. Open Submissions
You must be a member of The Collective to submit. Reading time for Volume 1 (January 2000) will be July 15, 1999 to October 1, 1999. No simultaneous or multiple submissions, please. If your story is rejected, you may submit another before the deadline. Stories must be unpublished and adhere to a strict 3000 word limit. Please do not query for longer.
Submit stories for this issue only to editor@pulpeternity.com. Include your name, physical address, email address and telephone #. Because of the rash of viruses attaching themselves to WP programs, you must cut and paste your story in the body of an email. Do not include a cover letter, as the final voting committee will not know your name. All submissions that do not adhere to these guidelines will be returned unread.
2. Member publication nomination
We will also be reprinting one story per issue nominated by the editors of our member publications. Submit directly to these publications to be considered. Nominations are at the discretion of these editors. Feel free to query them on their individual policy for nomination. Current members include:
Eternity Press: http://www.pulpeternity.com (Eternity Online, XX, Best of Eternity), Steve Algieri, Editor -- editor@pulpeternity.com
SpaceWays Weekly: http://www.mirror.org/spaceways/, Rigel D. Chiokis, Editor, rigel@mirror.org
Flesh & Blood: http://www.geocities.com/soho/lofts/3459/fnb.html, Jack Fisher, Editor, ahhh@webtv.net
JoPop Publications: http://www.jopoppubs.com (Roswell Literary Review, Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy), S. Joan Popek (jopoppub@jopoppub.com) and Diana Moreland (tsuki@iname.com ), Editors.
Blindside Publishing: http://www.blindside.net (Conflicting Spectrums), Jon Hodges, Editor, jon@blindside.net.
TwistedMind Publications: www.twistedmind.net/mindmares (Mindmares), Tracy Martin, Editor twistedmind@uswest.net.