Because we're like you

If you’re a reader, you’re about to learn some “inside stuff” about writers. Or, if you prefer, this might be a good time to go and indulge in a snack and the beverage of your choice.

You – the writers – yes, you. We are writers (and one of us is an editor, too) like you. We’ve worked with (or know) writers, editors, artists – pretty much the entire range of creative professionals – which is what makes this one of those times when saying, “We know how you feel,” is perfectly acceptable.

For the experienced writers, we know the maze you have to navigate to get your work(s) published – or ignominiously rejected, after unreturned phone calls, stalling or “Well, if you put in a singing vampire…” We also know about the cheese: By the time you get to it, it’s been nibbled down to nothing by others who, despite not having created what it took to earn the cheddar, nonetheless felt entitled to their share.

And you new writers? The ones with the solid ideas and talent? You’ve visited the websites of publishing companies big and small to read their submission guidelines – which ultimately come down to one: don’t call us, we’ll call you. As someone once said to one of us, “Somewhere ‘out there’ is the funniest person in America – the only problem is that he’s a bricklayer in Indiana and no one will ever hear of him.” Maybe you’re that bricklayer – the one with the voice no one will hear because no one is asking to hear it.

Well, we’re asking.

Wherever you are in your writing career, we want to hear from you. Since our focus is on providing readers with stories that may surprise them or take them out of their comfort zones, we invite you to do the same to us. We can’t promise that we will accept everything – but we will give you an honest critique and even some guidance.

Because we’re writers, too, we want to give you the same treatment we like to receive.