Helpful Hints on Breaking into the Pagan Market

The topic of writing and publishing in the Pagan field came up on the Pagan Leaders mailing list in October. During this discussion, Cecylyna Brightsword asked if I had any suggestions on getting published, and Walking Stick chimed in to request that I post my reply to the list at large because there were other people interested in the same general ideas. So I worked up a quick list of hints, formulated for the relatively laid-back Pagan publishing arena. (The original version of this piece was posted to the list on October 8, 1998. I later revised it for reprint on my Website.) While other fields have genre guides which list markets, editors, submission guidelines, etc. -- as far as I know, there are none in print for the Pagan field, so I would dearly love to see such a book published. We certainly need a good solid guidebook in this area. That said, I will offer some suggestions based on my experience in Pagan publishing.

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Whenever possible, request guidelines and read them carefully before submitting anything to a publisher. NEVER violate the guidelines even if they tell you to do something ludicrous, like leaving a three-inch right margin; if you can't stand the guidelines, don't submit to that market.
Try to find samples of what your target editor likes to buy -- previous issues of the magazine, other books by that publishing house, whatever you can find. This gives you something concrete to aim for. Learn the unique characteristics of each magazine or book line.
Polish your work as best you can, then give it to at least one other person who does not feel compelled to stroke your ego. You will almost certainly need to reassure this person (who is called your "first reader") that their services are most welcome and you really are grateful to them for taking the time to tear your work apart. You do not have to make all the changes they recommend, but you should find plenty of ways to improve your work.
There is no standard submission format, or rather there are hundreds, so just ignore that if you see it in the guidelines. Every editor has quirks and they all tend to view their guidelines as standard. Most editors, however, prefer the following: double-spaced manuscript printed in a plain serif font on good (20-pound bond, 85 brightness or better) paper, with words on only one side of the page. Number pages consecutively and put your last name and a keyword from the title on each page. Do not staple pages together.
When in doubt, look it up!! The Pagan market in general tends to suffer from a lack of adequate research and documentation. Happily, several Pagan periodicals now accept articles with footnotes, and some book publishers are becoming more open-minded in regards to indices, endnotes, and such. Make sure that all factual information in your work can be confirmed if necessary, preferably in more than one reliable reference. Carefully distinguish among personal experience, mythological reference, citation of another person's work, interviews or other personal contact, etc. The "look it up" rule also applies to format, grammar, spelling, and other technical details.
Network with other writers and anyone else in the publishing industry. They can point you towards markets you would otherwise have missed.
Remember, the editor is your friend. A good editor will devote considerable time and energy to making you sound brilliant in print. Although this process may feel like being skinned and dipped in vinegar, try to remain cordial and appreciative. The editor, who is used to being vilified by writers for Mangling Their Masterpieces, will be delighted (and possibly astonished) by the change. This will cause you to stand out in the editor's memory, which is a very fine thing indeed when said editor is thinking about writers to invite into a special project.
As a corollary of the above, cultivate a good professional bearing in general. Don't make promises you can't keep. Always turn things in on time, even if it means staying up till 3 AM and then sending the manuscript via Fed-Ex. Send thank-you notes when appropriate. Treat other people's writing gently when at all possible. Be honest in delineating your areas of expertise in contrast to areas where you dabble or bomb entirely. Give credit where credit is due. Maintain a sense of humor. Think of yourself as a professional, conduct yourself as a professional, and people will treat you as a professional.
If you are serious about writing, it helps to print up some business cards which list your contact info and your specialties. I make mine using Print Shop Deluxe. Whenever somebody wants your address or whatever, give them a card. It is also acceptable to include your card when making submissions; just remember not to staple it to anything. (Paperclips are variable in acceptability.) Letterhead is also a good idea. Cards and letterhead should be crisp and professional, not overdone or gaudy.
Work on building as extensive a research library as you can afford. It will pay for itself many times over.
In order to succeed, you must WRITE! Some people set aside time each day, others work whenever inspiration strikes. Experiment to find what works for you, and then stick with it. You must also submit what you write, to as many editors as necessary, with infinite persistence. The most brilliant manuscript will do you no good sitting in a drawer.
Believe in yourself. Practice absurdity and whimsical bliss. Remember that the Infinite Creator has made you to be an infinite co-creator. Shape the life you want. Chase your dreams. Above all, try new things.
EVERYTHING is research. This is perhaps truer when one writes speculative fiction than when one writes nonfiction in a particular field, but the general premise still applies. Whatever you experience, you can write about. Even a lousy experience makes an ideal bad example.
Read widely and thoughtfully. Think about what makes you like or dislike each writer's style. What works and what doesn't? Why do you enjoy this magazine more than that one? Do you believe what the author says in this book -- why or why not? Compare and contrast books or articles on the same subject. Study the different kinds of "lead" (beginning) and "conclusion" (end) of various pieces. Which do you like and why? When you pay attention, be careful what you buy.
Experiment with different styles of writing. Vary length, tone, subject matter, presentation -- every parameter you can think of. This improves your flexibility, allowing you to write for a wider range of markets.
Rejections are a normal part of any writing career. Don't obsess over them. Send your manuscript to the next market on your list. Just because a piece is terrific doesn't mean it will appeal to every editor; you must submit it to the right editor before it will be accepted. You would not believe some of the things that editors get! I love this quote from the Llewellyn guidelines for their annuals, which comes after an admonition not to send them calligraphed manuscripts scented with essential oils: "Any submission that causes the editor to have an allergic reaction has an increased likelihood of rejection." You get the idea.

If you follow the above guidelines, and you write reasonably coherent material, and you say interesting things about your subject -- then eventually your work will sell. Just following the guidelines puts you ahead of about 90-95% of the competition. Any editor or publisher can regale listeners with tales of the bizarre submissions they sometimes receive. Breaking into publication in the Pagan market is still relatively easy. Breaking into paying publication here can prove somewhat more challenging, since there are very few paying periodicals so far (SageWoman, Moonbeams Journal, and PanGaia are the only ones I know of). Getting into the book publishing side, especially with a major publisher like Llewellyn, is exceedingly difficult. Still, competent writing added to decent submission format and common sense will put you above the 95% mark. The problem is that editors typically buy from the top 1-3%. That's all. They can afford to. You wouldn't believe some of the garbage they get -- there's a reason why they call that stack of unsolicited submissions "the slushpile." Clawing your way up those last few percentage points is quite an adventure.

But oh, the rewards are worth it!

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Art on this page is from the "Whiteflower" set, at Winter's Pages

The URL for this page is http://www.worthlink.net/~ysabet/spirit/profwritp.html and it was last updated on October 13, 1998.