Comments on: Black Matrix Publishing Responds

By: Adrian Chamberlin

Adrian Chamberlin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:51:10 +0000

Another thing – the price for Encounters has been lowered, and it would appear that they’ve abandoned the practice of only paying non-USA/Canadian writers contributor’s copies for their work.

I live in England, and today I was offered a contract by them for a story which offered 1/4 cent per word and a contributor’s copy.

So it looks like they’ve taken on board the comments made on forums and blogs. What does everyone else think?

By: Adrian Chamberlin

Adrian Chamberlin — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 11:30:31 +0000

They’ve discontinued the other three publications and consolidated everything into the Encounters magazine. From their website:

“Beginning with the July issue we are going to a bi-monthly printing schedule and will expand each volume to 150 pages. We are discontinuing Realms, Night Chills and Outer Reaches, all of which will be absorbed by the larger, more frequently published Encounters.”

Is this a good sign?

By: John Scalzi

John Scalzi — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:12:00 +0000

I have no idea, man. I don’t use the e-mail option myself.

By: Rob

Rob — Thu, 06 May 2010 00:46:16 +0000

How does a dude unsubscribe from these threads? This was months ago, long after you’ve convinced me that you are right and I was wrong as usual, and yet I’m still getting emails every now and again when someone leaves a comment here.

By: Christopher Floyd

Christopher Floyd — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:03:55 +0000

Thank you Mrs. Leckie. That was encouraging. My wife and son weighed in, and I’ve asked for both of my stories to be withdrawn. Upon further consideration – and given BM’s business model and unknown distribution – I would stand a better chance of getting read if I posted on Hubpages or something.
I write to entertain people, but if no one is going to read it then I’m better off submitting elsewhere. Here’s hoping BM actually acknowledges my withdrawal requests. In any case, I like this blog. For what its worth to the writers, I’ll be reading it regularly.

By: Ann Leckie

Ann Leckie — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:59:23 +0000

@ Christopher 106

because when a big name magazine is only publishing two percent of its submissions and the slush readers are thinking about their next smoke break, does it really matter how good you are?

Yes. It does.

No, really.

That two percent of submissions is not the number you’re looking for. What percent of its good submissions does it publish? You can’t know that number, but I can tell you it’s higher than two percent. Guaranteed.

They’re good stories. Good enough for better magazines.

If your stories are good enough for better magazines, then submit them to better magazines. Shoot for the sky first. All you’ve got to lose is postage.

But again, I’m an unknown.

Only partially relevant. If your story is dynamite, and the sort of thing the place you’re subbing to wants, they’ll buy it.

Aim high with your subs. You might not hit. But you certainly won’t hit if you only aim low.

By: Christopher Floyd

Christopher Floyd — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:25:40 +0000

I’m compromising with myself. I’m withdrawing one of the stories and letting the other stay put. So many of the horror genre magazines are closed to submission right now (Shroud, Cemetery Dance), I figure I’ll leave that one. The other isn’t horror and is headed straightway to Alfred Hitchcock MM.
Thank you Mr. Scalzi, for this post.
It sucks being the new guy.

By: John Scalzi

John Scalzi — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:34:26 +0000

Christopher Floyd:

“Can unknown writers really be this picky?”

I was. Didn’t hurt me any.

By: Christopher Floyd

Christopher Floyd — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:11:55 +0000

I’ve submitted to two of Black Matrix’s magazines. I should hear back any day. Yeah, I’d like to get paid more, but come on! I’ve got one contest win and one publication under my belt. I’ve got hubpages. I need by-lines. Can unknown writers really be this picky? And where do I sign up for the “experienced authors helping out the newcomers” program? That’s something I could use, because when a big name magazine is only publishing two percent of its submissions and the slush readers are thinking about their next smoke break, does it really matter how good you are?. Now, if Black Matrix butchers the two stories I’ve submitted, I’ll take it very personally. I won’t submit to them again. They’re good stories. Good enough for better magazines. But again, I’m an unknown. After reading these posts, I just hope that my talent is still on display if my stories are published. What I do not need is butchered editing making me look bad. Thanks to all for posting. This has been very enlightening. I’ve been warned.
Does anyone know if Black Matrix at least pays in copy as well? The money doesn’t mean anything to me, but it’d be nice not to have to turn around and give it back just to have my own printed story.

By: 'Ey Nonnie Nonnie

'Ey Nonnie Nonnie — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:35:01 +0000

Low pay rates aren’t the only problem here. Having published with Black Matrix, I have to say it’s a little like selling your soul for pennies. For the privilege of 20$ in your mailbox, Mr. Kenyon will take and “edit” your story–edits you will never see until you get your shiny new contributor’s copy in the mail and realize your wording has been butchered.

Now, I’m not saying he ruins stories. Mine ended up mostly intact. But you can just kiss any sort of subtlety you’d snuck into your writing goodbye. Being busy (which I understand) he forgets to edit his edits (which I can’t), meaning that brand new plurals are left next to “a” and abandoned words wander lost and incoherent in the middle of long sentences.

Hardly enough to complain about really, but devastating to a new author just the same.