I was pondering submitting a collection of christmas-themed critters to Dragon when a question popped up.
If I'm submitting material with a particular month in mind (like dire turkeys and turkey variants for november), how far in advance should I submit it?
I would say at least 4-6 months. So for Christmas stuff, submit in July. For dragon themed stuff, submit in January. For defunct world articles, submit in August. Etc.
-Amber S.
that may have been a good guideline before things got so backed up... unless you're not worried about having a good long time before your article gets printed, you might want to send in your query ASAP. that way, they have plenty of time to read your idea and tell you whether or not to write the article.
Does it include the dreaded "Santa" template? That dude is a horizon walker if I ever saw one!!
Does it include the dreaded "Santa" template? That dude is a horizon walker if I ever saw one!!
Santa is a Vampire - only works at night, never ages, goes up and down chimneys like a puff of smoke, lives in a cold region devoid of life - think about it.
A nice chubby vampire that loves kids and continues the profession he pursued in life.
Creative Director
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that may have been a good guideline before things got so backed up... unless you're not worried about having a good long time before your article gets printed, you might want to send in your query ASAP. that way, they have plenty of time to read your idea and tell you whether or not to write the article.
Actually, it's still a good guideline. Things are always backed up in the submissions arena, but if we see something come in that has a strong theme that would tie it into an issue in a timely way, AND that proposal is interesting and well written, we often contact the author to write up the piece even though it hasn't gone through the standard proceedure. Also, we sometimes sift through the submissions seeking these types of articles when we realize we need them for an issue's particular theme.
As for "Christmas-themed" things... that's a little more difficult a sell. The Santa template probably belongs in the April issue more than anywhere else.
Contributor
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Actually, it's still a good guideline. Things are always backed up in the submissions arena, but if we see something come in that has a strong theme that would tie it into an issue in a timely way, AND that proposal is interesting and well written, we often contact the author to write up the piece even though it hasn't gone through the standard proceedure. Also, we sometimes sift through the submissions seeking these types of articles when we realize we need them for an issue's particular theme.
As for "Christmas-themed" things... that's a little more difficult a sell. The Santa template probably belongs in the April issue more than anywhere else.
What James says also applies to Dragon.
I'd put it to you that an article with the theme of any kind of real-world holiday would be a nearly impossible sell. Christmas, Ramadan, Chinese New Year, whatever... We won't run it. It's pretty much that simple. If you want to write a holiday themed article, tie it into a holiday that every world has: solstices, equinoxes, crop plantings in Spring, harvests in Autumn. That sort of thing.