Selected for Best New Horror

Peter Atkins has let slip that his story "Dancing Like We're Dump" from Rumours of the Marvellous has been selected for the upcoming Year's Best New Horror volume 23, edited by Stephen Jones. Great news for Pete and The Alchemy Press.

Standard manuscript formatting

“What is ‘standard manuscript format’?” I’ve heard that question many times at writers’ workshops and groups. I suspect that there are several answers, depending on whom you ask. Some of the “rules” you’ll hear undoubtedly relate to the more specific requirements but there are some basic ones that are applicable across the board. For submissions to The Alchemy Press these are probably sufficient. To remind you:

• Double-spaced text
• A standard, easy-to-read font, such as Times New Roman or Arial
• A 12-point typeface
• Indent the first line of new paragraphs (although the first line of the first paragraph of new sections or chapters may be left without the indent). Many publications, including The Alchemy Press, ask you not to use the tab or space bars when making indents – use the ruler guide instead
• Left justified only
• No extra line between paragraphs, but is acceptable between section breaks and chapters
• Indicate section breaks and chapters with *** or similar (or the chapter title)
• Do not use an extra space between sentences
• Margins of 1.0-1.5 inches (2.5-3.0 cm) all round
• Use italics for titles of films, books, etc (some publications may ask for these to be underlined)
• Include the author’s contact details (address, email) on the first page (repeating this information on the final page may be useful, especially on longer manuscripts)
• Read the guidelines: if they state a maximum story length up to 5,000 words do not send a submission of 8,000 words without checking beforehand. And if there is a theme and/or other requirements, ensure your submission meets them

Specific Alchemy Press submission requirements: 

• Send the document as a Word or RTF attachment for email submissions; do not paste the story in the body of the email
• The email subject line must include information that readily identifies your submission; use both story title and your name (not the file name if different)
• Send the manuscript to the address listed in the guidelines for that anthology; general queries can be sent to the main Alchemy Press e-address
• A short  covering letter or email is all we need, stating basic details. We don’t require  a complete list of previous publications. A link to your blog or website will be sufficient 
• A brief biography of 50-100 words will be required if your story is selected for publication 
• If you are a UK-based writer submitting to a UK publication, select A4 page size; it really does help. And set your spell checker to British-English
• Speech marks: this is a bag of worms, and individual editors have their own preference. Read the submission guidelines. If you use double quotes, use single marks for quotes within speech (see the first sentence of this blog).
• All submissions will be read after the stated submission period ends and then the selection process should take six-eight weeks. Please bear with us
• Frequently, stories will be accepted subject to editorial suggestions/requests. Any such suggestions are intended to help the writer improve the story so consider them carefully
• Should your story be selected, the final format will be altered to conform to the ‘house’ rules for spelling, numbers, dates, etc

These guidelines are not meant to be onerous. In fact, they will help the new writer develop his or her trade, to learn how to send professional-looking manuscripts to mainstream publishers. Smart, clean manuscripts are more likely to be read than ones presented in an idiosyncratic format.

Happy writing!

Rumours: another review

Peter Atkins' collection Rumours of the Marvellous has received another excellent review on the This Is Horror website. Simon Marshall-Jones says:

"What it does show above all, however, is that the best writers are those who take the base material of what’s gone before, wilfully dissolve it and then set about recombining it into something absolutely new and marvellous. It isn’t difficult to see where Mr. Atkins has done just that, but here we witness him working truly wonderful alchemy on that undifferentiated material, which results in literary gold." Read the full review here.

Reprints

Although reprints will be considered for both anthologies (Pulp Heroes and Ancient Wonders), the preference is for original fiction. If you have a reprint that you think is suitable it is best to contact the editors beforehand.

Alchemy Press Editorial Services

The Alchemy Press' new Editorial Service is aimed for writers of fiction – both new and established writers – who require help with their manuscripts, be it a general edit for sense, pace, etc; or for the final line edit/proofread and layout before it is submitted to an editor for possible publication. We cater for writers of fantasy, horror, science fiction, supernatural, noir crime, etc, from the age of twelve years and up.

We also offer a book designing service. People familiar with Alchemy Press titles will know how important it is to produce attractive publications, books that will not look out of place on the bookshelf. Click here for further details.

Queries

If you have any questions about either the Book of Pulp Heroes or the Book of Ancient Wonders, please contact the editors and not the publisher. Use the emails included in the submission guidelines. Thanks.

Another editor's views

Co-editor of The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders Jan Edwards has also expanded on the submission guidelines -- see here. I'm sure that any differences between Jan's and Jenny's tastes will be settle amicably.

Ancient Wonders: an editor's view

Editor Jenny Barber has expanded on the submission guidelines for The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders. You can read her wishes here.

The Alchemy Press Book of Ancient Wonders

The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF ANCIENT WONDERS edited by Jan Edwards and Jenny Barber.

Standing stones, burial mounds, ruined castles or sunken settlements, the ancient sites that litter our landscapes have a mysterious appeal which cannot be denied.

Think myth come to life; old folk tales updated; the consequences of tomb raiding; hidden guardians and secret civilisations; from archaeology to tourism; mysticism and myth; folklore to the fantastical. Take us on a journey around the esoteric and enigmatic places that cannot fail to fire the imagination. Intrigue us, thrill us, make us wonder about the where, the what and the who. 

We are interested in fantasy, sf, weird and horror tales of all kinds. (No erotica, romance or poetry.)

THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF ANCIENT WONDERS will be a paperback to be published in September 2012, to be followed by an eBook edition. Successful contributors will receive a copy of the book and a £10.00 advance against royalties on publication. We are after original fiction; but reprints will be considered if they are exceptional. No simultaneous or multiple submissions. We will only accept electronic submissions as email attachments in standard MS format, .rtf, .doc or .docx. Any submissions included in the body of the email will be rejected unread. The subject line should take the form “Title/author’s name” (i.e. The Hobbit/ JRR Tolkien). Contributions must be in the range of 2,000-6,000 words firm, with full contact details on the front page. The submission period runs from April 1st to June 30th 2012. Do not submit outside those dates. No acceptances or rejections will be made until after the deadline; we will endeavour to report back to you six to eight weeks after that. If you have heard nothing after nine weeks you may query at the email address below.

Email all queries and submissions to alchemybookJJ[at]gmail.com

The Alchemy Press Book of Pulp Heroes

The Alchemy Press is seeking submissions for THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF PULP HEROES. Edited by Mike Chinn.

The Shadow, The Bat, Doc Savage, The Spider; Dashiell Hammett’s Continental Detective Agency; Dusty Ayers & His Battle Birds; Sheena and Ka-Zar. Hard-boiled detectives, sinister vigilantes, bizarre villains – the staple of the Pulp tradition. We want fiction that celebrates (or subverts) that tradition – as well as taking a wild new look at it. Fiction set in the 1930s and 40s, the far future or mythical past, or the present day. Two-fisted heroes – and heroines – fighting for right and justice in the midnight city, foetid jungles or exotic, far-flung lands. Deranged villains for whom the world is never enough.

Sports stories, spy stories, aircraft & zeppelin stories, sea & pirate stories, Westerns, medieval romance, horror, science fiction and fantasy, movies and car racing – there’s no limit.

THE ALCHEMY PRESS BOOK OF PULP HEROES will be a paperback to be published in September 2012, to be followed by an eBook edition. Successful contributors will receive a copy of the book and a £10.00 advance against royalties on publication. We are after original fiction; but reprints will be considered if they are exceptional. No simultaneous or multiple submissions. We will only accept electronic submissions as email attachments in standard MS format, .rtf, .doc or .docx. Any submissions included in the body of the email will be rejected unread. The subject line should take the form “Title/author’s name/word count” (i.e. Mastermind of Mars/ ER Burroughs/3,000 words). Contributions must be in the range of 2,000-6,000 words firm, with full contact details on the front page. The submission period runs from April 1st to May 30th 2012. Do no submit outside those dates. No acceptances or rejections will be made until after the deadline; we will endeavour to report back to you six to eight weeks after that. If you have heard nothing after nine weeks you may query at the email address below.

Email all queries and submissions to pulpheroes[at]saladoth.com

THRILL US, SCARE US – MAKE US CARE.