An Interview with Jack Fisher
by Grady
Hanrahan
Fiction Submissions
Jack Fisher has had fiction
published in over forty magazines. His most recent sales include
The Fractal, The Blue Lady, Black Moon,
Shadowland, Dread, Frightnet and E-scape. He
is the senior editor of Flesh and Blood: Quiet Tales
of Dark Fantasy & Horror.
Q: What are the main criteria
for a "good" fiction submission?
As an editor, I look
for stories that have all of the following in them: a smooth,
clean writing style, a unique, fresh and powerful idea, and, for
Flesh and Blood, stories that are very dark with a heavy
emphasis on the supernatural and the fantastic with elements of
magic in them.
Q: What do you dislike most about fiction submissions?
I can't stand it when
a story is sent to me without a word count, an address and when
cover letters are written in lower case. How do you expect me to
take your submission seriously? How am I supposed to know what
to pay you without a word count and where I am going to send it?
What also irks me is when the writer pays no attention to my
guidelines. I ask for horror, dark fantasy and fantasy stories,
NOT SCIENCE FICTION AND NON-GENRE STORIES.
Q: What are the qualities of a "good" fiction editor?
I believe that when a
fiction editor takes the time to comment on why the story was
rejected makes for a "good" fiction editor. I also
believe that a patient and friendly person make for a good
editor; someone who wouldn't mind editing a submission to make
it a little better or suggesting other outlets for it.
Q: What are your writing habits, if any?
I prefer writing
fiction, especially vignettes. My work is usually laced with
some sort of the supernatural, magic and dark, dark fantasy.
It's what I read and it's what I seek for Flesh and Blood.
Q: What advice do you have for beginning fiction writers?
Practice. Practice a
lot. When you're done writing something, put it away for a few
weeks then take it out again, blow the dust off of it and
re-read it; you'll find many mistakes and notice a lot of things
you'll want changed. Never give up. It sounds trite, but it's
true. Send your work to as many markets as you can. Share your
work with others. There are many groups out there that offer
free critiques that can help a lot! Prepare for the worst. Don't
feel bad when rejected. Stephen King threw away his Carrie
manuscript
after a slew of rejections until his wife, Tabitha, fished it
out of the garbage and pushed him to keep trying. Also prepare
for those certain editors who are touch when they decide to
offer criticism.
Be courteous. Don't snap back at
editor's because they chose not to accept your work like I used
to do when I started submitting to fiction markets. It's a
turnoff. If they do decide to publish you, send
them a letter of thanks to show that you appreciate it and that
you're grateful.
©Grady Hanrahan 1999
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