This is a follow-up to the "Gary" thread below, and the concern raised by Hal about "publishing" stories here.

Today I called Mitch Cox, F-F-G's editor, to discuss this matter. I have not spoken with any other magazine editors; I called Mr. Cox because my sense is that F-F-G is probably the top market for trapping-related articles, in terms of both circulation and payment to authors.

Mr. Cox indicated that he usually expects to buy "first publication rights," and only occasionally buys reprints. So Hal has raised a valid concern.

Mr. Cox indicated that a writer's posting of an article here MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT affect his interest in a piece. As I understand it, this depends on how many people might be reading it here. If this place is small, in terms of readership, he might be still interested. On the other hand, he said, if "thousands of people are reading it there," he wouldn't be interested.

He did like the idea of this forum, in terms of its potential for helping new writers, and expressed the hope that the forum continues. He suggested that if a writer has a piece he/she hopes to sell to F-F-G, the writer should contact him first to discuss the issue, before posting it here.

On a side note, he mentioned that he gets a lot of deer-hunting and fishing articles, but is always looking for good trapping articles.

My own conclusion is that if a writer hopes to sell the piece, he or she would be wise to contact the individual editors of the magazines where the piece may be offered, before posting it here. Editorial policies vary, and are subject to change.

Jim

FFG also has no interest in poetry. I asked awhile back.

Nor in fiction, I expect.

Jim

Had another thought, and wish I'd asked Mr. Cox this one.

Suppose an author posts an article here for comments, gets them, then deletes the thread. So the work is only up for a few days, week at most. Would that limited "publication" affect the market value of the article?

If we have any editors lurking out there, your input would be most welcome.

Jim

Didn't know I used to be an editor (after a feeble fashion), did ya Frosty?

I suggest you leave Mr. Cox alone.

If you spill milk on your mama's kitchen table, and clean it up before she gets home, do you have to tell her about it?

-- Hal

See, I could never get away with spilling the milk. No matter how much I cleaned it up.

My mother should have been a police detective or forensic examiner. She'd just show up with the latest chemical test for spilled milk; determine exactly where, when, and how much had been spilled; and then pass her sentence on whichever of her poor sons (usually me) who was the guilty party.

Jim

But you weren't so dumb as to "run and tell it", were ya?

-- Hal

No, I usually had a younger brother who ratted me out.

Jim

I write for Bob Noonan and he also wants first rights to articles,
I have had occasion to post articles relating to current events for discussion and comments on another forum before I finished them and submited them for editing.

He found out and made me rewrite, because the forum was also the target audiance and it is a form of media

Does FFG accept unsolicited submissions? I was under the impression they get bombarded by stuff they don't publish.

I am looking for writers for a project I am working on, I need business related stuff though, anyone have predator control projects they manage during regular season?

Thanks for that input.

Mr. Cox told me he receives 200 ms. per month. I got the impression he remains open to unsolicited work.

(200 ms. per month is LOW for fiction markets, lol. Some get 1,000+.)

Jim

(Attention boys and girls, this is one of your first lessons in becoming a writer.)

What does it pay?

-- Hal

If its a good business building piece, a hundred or two,,

Hal brings up an intresting point, that is not a lot of magizine contributers get paid well, if at all.

most of them offer you the "expert status" line. that is you use the contributions to define yourself as an expert with your peers and with the public, you can retain your pieces for promotional purposes.

writing in these circumstances is more personally gratifing then anything else.

a good example is that FFG and the T & P have made absolute legends out of certain folks hereabouts.

Which in the end increases the value of their service, someone may offer one of them money for a piece, but not someone without any previous exposure

Writing for magazines is like many other pursuits in life: Some people fail miserably, some have a measure of success and make a few bucks at it, and others can make a living at it.

All of the magazines I've edited pay contributors. For gents like Hal, publishing is a business. For most, it's a hobby, much like trapping is for the majority of people who lay steel.

On the question of publication: If your goal is to have your piece published in one of the trapping mags, do not publish it on the Web. If you need feedback or a critique, send it to a few trusted friends by e-mail.

Good luck to you.

Paul

I posted my story on another forum for review and critique but after speaking with Jared at T&PC I took it down. I got mine published and they paid $250 not too bad I thought. I wasn't writing for profit though, I just like writing.