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Winter 2002Volume III Special Issue I

contents

portal to our archives

from the editors

News & Notes

who we are & how to submit

linkage

 
if you'd like us to contact you when our next issue is online.


 
if you'd like us to do that and more - i.e. send you info about failbetter presents readings and other events.

Which means: 
we'll send you the 
occasional e-mail.

Which doesn't mean:  
we'll bombard you with spam, give your address to anyone, or use it in other nefarious and sundry ways.

The Editors

Thom Didato
David McLendon

masthead

 

A Victim of Our Own Success . . . (revised 4/02)

Even the additions to our reading staff have failed to stem the tidal wave of tide of submissions we have been receiving this winter and spring.  Nevertheless, failbetter still strives to read and respond to each and every unsolicited submission.  Though our response time has been elongated, our commitment to reading and reviewing all submissions remains.  Should you care to put us to the test, please read the critical info below before submitting:

In Theory . . .

Since its inception, failbetter.com has been online quarterly magazine published in the spirit of a traditional literary journal – dedicated to featuring quality fiction, poetry and artwork.  While the web plays host to hundreds, if not thousands, of genre-related literary sites (i.e., mystery, sci fi and horror—many of which have merit) failbetter.com is not one of them.  We place a high degree of importance on originality—believing that even in this age of trends—it is still possible.  failbetter.com is not looking for what is current or momentary.  We are not concerned with length: One good sentence may find a home here; as the bulk of mediocrity will not.  Most importantly, know that what you are saying could only come from you.  When you are sure of this, please feel free to submit.

In Practice . . .

failbetter.com encourages submissions via email (submissions@failbetter.com). All email submissions should include title in header.  All fiction and poetry submissions must be included in the body of your email.  (Note:  We will not consider submissions that ask us to check out their work on another web site.)  Additionally, please do not send attached files.  If for whatever reason, you wish to submit a story in Word format, please query first.  For artwork, please send query with samples attached in .jpg format. 

For the technically inept, submissions still may be sent with SASE via postal mail at:

failbetter.com
63 Eighth Avenue, #3A
Brooklyn, NY 11217

Please note, however, any materials accepted for publication must ultimately be submitted in electronic format in order to appear on our site.

We strongly recommend that you not only read the previous issue, but also sign up on our email list (subscribe@failbetter.com) to be notified of future publications.

failbetter.com acquires exclusive first-time internet rights.  Works will also be archived online.  All other rights, including opportunity to publish in print form, revert to the artist.  Submissions are accepted year round.  Unfortunately, there is no remuneration.

Fiction:  Original, unpublished short stories or self-contained novel excerpts.  Query first, if you need to submit as an attachment.  No multiple submissions, please.  Send us you best work first.

Poetry:  Four to six previously unpublished poems.  We can't stress this enough—if you submit just one poem, it is clear that you haven't read our guidelines. 

Art:  Three to five samples of your work (JPG or GIF format as ZIP attachment).  Please do not submit more than  5 images at one time for our consideration.

While failbetter.com welcomes unsolicited work, we cannot accept responsibility for lost or damaged submissions.  Simultaneous submissions are acceptable, if not understandable.  Our typical response time is 1 month on electronic submissions and 2-3 months for regular mail.  Note: we will not respond to any email inquiry regarding receipt confirmation or status of any work under consideration.

failbetter.com is an online publication of the failbetter foundation, a non-profit literary and artistic endeavor.  failbetter.com is simply a venue for quality writer who want to get their work seen by thousands of people..  We are free publicity at no cost, and in fact, can (and have) helped writers get more recognition and published in traditional print  publications.