Writing Credits

[eastkygal]

I was thinking of querying some small presses for my short story collection. I talked to a lady who has self published one book and just got a deal with a small press for her second. She recommended I keep trying the lit mag route to get writing credits before querying. I'm I just being impatient? Is it pointless to query without credits?

[midnightwriter]

Originally Posted by eastkygal

I was thinking of querying some small presses for my short story collection. I talked to a lady who has self published one book and just got a deal with a small press for her second. She recommended I keep trying the lit mag route to get writing credits before querying. I'm I just being impatient? Is it pointless to query without credits?

Probably not entirely pointless. You're a contest winner. I'd say this is enough to put in a query.You could try a few small presses, and see how it goes. Also, check their guidelines. Some of the ones I looked at specifically state that they want 3 publications in an established literary magazine (but that's in Canada, and I queried anyway, with only one "major" publication).

What I heard is that having credits, even in relatively unknown mags, shows that you are committed to writing and won't be "one book wonder". But I don't know.

When I queried for my collection, I had 6-7 internet publications, some of them were relatively heavy weight (for flash fiction). yet I'm certain that the agents who read my query were not familiar with the publications.

[enfpintj]

Originally Posted by eastkygal

I was thinking of querying some small presses for my short story collection. I talked to a lady who has self published one book and just got a deal with a small press for her second. She recommended I keep trying the lit mag route to get writing credits before querying. I'm I just being impatient? Is it pointless to query without credits?

no answer to your question, but I just thought of you when I saw this grant posting for KY. you may already know about it.

KENTUCKY FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN
http://www.kfw.org
---
Grants for feminist artists and arts organizations to enhance
their abilities and skills to create art for progressive social
change in Kentucky. Grants range from $1,000 - $7,500. Applicants
may request funds for a range of activities including artistic
development, artist residencies, the exploration of new areas
or techniques, or to build a body of work. Open to individual
artists and nonprofit arts organizations. Applicants must have
resided in Kentucky at least one year prior to application.
Deadline: September 4, 2009.