Inaccurate
Realities
publishes young adult speculative fiction. Each issue is centered
around a specific theme. Past themes include: magic, fear & time
travel.
(ceased publication)
SQF: Why did you start this magazine?
Christa S: I thought there was this big hole in the young adult market for speculative fiction short stories. I found lots of magazines and online publications publishing more contemporary YA stories, but my heart belongs to science fiction and fantasy and I always want more of it. So I decided to try and fill a bit of that hole with Inaccurate Realities.
SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?
CS: Oh great question!We look for a unique idea. We don't want to see the same thing time and time again, so it's always best to surprise us. The best is when you take a theme and make it work in an unexpected genre. For example submitting a science fiction story for the magic issue instead of the go-to fantasy set-ups.A great hook. We read a lot of stories in a short period of time so you need to grab our attention right away and hold it.
That it's for the Young Adult demographic. This may seem like a no brainer since we're a “YA Magazine,” but you wouldn't believe the number of submissions we get that aren't YA. If you’re unsure if your story is YA or not we have a handy “What is YA” post on our website.
SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?
CS: Any overly complicated concept. If a story reads more like the a piece of a novel we generally don't want it. It's best to stick to a single concept/idea/emotional beat.
SQF: Do you provide comments when you reject a submission?
CS: Sometimes, if we really liked a story but it wasn't quite right, but most of the time we don't. We wish we could, but unfortunately we just don't have enough time.
SQF: If I had a character in my story named Inaccurate Realities, how would you describe her (or him)?
CS: She would definitely be someone who marches to the beat of her own drum. A free spirit. Stubborn. Creative. But I also think she would have an adventurous quality – always looking for something new and exciting. Willing to take a chance on something different. And based on our logo, I imagine her with jet black hair with a single streak of colour, a colour which she changes on a regular basis.
SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?
CS: Hmm, that’s a tough one! Maybe our hopes for the future? Which right now are pretty open. We want to keep putting out new issues - that’s a given - but we’re also dreaming big. We hope to eventually move into publishing anthologies and then perhaps YA novels. Who knows? The sky’s the limit!
Thank you, Christa. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.
NEXT POST: 8/1--Six Questions for Glen Phillips, Publisher, Front Porch Review
(ceased publication)
SQF: Why did you start this magazine?
Christa S: I thought there was this big hole in the young adult market for speculative fiction short stories. I found lots of magazines and online publications publishing more contemporary YA stories, but my heart belongs to science fiction and fantasy and I always want more of it. So I decided to try and fill a bit of that hole with Inaccurate Realities.
SQF: What are the top three things you look for in a submission and why?
CS: Oh great question!We look for a unique idea. We don't want to see the same thing time and time again, so it's always best to surprise us. The best is when you take a theme and make it work in an unexpected genre. For example submitting a science fiction story for the magic issue instead of the go-to fantasy set-ups.A great hook. We read a lot of stories in a short period of time so you need to grab our attention right away and hold it.
That it's for the Young Adult demographic. This may seem like a no brainer since we're a “YA Magazine,” but you wouldn't believe the number of submissions we get that aren't YA. If you’re unsure if your story is YA or not we have a handy “What is YA” post on our website.
SQF: What most often turns you off to a submission?
CS: Any overly complicated concept. If a story reads more like the a piece of a novel we generally don't want it. It's best to stick to a single concept/idea/emotional beat.
SQF: Do you provide comments when you reject a submission?
CS: Sometimes, if we really liked a story but it wasn't quite right, but most of the time we don't. We wish we could, but unfortunately we just don't have enough time.
SQF: If I had a character in my story named Inaccurate Realities, how would you describe her (or him)?
CS: She would definitely be someone who marches to the beat of her own drum. A free spirit. Stubborn. Creative. But I also think she would have an adventurous quality – always looking for something new and exciting. Willing to take a chance on something different. And based on our logo, I imagine her with jet black hair with a single streak of colour, a colour which she changes on a regular basis.
SQF: What one question on this topic do you wish I'd asked that I didn't? And how would you answer it?
CS: Hmm, that’s a tough one! Maybe our hopes for the future? Which right now are pretty open. We want to keep putting out new issues - that’s a given - but we’re also dreaming big. We hope to eventually move into publishing anthologies and then perhaps YA novels. Who knows? The sky’s the limit!
Thank you, Christa. We all appreciate you taking time from your busy schedule to participate in this project.
NEXT POST: 8/1--Six Questions for Glen Phillips, Publisher, Front Porch Review
No comments:
Post a Comment