I've been researching some mainstream publishing venues lately as part of my thrilling Edit Club activities, and came across this interesting little gem a few days ago.
I'll start with a couple of their magazines, a matched set, if you will. They are called The First Line, a quarterly, and The Last Line, an annual release. Their submission rules are fairly lax; they want short fiction from 300-5,000 words, but will also look at longer and shorter works, they are open to any genre, and they prefer to receive submissions in electronic format. Multiple submissions from the same author are welcome, just no previously published stories. The editors also request that you wait until after hearing back on whether your story has been selected before submitting elsewhere.
The one thing that absolutely must be found in your story, if you want to be considered for publication, is the provided first or last line. These obligatory, unalterable sentences are provided up to four issues in advance, so authors have plenty of time to come up with a gripping tale that either starts, or ends, with the same sentence as every other submission.
I think this could be an excellent way for new or unsure writers to get a start in the publishing world, because they are given the same jumping off or landing point as everyone else.
These two publications are also intriguing as the subject matter of accepted tales must be centered on a particular workplace.
Worker's Write is a themed magazine. For instance, the upcoming issue is "More Tales From the Classroom," and all stories must be aet within a school working environment. Teachers, librarians, custodians, professors; their story must be told! Each issue focuses on a different workplace. 500-5,000 word stories and poetry are accepted, and previously published stories may be considered.
Overtime comes as a chapter book format and features a single longer story with work as the main theme. 5,000-10,000 word stories are accepted, and serialized novels can be queried.
Blue Cubicle Press also has a small catalog of novels they have published, which you can find here
Here comes the kicker: while all accepted works are paid for, they dont earn much. Authors receive anywhere from $5 to $50 for their stories or poetry, depending on length. So while Blue Cubicle Press might be a great place to get a start, because of their limited readership, they don't pack much of a punch in the pay department.
