Since The Write Spot Blog has been featuring Agatha Christie this past week, it seems right to post ideas where you can submit your mystery writing. At the end of this post, link to the writing style of Agatha Christie.
Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine welcomes submissions from both new and established writers. They publish “every kind of mystery short story: the psychological suspense tale, the deductive puzzle, the private eye case—the gamut of crime and detection from the realistic (including the policeman’s lot and stories of police procedure) to the more imaginative (including ‘locked rooms’ and ‘impossible crimes’). We need hardboiled stories as well as ‘cozies,’ but we are not interested in explicit sex or violence. We do not want true detective or crime stories.” With the exception of a regular book-review column and a mystery crossword, EQMM publishes only fiction.
EQMM is especially happy to review first stories by authors who have never before published fiction professionally. First-story submissions should be addressed to EQMM’s Department of First Stories.
Partial list of Submission Guidelines:
Three general criteria are employed in evaluating submissions:
Strong writing, an original and exciting plot, and professional craftsmanship.
Almost any story that involves crime or the threat of crime comes within purview. However, like all magazines, EQMM has a distinctive tone and style and you can only get a sense of whether your work will suit them by reading an issue. To receive a sample copy send a check or money order for $5.00 to Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine, Attn: Sandy Marlowe, 6 Prowitt St., Norwalk, CT 06855.
EQMM uses stories of almost every length. 2,500-8,000 words is the preferred range. Shorter stories are also considered, including minute mysteries of as little as 250 words.
EQMM uses an online submission system that has been designed to streamline the submission process and improve communication with writers.
For information about standard formatting, see William Shunn’s Guide to Proper Manuscript Format.
There are a variety of places that want your mystery writing:
Alfred Hitchock Mystery Magazine
The Review Review (not a typo) – views on publishing
For ideas on how to write mystery stories, take a look at Freelance Writing: The writing style of Agatha Christie.
