Submission fees irk writers because they often prey on novice writers without the connections to bypass slush piles. Narrative Magazine is one of the worst offenders, with a fee of $23, seven times the typical fee of $3. Narrative justifies the high fee because they fund publication of the magazine—and the editors’ hefty salaries. Now, co-founder Tom Jenks wants readers to buy his new book on craft, A Poetics of Fiction, for $225. Jenks defends the high cost because proportionally he charges writers a lot more for workshops. Over at Electric Literature, Kelly Luce offers up this rebuttal:
This is such bullshit, and it’s offensive to writers who have written both critically acclaimed, beloved works of fiction as well as fine craft books–many of which discuss diction, point of view, characterization, patterns of imagery, plot, and theme. And they cost less than thirty bucks.
One response
Another point of view? Narrative charges subscribers nothing. Yes, that means writers support readers, but it also means those they do publish are paid well and have a huge readership. Nobody is twisting your arm. I won one of their prizes and I didn’t know anybody. I’m nobody out in Montana. This is the best journal in America and you can read it for free. So don’t submit and hey, you aren’t out a dime! As for Jenks’ book, it’s an open economy. Buy it if you want, don’t if you don’t, what’s the problem?
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