You could if you want. It'll land on a slush pile, unless you have a contact you're specifically sending it to who knows it's coming--be prepared to wait a while for a response.

knock em dead tho! i wanna say i knew you when! : >

don't be afraid---just send it off and try not to think about it.

I don't think you should say that. Is this an unsolicited submission? If so, don't mention that it's (potentially) your first published piece. If you tell them that, they probably won't even bother reading it.

If it is unsolicited, I think one of the best things you can do is find the appropriate editor and then give them a heads-up letting them know what you're sending. (All the better, of course, if you can drop a name they're familiar with, or have one of their current writers call on your behalf.) That way they cover letter won't have to be as detailed.

Of course, if it *is* unsolicited and you're sending it to a publication that accepts unsolicited manuscripts, forget what I just said. But I'd still not mention your lack of experience. Let your piece speak for itself, and cross that bridge if/when you come to it.

By the way, where are you sending it? Maybe someone here has a contact for you.

I like the piece, dobbs, and would be interested to see what you've done with it in the rewrites. Where are you submitting? And why did you pick those particular publications?

It's all good, man. I really like your stuff but you knew that already.

Do you have a copy of Writer's Market, dobbs? If not, pick one up. The first section is full of great articles about the submission process. Also, please get used to this. If you want to be published, you need to be ready to face a long series of submission/rejection. The strong survive! Don't let it bother you.

Well, I would be sending it to magazines that take fiction unsolicited. I'm in Canada and would probably go with Descant, Priarie Fire, and Carousel. I also considered American Zoetrope's All-Story.

All of their guidelines ask for a cover letter or "biographical statement". I figure that's code for "who's published you?" I mean, I assume that anyone that's been published is going to mention where and if it doesn't say that they'll assume you haven't, and then I further thought that saying I've never even submitted before at least provides a reason I've never been published. Heh.

As for not reading it, my stuff is usually super short (often 50 - 450 words) so it's not like it's intimidating or anything.

My biggest problem or fear is that... well, with the exception of Barry Yourgrau, I don't really know any other writers who turn out extremely short pieces like I usually write. Usually when they're this short pieces are sorta Carver-esque, which I don't think mine are (though many readers tell me they are--but they can't be trusted! :)

Thanks for the well wishing so far. Anyone who wants to read the reworked piece, I can email it. I just don't want to post it as I fear having it on the web makes mags less likely to be interested. (I'm paranoid.) I also didn't link to any of the mags in this thread (they all have sites) as I don't want them to link back from referral logs. (Did I mention I'm paranoid?)

Also, on preview, it's weird: I'm not really concerned about rejection (people come and go from my mailing lists all the time and I don't really care all that much)... but I have a terrible time judging my own stuff so often just think it's ridiculous for me to even bother.

Oops, that should be Prairie Fire (ack, what if they see that I misspelled their name!). Heh.

Oh, and most of the mags don't take simultaneous submissions, so if any of you are familiar with my stuff (or want to read over some on my site) and suggest which other pieces might be worth a shot, I'm open to suggestions! (Remember, everything on the site is first draft so would be rewritten.)

Miko, I have a Writer's Market from 04 or 05 when I was first thinking of it. I'm gonna pick up a CLMP this week if I can.

Also, anyone got any suggestions on what to do with tiny pieces like these? WTF are these? They don't seem to be stories; they don't seem to be poems. I like them a lot but I'll be damned if I can think of a mag that would publish a 63- and 39-word whatever-they-ares. Suggestions?

I'd say just write as interesting a bio as you can. If you have no previous publications, that will be evident from the fact that you don't mention any. So use the space instead to pique the editor's interest about your life experience and how that might give rise to your style and future potential work.

There's a new publication in my hometown -- The Backwards City Review (it's a link to their blog but has submission info/links on that page) -- that is really open to undefinable poetrystorysumthinorothers. One of the editors is a MeFite (BackwardsCity). I used to be an editorial assistant for a pretty well-known publication and, from my experience, we didn't mind letters that said "I've never published anything." But that would all depend on the editors and like amberglow said might end up on the slushpile. We found it sort of refreshing actually. Also (and I speak from my own nervousness about sending stuff out) the best advice I've heard (and I'm only echoing what other folks have already said) is just to send out and forget about it. If it comes back all rejects, keep working and do it all again. Easier said than done (I know that, jack). But have fun with it. I like your piece.

I have nothing useful to add dobbs, but best of luck to you.

Oh and I don't know the BCR editor at all so I'm no help there. I see him around town but that's all. Anyhow. Have fun (it's exciting).

Echoing arse_hat: Good luck!

Crossing my fingers for you, dobbs! I really like your writing.