John Joseph Adams, the assistant editor for the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, has a reputation for being an uncannily fast reader.  One of the reasons I always submit to F&SF first is the very fast turn around time.  I know that I can send a story to them, and have an answer back within a month or so.  Usually within the week.

Usually, the answer is “Thanks, but no thanks.”  🙂

Baen’s Universe is also earning a similar reputation; the submission guidelines state that most stories submitted electronically (NOT through Baen’s Bar) will be replied to within 6-10 days.  I’m pretty sure that they’re being honest– my short story, Fingers, was just returned in 5 days.

Now, if you’re a new writer, quick return times can be as frustrating as long return times.  Some cynical writers have been known to sneer at these quick-on-the-drop assistant editors and wonder in loud, whining voices how can such people expect to competently and confidently reject a story when seemingly NO time is spent getting into the story at all.

To them, let me say– it hardly matters, does it?  Since these magazines are still open, one would assume they’re accepting someone‘s stories.  And since they’re both still paying pro rates (Baen’s is paying better than pro rates in some cases), one would be justified in maintaining that they’re even doing well.  (‘Well’ being defined as ‘keeping their heads afloat,’ rather than ‘prospering.’  Maintaining one’s nostrils above the water line IS doing “well” in terms of today’s short fiction market.)

So maybe the problem is with you.  Or, in direct terms, me.

I don’t think there’s a secret to breaking into one of the big three print mags.  I think you just have to hit the assistant editor at the right time with a well-crafted story that he or she hasn’t seen recently.  Then you have to do the same with the editor.

Nothing to it.

Fingers was rejected by F&SF in less than a week.  I sent it to them on a Wednesday; it  came back to me on a Monday.  Given the assumption that JJA doesn’t work over the weekend, and that it takes one day for mail to get to Hoboken from Fredericksburg… that gives him one or two days to discover that he doesn’t like Finger food.

I’m appreciative of the speed, even while I deal with the angst of a struggling artiste.  It means that I can move the story on to venues where it’s a better fit.

And that’s all it means.

(Of course, after it came back from Baen’s, I did re-examine the story.  And cut about 250 words from it.  YMMV.)