Explore These Soliciting Statistics for Contest Submissions

The definition for the verb "to solicit" in this case is much heavier than a call or a request to the public to send submissions. 

The submission process should be fair and based on merit rather than relationship-based publishing, especially among fee-based magazines and presses.

Definition: Contest Hard and/or Soft Soliciting

Soliciting —  it all boils down to much more than a request or a call for submissions.

This soliciting process as we define it here is not the same as a call for submissions or even asking someone to submit casually. The soliciting process under this definition here consists of an agreement where special consideration goes outside the standard contest submission channel based on name recognition or reputation or social standing or demographic or relationship prior to reading the work that will be published, while still charging all others who follow the set route a submission fee.

Asking to see poems, for example, is not the same as asking for a poem.

The latter implies an agreement to publish ahead of time and we strongly discourage this practice, especially when most are paying fees to submit work.

*The aim of this stat sheet is for more transparency for writers and it was inspired by the  inaugural discussion from cohort 1 at the INSIDE Group at A Trusted Reader.

This list is based on contest submissions only.

Methodology for this preliminary data collection: Magazines & Presses voluntarily report their stats. The next steps in this project include much more analyses. This project is in the early months. If anyone has questions about our statistical approach or our ethics, they are welcome to call or email us.

These lists are only the beginning. When most (or ideally all) magazines and presses post their current solicitation stats in their submission guidelines where this information truly belongs, lists like these will be unnecessary.

Stats from the past as far as what has taken place historically are ideal and more robust.

Stats may also be in the current day as a promise for the future, no matter the past.

The purpose of these lists is about providing transparency, and if necessary - being better.

If you want to provide another tool of hope and promise for writers, get in touch with us.

 If a magazine or press is not on this list, try checking their website for their statistics.