How long must Tharg keep me holding on?

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

I'm looking for a bit of advice.

I sent Tharg a script back at the start of April. Five months ago next week. I sent a request for an update after three months, and still have heard nowt. Both had an SAE and postage for a reply.

I know it is bad form to send more than one submission at a time, but how to you deal with the situation where nothing seems to be happening? How long do I wait before sending another script? I ask that as a general point for comment.

There are also a couple of other factors pertinent to little old me. First, I'm sitting on a Futureshock script that I'd like to submit that is reasonably topical and based on music downloads. I live in fear of a change to that industry that renders the script less relevant; I don't think anything is planned, but you never know. Second, the script I sent back in April was for a Tale from the Black Museum and, frankly, I know that it isn't going to be accepted. I know for sure because it was six pages long, when the recent page count is up to nine. Stupid old me. It may also be that Tharg isn't accepting such scripts from new writers (although I am pretty sure he's on record as saying that he will).

In my reminder I made the point about the page count and asked for confirmation that the script was rejected. I have no problem with it being kicked into touch (hey, it won't be my first rejection). I just want to move on and try again.

So, what do I do?

[Jim_Campbell]

I have no particular insight, but I can't see why there would be a problem with multiple Future Shock submissions.

I've never seen the 2000AD slush pile, but I would imagine the oldest stuff is on the top and the newest on the bottom and on the rare occasion he gets a spare 20 seconds, or just wants a laugh, Tharg grabs something off the top and glances at it to see if there's any reason why he shouldn't throw it straight in the bin.

With Future Shocks, these things are supposed to be self-contained, so there's no reason why submission #2 couldn't be more favourably received than #1, and it's not like Tharg has time to write detailed critiques on rejections, so you're unlikely to get more than a form letter thanking you for your interest if the first submission is rejected. It's very rare to get any kind of feedback on how your submission might be improved, so it's not like you're going to get anything from the first rejection that you will be able to use to improve your second ...

Cheers

Jim

[Tiplodocus]

I feel your pain.

I'm still waiting on feedback for a script sent over five years ago that had topical digs at the first wave or pop stars/pop idol reality TV stars.  I'm assuming it got lost.

And I've never had responses on some stuff I won the pitchfest with.

Still, I've found the best way to deal with it is not to bother waiting for Tharg.

Send your stuff to the various small press that abound and you'll get almost instant feedback.

Better still, you may get it published and seeing something drawn by an artist (who almost invariably improve things) and lettered on the printed page is also a brilliant learning experience.

If you are serious about writing, it doesn't matter that some of your stories "only" get published in small press. AFter all, you are going to have more than one idea for a story and feedback on each one will make you a better writer

It might not work for everyone but it works for me.


yeah, sorry Dave and RAC, I still owe you parts two and three of that DREDDHEADS.

[planetoid]

sent Tharg a script back at the start of April. Five months ago next week. I sent a request for an update after three months, and still have heard nowt. Both had an SAE and postage for a reply.

No reply means no interest. I think it's quite common not to get a reply if the person isn't interested. In an ideal world everyone would reply but they don't. I guess they're too busy or just can't be bothered. Can be a bit soul-destroying expecting a reply and it never comes. There was an interesting Meg interview with Al Ewing and he mentioned how he he spent ages sending in Future Shocks without getting any success. He kept at it and now he's writing Dredd and all sorts of stuff. I guess you have to keep trying. Good luck.

[Richmond Clements]

yeah, sorry Dave and RAC, I still owe you parts two and three of that DREDDHEADS.

Looking forward to it!

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Thanks for the thoughts. I'll send the next one off today. Suprosed Bolt-01 hasn't popped up to pimp Futurequake. I think I've got something in the next one?

[Bolt-01]

BUY FUTUREQUAKE....

Sorry, up to my eyes at the mo with stuff so I'm reduced to a lot of dipping.

Wish I could offer you some advice on the script waiting Dr X, but Tharg's ways are not to be questioned by mere Earthlets.

I'd drop Cyber Matt an email via the input page and ask for acknowledgement of the script.

All writers who sub to FQP or Zarjaz/Dogbreath get notification that the script has been received and I'll always tell you how far down the script pile you are.

Dr X- Your most recent script is still waiting an artist, and Tips- We're ready when you are.

BUY ZARJAZ & DOGBREATH!

[Emperor]

I seem to recall something in one of Tony Lee's last columns on Comics Bulletin which suggested Tharg wasn't accepting pitches at the moment.

My guess would be that, given the financial situation, Tharg (wisely) decided to work through his drawer full of stories he has already paid for (it won't be anything like the frightening stories in TPO but might limit the number of new Future Shocks being accepted).

Also the credit crunch has probably got a few more people interested in pitching to Tharg and I wouldn't be surprised if there has been an increase in submissions making it more difficult for Tharg to work through the pile and/or send everyone a note if he isn't interested.

As has been said the best way is to keep on throwing ideas out and moving forward. I'm sure the fringes of the industry are filled with people still waiting to get their Big Idea accepted which will then be their springboard to further success.

[Emperor]

Tharg's ways are not to be questioned by mere Earthlets.

Or this ^^^

BUY FUTUREQUAKE....

..

BUY ZARJAZ & DOGBREATH!

Wot no Something Wicked?

[The Legendary Shark]

I'd drop Cyber Matt an email via the input page and ask for acknowledgement of the script.

I tried that. (I've been waiting six months or so, this time around.) The email was deleted unread about a week after being received and so now I just wait. Sitting by my letterbox. Hour after hour. Day after day. Month after... well, you get the picture. It's horrid not to know whether your precious script has actually made it to the Command Module or not. Maybe the poor thing's lost behind a lump of Post Office machinery somewhere or fallen down the back of the Mighty One's photocopier.

I'm beginning to think that six months might be a long enough time to wait before sending in another. If I do send another without hearing about the first, though, that's technically breaking the "no more than one submission at a time" rule.

I wonder what advice Cyber Matt would give?

[M.I.K.]

Now I feel slightly guilty for not thanking Tharg for his critical but polite feedback for a script I sent him a few years ago.

[Bolt-01]

One more thing to be aware of is that folks have been on Holidays recently. The command module isn't staffed by that many droids- so the amount of time available may be at a premium at the moment.

And don't start me on the credit crunch- Nearly killed us that has here at FQP & Z & DB. Sales aren't what they were...

[Jim_Campbell]

If I do send another without hearing about the first, though, that's technically breaking the "no more than one submission at a time" rule.

I don't recall ever seeing such a thing written down ... can I ask where this "one submission at a time" rule comes from?

Cheers

Jim

[Richmond Clements]

If I do send another without hearing about the first, though, that's technically breaking the "no more than one submission at a time" rule.

I don't recall ever seeing such a thing written down ... can I ask where this "one submission at a time" rule comes from?

Cheers

Jim

I'd suggest one submission at a time per envelope- in other words, don't stick two or three scripts in at once- but I'd see no problem with more than one submission.

[Jim_Campbell]

I'd suggest one submission at a time per envelope- in other words, don't stick two or three scripts in at once- but I'd see no problem with more than one submission.

I agree entirely. I've never seen this "no multiple submissions" rule anywhere, hence my confusion.

I'm wondering if the fact that "multiple/simultaneous submissions" is often used in publishing to refer to the practice of submitting the same work to more than one publisher at the same time is at the root of this ...? I know that is looked on very unfavourably if you get caught doing it ...

Cheers

Jim