The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has base a unexampled writing workshop with former Asimov ’s Magazine editor in chief Gardner Dozois , and F&SF editor Gordon Van Gelder order the shop will supply chronicle to F&SF in time to come . Although it ’s great for experienced editors like Dozois and Van Gelder to deal their hard - won wisdom with aspiring writer , the deduction that a “ pay up - to - recreate ” workshop is go to be the principal accounting entry breaker point for new writers to F&SF is get some consternation . Prime Books editor Sean Wallace blogs : “ Um , there are so many kinds of wrong with this I do n’t have sex where to start . . . ” and one of his commenters suggests the collar phrase “ ethics fail . ” ( It ’s not an cyberspace controversy unless there ’s word or phrase ending in “ fail . ” )
To my mind , though , Van Gelder is just making denotative what everyone has always known about workshops : they ’re a way of contact editor and make connexion . David Marusek , to choose a random good example , has tell many fourth dimension the tale of his first tale sale to Asimov ’s at Clarion West , and how it launched his career . Having read magazine publisher fiction slush before , I do n’t know that there ’s a bright or equitable way to help new writers go around it . At the same sentence , being so conspicuous about saying “ serve our shop and you ’ll get the inside track to publishing in our magazine ” does feel a bit skeevy . I recollect the litmus test is whether the increase chance of publication is the principal attraction , or just a fringe welfare on top of all the instruction you ’ll be getting , and that ’s hard to gauge without knowing more .
What do you think ?
Update : I ’ve heard from the F&SF kinsfolk , and I ’m hop to brand their side of this taradiddle presently . I apologize for not reach them before running this piece , since it would have been better to include their viewpoint along with the original report .
[ Innsmouth Free PressviaSean WallaceviaJay Lake on Twitter ]
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