Aim for Successful Submissions

What do you need to do to increase your changes of being offered a contract with Virtual Tales? Besides writing a good story with strong characters, here are some of the things that can give you a leading edge:

1. Follow the submission guidelines! First impressions ARE important, and if you want to get noticed with your email—follow our submission guidelines. What could be simpler? (If you are uncertain about any of the guidelines, ask questions.)
2. Use spell check. You will not impress our editors if you have typos in your writing.
3. Join a writing critique group. While writers might feel that they work in isolation, writing groups can provide feedback that may help us grow and mature as writers.
4. Do not submit material that’s inappropriate. We don’t accept writing that is beyond R-rated (same as the movie ratings) and we don’t accept erotica. There are plenty of markets that accept these types of submissions. Don’t waste your time (or ours) with submissions that we would automatically reject.
5. Be a professional. We don’t need your life history, why your wife loves your story, or that you’ve worked hard for ten years on your novel. Submitting your writing is like looking for a job. If you wouldn’t include it in your work resume or cover letter, don’t include it in your submission.
6. Virtual Tales publishes fiction. We don’t accept poetry or nonfiction. Why would any author want an automatic rejection? Make sure your submission is appropriate.
7. Query letter not needed! We don’t ask for a query letter, so please don’t send one. It’s not necessary.
8. Be confident. Don’t say anything in your submission package that says you don’t have confidence in your writing.
9. Proofread your email. Editors will read the information in your email before reading your writing sample. Again—first impressions!
10. Submit polished writing. Send us your best! We love reading good fiction. We are not interested is draft works. Wait until your story is polished—the best writing you are capable of doing.

To keep track that you’ve covered all our guidelines, try copying the guidelines and using them as a checklist.

Our guidelines might change at any time. Please re-check the guidelines before submitting to Virtual Tales.

Happy writing!