I agree that there’s something major about a year having gone by on an “Until Filled” market. [nod/sigh] If it were an editor I’d heard of — and heard good things of, obviously — then I might give them more slack, but most of the antho projects are by people who are unknown to me.

At the same time, I submitted a story to an editor who’s very well known in the genre, and he stopped answering comments to his initial post six months ago, despite some of the later comments being of the, “Are you still here?” and “Sorry, I’m withdrawing my story because I sold it elsewhere,” type. Several months after he stopped answering comments, though, he did respond to my sub (a rejection, alas) so he is, or at least was, clearly working on it still. And you can keep an eye on Duotrope if you’re really interested and see when responses are going out, although I was doing that when my story was there and the gaps are very long. It’s good that he’s still working on the book, and because of who he is, I wouldn’t bet against it coming out at some point, but looking in from the outside I was definitely concerned for a while. And right now, if I’d never heard of him, I wouldn’t submit to him because of his track record with this project. Ignoring comments for months is a major red flag with me.

So I agree that it depends. There are several variables, and you have to kind of juggle them in your head.

Thanks for commenting — I appreciate everyone’s opinions and data.

Angie

Like you, I’m pretty dubious about “Until Filled” anthologies, and I always query them first just in case, to make sure they haven’t filled in the meantime. I actually sent off a submission to one recently, and I’m hoping it’s accepted and all they need to finally close. Another, I’ve been eying since August or so, and wondering when/if they’ll ever close. But when things with actual deadlines show up, I’m much more likely to prioritize them.

It all boils down to whether it’s a theme which inspires me, a publisher/venue I have faith in, a payment that seems reasonable under the circumstances, and the likelihood that the project will actually see the light of day. I know that’s all pretty subjective, but it’s how I roll.

If they’ve been open for more than a year, that’s pretty worrisome, though. That would have to be my “hmmm” factor, since that’s a heck of a long time, even in the publishing industry.

With your two similar anthos, I’d definitely sub to the one due tomorrow, then if it bounces there, you can still send it to the Until Filled one. Or if you sell it, awesome, but all else being equal, near deadlines get a sub before far deadlines, which are ahead of UFs. Of course, all else is rarely equal, so we juggle and flip coins and such.

No, you definitely don’t have to explain everything, but I’m glad you decided to. I’m trying to figure out what readers think and how you all make submission decisions, and more data is always better.

Angie

Right now I’m in a situation where I have two anthologies that want similar stories. One of the two is an “Until Filled” and the other is due tomorrow. The story is going to the one due tomorrow and I’m considering a self-contained companion piece for the UF. But if I’d found the UF first and submitted to it already, I’d be in agony if I had very little time to write, polish, and send to the one with an actual deadline. And with the UF having uncertain status, who knows if they might close submissions to it tomorrow as well.

I have another several anthologies bookmarked because they have themes that interest me and payment that I’m comfortable with. (To be specific: Six with due dates and two are UFs.) The ones with due dates I’m most likely going to prioritize, even though the companion piece I mentioned above is something that keeps running through my head wanting to be written down.

So – yes! Sorry for the ramble (well, the pair of them). I don’t necessarily feel like I “have” to explain why my tolerance of them is lower, but merely give you more of an insight as to why. xD

This list started out as something I kept for myself, on my computer, and I eventually thought, “Hey, I’ll bet other people would like to see it too.” It still largely reflects my own interests, which are similar to yours, pay-wise. I don’t list any market that doesn’t pay over a penny a word; that right there eliminates a lot. I made an exception once for an antho called Baconology, which was supposed to be horror stories about bacon; it sounded like too much fun to skip over, even though it was only a penny a word. In general, though, I’m looking for markets above the bare minimum of semi-pro, with an exception similar to yours for charity projects that sound interesting and reliable, and that doesn’t come up very often.

Angie

Angie

I like the idea that after a certain amount of time (3-6 months since the original opening date?) they be dropped down to a sub listing of something like, “Until Filled: Extended Listing” and only basic info is listed with a redirect to the site or contact email/address instead of a full listing of their info.

As for whether or not I would submit to “Until Filled”, it depends on a combination of factors:

- How eager I am to submit to the topic (not something you’d be able to guess for all your viewers)

- How long it’s been open and unfilled (anything without a due date that’s been open for longer than about four months would worry me)

- Whether the editor has been keeping visibly active on the project (yes = good sign)

- Whether the anthology is advertised well (if it’s listed everywhere I go looking and still seems open, I’d worry that the editor was either not trustworthy or not active – because how could it sit for so long in so many places without having slots filled? – and if it’s listed only one place I check, what are the chances of it ever being filled?)

- What the pay rate is (I’m never likely to work “for the love” unless it’s for a charity I believe in with an editor I trust to actually do the charity thing. And the closer to “for the love” it is, the less likely I am to submit anyway.)

- The experience of the editor (if they seem to have experience in this, I’m a bit more likely to trust that they’ll pull things together eventually. If I happened to know their reputation and it was good, it would help.)

I’m only getting started in this anthology business and little experience with the writing industry in a professional sense, so I can’t say that my thoughts are universal. ^^; Especially the last one, since I won’t know many names yet. ^^;

Hope this helps.

Angie

Angie

If there’s been some sort of update – from the editor or from Duotrope – in the last three months, I probably would. More than three months, though, and I’d be hesitant.