that's life! Fast Fiction Guidelines
Basic Requirements: that's life! is looking for humorous, positive contemporary stories of 700 - 2800 words with a strong plot. If the story has a twist it should arise from the story, rather than from a detail kept from the reader. To check your twist, imagine your story were being made into a film - would the surprise still work?
Payment: Your story is classified as First Australian Rights. Then it will fall into either of the following categories: Published elsewhere in the world or never been published before.
If it's First Australian rights and HASN'T been published anywhere else in the world, then you will receive $400 for one page, $600 for 2 pages, $700 for 3 pages, $800 for 4 pages.
If it's First Australian Rights and HAS been published once, somewhere else in the world, then you will receive: $300 for one page, $500 for 2 pages, $600 for 3 pages and $700 for 4 pages.
1 page - 900 words
1.5 pp - 1,200 words
2pp - 1,400 words
3pp - 2,100 words 4pp - 2,800 words
If you have one, please provide your ABN number on your covering letter or manuscript. If not we will explain how to obtain one should your story be selected. Or you can complete a 'Statement by Supplier' form, which we can provide. (This only applies if you are based in Australia). If you do not, you could lose up to 48% of your payment in tax.
Subject Matter: Read several issues of the magazines to get the flavour of the type of fiction we publish. Many writers waste a lot of time and effort because they haven't done this. Please avoid straightforward romance ie. boy meets girl and they live happily ever after. Also avoid stories narrated by animals or babies. Please remember that that's life! is a family magazine so graphic murders, sex crimes and domestic violence are not acceptable.
We normally write in chronological order, so please keep events in sequence and avoid "jumping" around time slots, as this can be confusing.
Also, please bear in mind that if your story is themed then it needs to be sent to us about 3 months in advance of the magazine in which it needs to appear. For example a Christmas story would need to reach us no later than September.
Common twists to avoid:
- The heroine/narrator is revealed to be a cat, dog, car, possum, tree or ghost!
- A partner's mysterious arrangements turn out to be for a surprise party
- The perpetrator's murder plan backfires and s/he eats the poison
- A woman meets up with a handsome "stranger" for a steamy rendezvous and it turns out to be her husband
- Someone nervous about a first day at school turns out to be the teacher; or about a wedding, the vicar; or an interview, the interviewer.
- A woman spots her boyfriend/man of her dreams with a beautiful blonde lady - who turns out to be his sister
- Anything involving twins
- A murder/death actually turns out to be part of a play rehearsal
Common plots to avoid:
- Woman gets her revenge on bullying husband, mother-in-law or boss
- Widowed woman finds new love in her autumn years
- The heroine is a writer
- Anything involving winning money/the lotto
- Con artist tries to fleece little old lady - but the old lady ends up conning him
It's not that we would never use a story with these plot lines, but bear in mind we do get a lot of them. So your story would need a fresh angle to stand out.
Characters: It can be confusing if you have too many characters. A maximum of four is usually best.
Originality: Stories must be your own idea and original work, previously unpublished, and not on offer to any other magazine or publisher at the time sent to us. Should your story be accepted we may have to edit it to conform to page length, style, and the photos available to illustrate it.
Presentation: Manuscripts should be presented in a typed Word document format. Please ensure your name, address and telephone number are included in the manuscript. An accompanying letter is not necessary. PLEASE ensure you send it with a word count and let us know if it is 1st or 2nd rights. Also, we prefer not to receive bulk submissions, so please don't send any more than 4 stories at a time.
Address: Manuscripts should be emailed to fastfiction@pacificmags.com.au
Replies: If you've heard nothing after six months your story is unlikely to be used. However you may resubmit it if you wish. A story that may not have been suitable, in length or subject, at one point could be just what we need months later.
Please be aware that due to the large volume of stories we receive we cannot offer individual guidance or assessment.
Rejection: If your story is rejected it can be for any number of reasons. Sometimes we have already published, or have in stock a similar story, or we may feel it will not appeal to our readers. This does not mean we will not like another of your stories, so don't lose heart.
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