[tracy-vonder-brink Posts: 54 Status: Offline WWW]

Anyone know anything about "Roar Kids Magazine"? It popped up on my Twitter today, and their website has submission guidelines and little else. Nothing about who they are, how often the mag will be published, in what format, etc. --which are huge red flags for me.

Any ideas?

[Starfish Posts: 220 Status: Offline]

Yes... I asked the same question under a different section of the boards. They followed me too. I thought maybe they were just starting out and hadn’t completed setting up yet. But I definitely wouldn’t submit until there is more info.

[tracy-vonder-brink Posts: 54 Status: Offline WWW]

Yes... I asked the same question under a different section of the boards. They followed me too. I thought maybe they were just starting out and hadn’t completed setting up yet. But I definitely wouldn’t submit until there is more info.

Somehow I missed your post when I looked through the boards today! I also have the impression that they're very new, but soliciting submissions before the website is fully set up is sure not the way to go about doing things.

[Starfish Posts: 220 Status: Offline]

Yes, agreed. Hopefully they will be a legitimate new magazine market. Let’s cross our fingers-especially since the market seems to shrink every day!

[Brian Garrison Posts: 35 Status: Offline ask me about poetry WWW]

They tracked me down on Twitter too. I didn't really question it until I saw your posts, so thanks for raising the question Tracy and Anita. I asked them for more details with a Twitter message, but haven't heard anything back. I might try a followup with another message or by email.

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 5,949 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

A publisher tracking down authors without seeing any of the author's work is always worrisome to me. Brian, please let us know if you do get an answer.

[tracy-vonder-brink Posts: 54 Status: Offline WWW]

A publisher tracking down authors without seeing any of the author's work is always worrisome to me. Brian, please let us know if you do get an answer.

In my case, they “followed” me on Twitter but haven’t contacted me otherwise.

[tracy-vonder-brink Posts: 54 Status: Offline WWW]

They tracked me down on Twitter too. I didn't really question it until I saw your posts, so thanks for raising the question Tracy and Anita. I asked them for more details with a Twitter message, but haven't heard anything back. I might try a followup with another message or by email.

Another thing I found odd about their guidelines is that they said they’d inform the submitting writer of what rights they buy *after* a submission is accepted. Every magazine I’ve ever written for has that information as part of the submission guidelines. And really, why wouldn’t a publisher tell a writer what rights are purchased up front? I can’t think of any reason to withhold that information until after acceptance.

[Brian Garrison Posts: 35 Status: Offline ask me about poetry WWW]

Same for me, I saw that I had a new follower. "Tracked me down" was perhaps too strong of a description.

They just mentioned that they will release more details in another day or two, so that's promising!

[Starfish Posts: 220 Status: Offline]

Oh that’s great! It will be interesting to see what format they will publish (print or online) and the editors involved. Thanks for sharing that info, Brian!

[Debbie Vilardi Posts: 5,949 Status: Offline Language is so cool! WWW]

They just mentioned that they will release more details in another day or two, so that's promising!

I'm always happy to see a new market. Here's hoping this is a legit and good one.

[jessica-whipple Posts: 15 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I, too, was followed on Twitter. When I sat down today to consider submitting, I noticed they are no longer following me. Did this happen to anyone else? All of the above comments are helpful, so thank you!

[tracy-vonder-brink Posts: 54 Status: Offline WWW]

I, too, was followed on Twitter. When I sat down today to consider submitting, I noticed they are no longer following me. Did this happen to anyone else? All of the above comments are helpful, so thank you!

They're no longer following me, but to be fair, I'm not following them. They have expanded the guidelines on their website slightly:

"How much do we pay:
.25¢ per word
After we approve a manuscript, we will send you instructions on the rights we would like to acquire and payment information. If we need you to edit the article, we will specify the changes that need to be made. The contract will be signed after we accept the revisions, if any."

So it's good that they're specifying pay rate, but a little weird that they don't say what rights they want until after they approve the ms.

Also a little weird that the contract isn't signed until after revisions are accepted. Highlights sort of does this, but Highlights rejects a submission with revision suggestions and invites you to resubmit; they don't provisionally accept a submission and then not offer a contract until the revisions are accepted.