First, you should know that although Prolific Press partners with major companies such as Amazon, we are an independent publisher. We are not backed by university money or other outside income. Publishing is a terribly difficult business with long hours and little money. Each editor is overworked, and many are volunteers. Everyone wants you to succeed. We love you. So let’s both try hard to work together with goodwill and mutual affection.
Please read the information below. If you have a question we do not answer here, go back to the publication where you were accepted and ask the editor.
Our duties to each other
Now that your work has been accepted and will be published soon, we have duties to each other. These are the basic duties of professionalism. The press will publish your work in a print copy and may also publish it online. Every effort will be made to honor your work.
Each publication will make every effort to:
- Put your submission in a quality publication that has been edited and thoughtfully designed.
- Make both your work and your name, or pen name, publicly noteworthy.
- Maintain integrity and professionalism, including fair marketing practices and accepted trade policies.
- Maintain good relationships with all contributors while assuring that both contributors and publications benefit.
Writers have a duty to:
- Maintain good communication.
- Make reasonable efforts to promote the publication on your blog or website. This is optional.
- Raise concerns professionally: send a private email, ask questions, and allow the publication to address your concerns privately.
- Maintain professional conduct and follow the ethical practices generally accepted in the writing community.
- Withdraw your submission from any other publication where it may still be pending.
You may also go to Duotrope, if you have an account, and report your acceptance.
Proofs before publication
- Our publications send proofs only when significant changes are made. Otherwise, your work is printed as submitted.
- You do not have to sign an additional release or other documentation; you accepted the publication’s guidelines before submitting.
- If your work is edited beyond grammar or punctuation, a proof will be sent to you by email. Reply to approve or reject the proof.
Future communication
- The journal’s editor will email you when your work is printed.
- All literary work approved for publication will appear in paperback.
- Some art submissions appear only online, depending on the publication.
- Every Prolific Press publication has separate guidelines.
- If you have a question, contact the editor of the journal that accepted your work.
- Good communication takes two. If you have a concern, contact the publication and give the editor a chance to help.
- Please be patient.
Token payments
Every Prolific Press publication offers a monetary token payment and other perks.
- Token payments are made by PayPal only.
- If you want to donate your token payment back to the press, let us know by email or simply do nothing.
When each issue is printed, we contact all contributing writers and artists by email. At that time, we will ask for your preferred PayPal address so we do not send your payment to the wrong account.
- If you qualify for a larger payment, we will automatically increase the amount when we pay you.
- Allow up to seven days after paperback publication for payment notifications.