WHO WE’VE BEEN, WHO WE ARE NOW, HOW TO SUBMIT, AND WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Quality Women’s Fiction was launched by Jo Good in the UK in 1994.  In July of 2006, 49 impressive issues later, both Jo and associate editor Sally Zigmond decided it was time for a break.  Jo offered the magazine to Kathie Giorgio, writer and director/founder of AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop in Waukesha, Wisconsin, USA.  Kathie’s stories appeared several times in QWF, and some of her students appeared there as well.  A long-time admirer and supporter of the magazine, Kathie eagerly took on the challenge.

Quality Women’s Fiction is all about grown-up stories for grown-up women.  All of the writers are women, and they’re all writing about women.  So much of the female experience is universal…the positives, the negatives, and everything in between.  And womanhood is about so much more than motherhood and wifehood.  Women throughout history have forged a path of strength, creativity, and endurance.  QWF reflects those values and that admiration of women.  Whether a story is about a woman’s highest point in her life, or her lowest, the stories must resonate with an emotional chord.  The stories must have impact.

Evoking emotion is the most important characteristic of a QWF story.  There is no room for a dry reporting of the facts here.  Rather, the stories should present the expanse that is every woman’s emotional lifetime and experience.  Sometimes, women are good. Sometimes, women are bad.  All experiences and personalities are presented here, with the common bond of being female.

If you want to read stories that will create an uprising of emotion, then read Quality Women’s Fiction.  If you write stories that make your fingers tremble on the keyboard, then submit to Quality Women’s Fiction.

Quality Women’s Fiction is a semi-annual magazine with issues appearing in early January and early July.  Each issue contains 20 short stories.

QWF Reading Periods: 
January issue: 
September 1 – November 31
July issue: 
March 1 – May 31

Do not submit manuscripts during non-reading periods.  From time to time, we will have a theme issue, and that will be announced here on this website.

SUBMISSION TECHNICALITIES

How to Submit:
QWF will only accept email submissions.  Please email your stories as a Word attachment to qwfsubmissionsUSA@yahoo.com. 

Word Count:
Up to 5000 words.  We will not go one word over.  5000 words is 5000 words, and word count will be the first thing checked.  Stories that go beyond the word count will not be read.  Don’t think we only go for longer stories, though.  Any length up to 5000 words, including flash fiction, is welcome. 

Format:
All stories should be in Times New Roman 12 pt. font.  Manuscripts should be double-spaced, with a ½ inch indent for paragraphing.  Do not double-double space between paragraphs, just do the indent.  One inch margins all around, please.  Left-aligned, do NOT right justify.

Pages must be numbered in the upper right hand corner.  On the first page, in the upper left hand corner, please put your name, address, telephone number and email address.

In the body of the email, please tell QWF about your writing history and background.  Do not give a synopsis of your story…we want your story to speak for itself.

Multiple Submissions:
No, thank you.  One story at a time, please.

Simultaneous Submissions:
Please tell us if your submission is a simultaneous submission.  If your story is accepted elsewhere while it is being considered by QWF, let us know immediately.  However, we do prefer if you feel your story is perfect just for us, and that’s why you sent it. 

Reply Waiting Period:
You will hear from us by the end of the reading period.

Feedback:
QWF will attempt to give some feedback with every submission. This consists of one or two paragraphs of what QWF hopes is constructive advice. However, we don’t shrink from plain-speaking and we don’t flatter. That way, if we say nice things, you can really believe them. If you don’t require this service or feel it might upset you (and it has been known to do so) then say so in your email and we’ll give you a straight yes or no.  Please do not take suggestions as an invitation to resubmit.  If we want to see the story after you’ve rewritten it, we will specifically make that request.

Acceptance:
If your story is accepted, it will appear in the next issue.  You will be asked to provide a bio at that time.  QWF acquires first time rights.  Once the story appears in print, the rights revert back to you. 

 July issue is a special theme issue of Men Write For Quality Women's Fiction. Half of the stories will be written by men with a female protagonist and from a female pov.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

Outside the US: 
$35/year, $19 single issue.

Past issues:
Inside US: $7.50
Outside US: if you wish a past issue in hard copy, it is $14. From Issue #52 on, issues are available via email as a PDF file for those outside of North America, and these are $7.50. Issue #52 will not be available as a past issue until August of 2008.

*Annual Subscription

*Single Issues

*Purchase past issue

*Note: Outside US must pay through PayPal.