About the Listing of the Day

Every day, Duotrope selects a Listing of the Day.¹ This is a two-step process. First, our system randomly selects a candidate from a shortlist, and then a member of our staff double-checks that the publication/agent selected is currently accepting submissions and still meets our eligibility standards.

Are there any special criteria?

The Longlist: Some months, we have loose themes. For example, April is Poetry Month, and the longlist is comprised of listings that accept poetry. We run a loose theme most months of the year, and we also have special theme days, like Leap Day. Try guessing the theme at any given time of year!

The Shortlist: Regardless of whether there is a theme, the shortlist applies quantifiable criteria whenever possible,² similar to our Smart Search feature, including:

• The publication's average response time³
• The publication's acceptance rate³
• The publication's rate of non-response³ (submissions reported "lost" or "never responded")

The system especially rewards fast responders. Other factors, such as the number of people reporting submissions, are given lower priority but still evaluated.

Are there any restrictions on what can be selected?

Fledgling listings aren't eligible for selection, and neither are listings flagged "mature audience." (The latter isn't our choice, but we adopted that policy because some of the platforms where we announce the Listing of the Day have restrictions regarding mature content.)

Also, for a listing to be selected, we need to have recent cover art, and we need to have response reports from at least 10 different members within the past 12 months.

How can I increase my publishing project's chance of being selected?

Make sure that we have a current cover image for your listing. Other than that, strive to respond to all your submissions as quickly as possible. It can also help to encourage people to report their submissions to us, if we haven't received enough response reports. We offer links and graphics that might help. (Note that linking to us does not increase the odds of being selected, but having enough submission reports does.)

Can I pay you to be selected? Can I offer you gifts or linkbacks?

Nope, nope, and nope. Sorry, Charlie. (People really do ask us this question.)

How often do selections repeat?
Does it only feature the most popular publishers?

A listing can't be selected more often than once a year. We list thousands of active publishing opportuntities, and we want to highlight as many as possible.
In fact, the odds are weighted to favor listings that have never been selected before. They get more tickets in the lottery, like an anti-Hunger Games. "May the odds be ever in your favor." Truly, we mean it. We want you to succeed!

Do publishers that use Duosuma have an advantage?

No, the algorithm that makes the initial selection isn't aware of what submission methods the publisher uses, or if the publisher has an account with Duosuma. That is not part of the evaluation process at all.

¹ Except for a few major holidays.
² For some themes, we simply don't have enough data or listings for all the criteria to be met.
³ Based on statistics compiled from submissions reported to Duotrope.