Editor Interview: The Must Read Books Award Go to the listing List all editor interviews Edit answers (editors only) Describe what you publish in 25 characters or less.Science fiction & fantasyRick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020What other current publications (or publishers) do you admire most?We are sponsored by Asimov's Science Fiction magazine and think it is the best magazine in the field. There are many other excellent publications, print and/or online that also publish science fiction and fantasy short fiction.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020If you publish writing, who are your favorite writers? If you publish art, who are your favorite artists?We publish the winning story in Asimov's Science Fiction, either online or in print. After more than 25 years of the award, we have a long list of favorite writers who got an early career boost by being a finalist of winning the Dell Magazines Award. Among those many fine writers who went on to find publication in the field are Rebecca Kuang, Rich Larson, Caighlan Smith, Laura Donnelly, Seth Dickinson, E. Lily Yu, Brit Mandelo, Rahul Kanakia, Anthony Ha, Marie Brennan (as Bryn Neuenschwander), Karina Sumner Smith, Marissa Lingen, David Kirtley, Dylan Otto Krider, Eric Choi, Felicity Savage, and many others.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020What sets your publication apart from others that publish similar material?We are, insofar as we are aware, the only international science-fiction and fantasy short fiction award aimed at fulltime college undergraduates.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020What is the best advice you can give people who are considering submitting work to your publication?Read the guidelines of course, here in Duotrope and on the award's website. If you meet the requirements, and you love writing science fiction and fantasy, you should consider submitting to us.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020What do submitters most often get wrong about your submissions process?I have to say that the great majority of submissions are properly submitted through the award submittal site, so we have very few submitters who get any of those elements of the submission process wrong.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020How much do you want to know about the person submitting to you?That information is on the website, and since it's a blind judging at the finals stage, cover letters and previous publication credits don't matter to us.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020If you publish writing, how much of a piece do you read before making the decision to reject it?The Director is the first reader for all submissions, and reads each story in its entirety.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020What additional evaluations, if any, does a piece go through before it is accepted?We narrow the list down to five to ten finalists and then the two judges discuss which story will be named the winner and which are runners-up or honorable mentions.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020What is a day in the life of an editor like for you?Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020How much do you edit an accepted piece prior to publication?The winner and the other finalists are invited to the awards ceremony at the annual International Conference on the Fantastic (though only the winner's expenses are paid). At that conference, award-winning editor Sheila Williams of Asimov's Science Fiction magazine does a one-on-one editor with each attendee. For the winner, that edited version is what appears in the magazine.Rick Wilber, Director on 01 July 2020 Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only