SFWA Qualification Rates

And it should be noted that any five-cent-a-word sales to SFWA markets prior to the July 1st changeover still count toward qualification.

ETA: A good chunk of SFWA markets already pay more than 5 cents (IGMS, Analog, Asimov's, DSF, Strange Horizons, etc.), so this should encourage more markets to increase their pay. Some people have fears that this will drive other mags out of business--but no one is forced to change their rates to satisfy SFWA. If a magazine knows it can't sustain six cents a word and goes out of business because of this, they probably wouldn't have been in business for long, regardless. If they can only offer five cents, I see no reason not to keep offering five cents (since there are plenty of markets who aren't SFWA markets that pay this and won't be qualifying markets for other reasons, such as Penumbra with its (now defunct) no-pay spotlight slot. And let us not forget that circulation numbers are just as important to qualification as the per-word rate).

Thanks Marina.

I don't think this will hurt markets very much because readers don't go to a magazine because it qualifies with SFWA. They go because the editors publish great stories. So long as they keep publishing good fiction, they'll keep getting readers and consequently revenue. This change will just make the title a little more competitive and prestigious and, as the article mentioned, adjust to changes in the market over the past several years.

Wow, after this rule goes into effect, the number of pro-paying magazines will probably drop significantly. If the current pro-paying mags (@5 cents/word) don't follow suit, going pro is going to be very difficult. Or perhaps this move is going to force many of these magazines to raise their rates too, just so they can qualify as a professional magazine. We shall see!

Magazines are a tough niche sector of the overall market, unlike 70 years ago. It's a book world, and has been since probably the 70s. I keep wondering if the explosion of e-publishing will "train" readers back into enjoying and buying short fiction like they used to before paperbacks took over. It would certainly help more magazines pay. A goodly number of them operate with zero or even negative margins; subsidy projects. I a glad Analog raised its rates. I hope this doesn't hurt Analog's staying power with Penny Publications.

I'll enter the bet,

My guess is most of the qualifying magazines will follow and raise their rates. A lot of them are very proud to be SFWA qualifying magazines. Some of the ones who raised to reflect the old 5cents rule might take a little longer to raise their rates.