There's been discussion on the webbers (at Scalzi's blog and on Making Light, principally) regarding the "Big 3" (that's Analog, Asimov's, and Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction) and whether or not they're hurting themselves by not accepting e-mail submissions. My take (because you asked, no you didn't, but let's pretend you did) is that, yes, they are, because, since some writers decline to submit to magazines that demand paper subs, there are stories the Big 3 aren't seeing, and some of those stories are bound to be good. Of course, most of those stories won't be very good, but that's true of any stack of stories.

I've had stories published at Asimov's and F&SF, and I consider those publications important to me both personally and professionally. And I'm an old-fashioned kind of nut who sees some romance or at least quaint charm in preparing a paper manuscript and sealing it in a manila envelope and putting it in an actual metal mailbox. I really enjoyed mailing off stories when I lived across the street from a little franchise postal station in the back of the Bug & Weed Mart, because there's just something fun about sending off a story in the same place where poison and skunk traps are sold.

That being said. I don't write a whole bunch of short stories any more. A couple or a few a year. I seldom send those stories to the Big 3. I can usually find other homes for them that pay the same rate or better and will take my subs over email. Some writers (well, Mike Resnick) might think I'm being silly and foolish and committing acts of career duncedumbery, but I like the places where my stories have been appearing. And quaint charm aside, if I can avoid using up printer ink and buying stamps and making a trip down to the post office, I'll do it, because I am human, which is to say, I don't burn money and calories if it's avoidable.

This is not me standing on principle. This is not an act of hatred or indifference directed toward any magazine. The editors of Asimov's and F&SF have never treated me with anything but kindness and respect, and I want them to prosper. I'm not saying I won't keep submitting to the "Big 3." But they aren't the only good places for short stories. There are other places to find an audience (to the extent that there is an audience for short stories, which is debatable), other places to make six to nine cents a word (Tor.com pays $.25/word, btw), and other routes than those traveled by writers in decades past. Which is not to say I'm abandoning the old routes, but there are other options, and convenience of doing business is something I factor in when deciding where to send my stories.

Please note that I'm not really asking anyone to care. Tables of contents will be filled with or without me. I'd rather they be filled with me. Stuffed, even. Accepting electronic submissions might make that more likely.

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The Adventures in SciFi Publishing podcast is back after a brief hiatus, and host Shaun Farrell had me for a return visit. We talk about short stories and novels and Norse mythology and suchlike things.

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Tim Pratt's posted the second chapter of Bone Shop, his reader-supported novella about the early days of Marla Mason, protagonist of his fine, fine fantasy novels. I'm enjoying the hell out of it so far.

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This tree is, like, melting!

From San Diego - 2009

That's from Zoro Garden in Balboa Park. Zoro Garden used to be a nudist colony. During and after WWII it was used for the recovery of wounded servicemen. Now it's a butterfly garden and tree liquefaction facility.