Why AC is Not a Good Market for Prose

While browsing the Associated Content forums recently, I noticed a few people saying they wished AC would pay for prose. They were also saying they wished readers at AC were more receptive to those genres of writing.

As a society, we are obsessed with the news, with celebrity, and with voicing our opinions. It is our right and we should enjoy it. So when most readers come to Associated Content-a site which focuses on articles-they don't come looking for prose and poetry. They want opinions, tips, and news. That's what sells and that's what they see on the front page. Fiction and poetry go largely unread and unappreciated by the readers at AC.

Fiction and poetry are not easy to write. I understand the desire to share pieces of life woven into a story or created wholly out of the author's imagination. It takes faith to do this and talent to do it well. But the style, the voice, even the purpose of prose is different than articles and editorial pieces. That means the audience is different as well, which makes it difficult to combine them on the same site and have them both receive equal attention.

What I don't understand is why anyone would place fiction and poetry in a market that isn't designed for it. There are thousands of markets whose focus is on prose. Some of them pay; some don't. Regardless, the readers that purchase literary magazines or visit fiction and poetry ezines do so in search of just this type of writing. It is this audience that poetry and fiction authors should be writing for.

The only thing Associated Content offers that most prose markets do not is almost guaranteed publication-provided the writer chooses the non-pay option. Associated Content is a news source, an opinion source, and a place to find household and health information. AC's readers visit the site in search of those things. Consequently, prose is often overlooked.

There are many market lists available for fiction and poetry. Writersplanner.com is in the process of building an extensive list, and it offers a free submission tracker. Duotrope.com has a comprehensive search function. It also has a free submission tracker which includes statistics such as average response time and acceptance rate. Both of these sites are good places to begin searching for prose markets. Another option is to join a writers' group such as zoetrope.com where writers and editors exchange market information and writing tips.

If you just want to get your fiction and poetry out there, then Associated Content serves that purpose. But if it's exposure you're looking for, try submitting to markets that specialize in these genres.