Your masterpieces are ready, and the only missing part is the perfect publisher for you. While waiting for that career takeoff, the dilemma could be, “Where do I submit my writing works?” or “Where could you find your perfect fit?”
While the traditional way includes searching the web or looking up submission openings, physically submitting your work of art, and waiting for the publications’ response, there are new ways for you.
Things are more accessible now because you may do the submission process online.
There are plenty of websites that connect aspiring writers to publishing companies in just a few clicks.
The submitting and reviewing process has become paperless and less complicated.
Suppose you’re looking for a medium to kickstart your writing career. In that case, this article will walk you through the similarities and differences of two commonly-used online writing submission platforms:
- Duotrope and,
- Submittable.
What are Duotrope and Submittable?
Submittable is a web cloud-based management system that’s launched in 2010 in Missoula, Montana. Its goal is to form a submission process that is streamlined, convenient, and transparent.
Five years earlier, Duotrope was established in 2005.
The website offers a subscription-based service for writers and artists. It is a site that features an in-depth, searchable database of current fiction, nonfiction, visual art, and poetry agents and publishers. It also has a calendar for the upcoming deadlines, as well as a submission tracker, and useful statistics compiled from the many data points gathered from the publishers and agents.
Both of the websites are platforms where you can submit your writing works through the world wide web. By creating a profile, you may access plenty of publishers, connect with them, see their calls for publications, and try submitting your work.
What Are The Similarities Between Submittable And Duotrope?
Submittable and Duotrope will require you to sign up for an account before you can access their website. The creation of an account is free with Submittable. On the other hand, Duotrope offers two weeks’ worth of free trial on their site.
When you are done creating your account, you are all set! You may now be ready to search for your prospective client. Both of the websites will allow you to filter your searches. You may filter your searches according to any of the following: genre, title, publishers, writing style, length, and type of composition, and deadlines.
The two platforms also allow you to follow a publication to be updated on the news about them, whether new calls for submissions or upcoming publications. Through this, you will be able to note forthcoming events or competitions where you may join.
Another similarity between the two websites is that they both have this feature to monitor your submissions. The moment you are done submitting your work, there is a dashboard where the information on the status of your offer can be tracked. They provide reports on how your application status is going.
What are the differences between Submittable and Duotrope?
Let us go by the numbers first. In Submittable, there are around 500 available companies that regularly post calls for publication. Currently, 200,000 writers are signed up for the website. The publication to writer ratio is around one call for publication for every 400 writers on the platform.
While there is no available data on how many writers are subscribed to the Duotrope website, it is posted on their page that there are 7,644 active fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art publishers and agents in their list. Duotrope has access to more markets that do not use Submittable.
Submittable Costs And Fees
Now, let me tell you about the payments. As mentioned earlier, signing up in Submittable is free. While there are publications that allow you to submit your work for free, most of them require you to pay an amount of around $3.00 for the reading or entry fee. If you submit about five articles a month, it will cost you approximately $15.00 monthly.
Duotrope Costs And Fees
The Duotrope website will offer you a free two-week trial upon sign up. After that, you will be given the choices for your subscription terms: a monthly deduction of $5.00 per month or an annual subscription of $50.00. When you choose annual, you will be able to save $10.00. There are no ads on the site, and there will be no other hidden or extra fees included.
The Submission Process
When submitting your work, there is a significant difference between the two platforms. Duotrope provides you a compilation of available publishing companies, but once you click on apply, you will be redirected to the publisher’s website.
For submittable, the submission process only happens within the website. All publishing companies have their profile that is signed up in submittable, so there is no need to redirect on their respective websites. Through this, the process is uniform because it happens just within site.
One feature that the Duotrope website has and the Submittable website doesn’t is that the Duotrope website has a listing of 600 interviews with editors and magazines. They provide insights into what the editors and magazines want and tips and tricks on what each publisher wants in writing. It also offers hints on what to avoid when submitting.
Duotrope also has a featured publication response statistics, with articles showing facts like “The Top 100 Most Approachable Poetry Markets” and “Publications that Send Personal Responses.” The posts are a helpful guide to know which publications are approachable and responsive to your submissions.
While there may be similarities and differences between Duotrope and Submittable, here is what they both offer;
- Both websites have good reviews
- They both offer an online world where writers and publications meet.
- They are both beneficial because you can explore opportunities you would never have come accross otherwise without having to leave your home.
These websites are both very functional platforms to kick-start your writing career and start looking for potential publications. While it may be hard to choose between the two, the decision is yours. You may select one from the other, or you may try both.
