Frequently Asked Questions
What kinds of stories is Republic of Camberville (RoC) looking for?
Republic of Camberville is seeking fiction that speaks to the human experience. They can be any style and on any subject as long as they are good. We are looking for stories that leave readers feeling satisfied and are strong enough to stand alone. We accept three (3) types of submissions:
- Short Story – A standalone literary fiction story between 3,000-9,000 words (or 15-60 minutes long produced)
- Short-Shorts – Fiction under 1,500 words. Writers can submit up to three (3) at a time.
- Radio play – a play or radio drama that is meant, or can be adapted, for radio. (15-60 minutes produced)
ALL SUBMISSIONS MUST HAVE SIGNIFICANT TIES TO (AND MENTION IN THE TEXT) CAMBRIDGE, SOMERVILLE OR CAMBERVILLE.
Is there a submission fee?
Yes. We charge a small submission fee of $6. Around $4.50 of that fee goes towards producing each episode. The rest is taken by our submission manager Submittable.
Does RoC pay?
No. The cost of producing a story or radio play in between $500-1,000. We rely, in small part, to the submission fees to help fund the series and, unfortunately, don’t have extra for paying authors.
Why should I submit my work to RoC?
Exposure to a new audience and analytics at your fingertips to impress potential agents are just two of the many reasons you should submit. Also, we’re one of the only places that accept previously published work. So why shouldn’t you? Read the post “Why You Should Submit to RoC” for more.
Does RoC accept previously published material?
YES! RoC is one of the few literary magazines/series that does accept previously published material. So adapt your story today! However, be mindful there are certain conditions:
- The work must be published before January 1, 2020. This includes radio/podcast adaptations, literary magazines, posting on blogs, etc. No simultaneous publications.
- Please include a link to the published story or provide reference to where the story was published on the first page of your submission.
- The author must hold the copyright. As a general rule, authors own the copyright for work published in literary magazines and for self-published work. For fiction published in conjunction with a publisher, the author should investigate the copyright holding. Every situation is different. The writer/submitter is responsible for understanding if he/she/they own the copyright for their work. The author of any produced story lends the copyright to Republic of Camberville (RoC) until the episode is published. The copyright then reverts back to the author. The following articles provide more resources to writers unfamiliar with copyright dos and don’ts.
Does RoC accept simultaneous submissions?
Yes, but please notify us immediately if your submission is accepted for publication elsewhere.
What file types can I submit?
We accept PDF, TXT, and DOCX files. Please include the story title and all writer contact info on the first page of the submitted file.
Does my story have to take place in Cambridge, Somerville, or Camberville?
No! Your story can take place somewhere else entirely. That being said, we ask that your story have significant ties to Cambridge, Somerville or Camberville. This means the character grew up there, or is going to school there, or perhaps lived there during an informative part of his/her/their life. See EP3 Hide & Seek for an example.
What we don’t want, is Cambridge, Somerville or Camberville thrown in as a forgettable aside to meet the requirement. We are creating a world of stories and the culture and landscape of that world is as important as what happens and who it happens to.
What is Camberville? How far can I “adapt” it to fit my story?
Pretty far. Is Camberville a colony on the moon? Sure, why not. It’s a fiction place, so Camberville could be almost anything.
What we don’t want, however, is for Camberville to be Rome. Camberville can be a fantastical place, as long as it’s unique. Or it can be a lot like Somerville or Cambridge or any “every-city/town” locations. But if Rome, for example, features heavily in your story and you change Rome to Camberville that is less authentic. Keep your story in Rome and create a significant tie to Camberville in another way, through backstory or a flash-forward.
Will you send me comments on my story?
No. Please understand that we do not have time to comment on individual stories.
Can I change the story I submitted with an updated draft?
No.
When Can I Submit To RoC?
We are accepting submissions from November 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
How do I submit to RoC?
We have an automated system, Submittable, for you to send us your work. It will securely send our editors your story and email you a confirmation that it has been received. To use the automated system, you need a name and an email address.
Using this account will enable you to check the status of your submission at any time by going to our login page.
Ready?
What does “Developed for radio” actually mean?
When we develop a piece of fiction for radio, we often have to make small changes. Perhaps a line isn’t working or we need to add a line for context. Maybe we can’t use the song you mentioned so we need to find another one. Changes are inevitable. By sharing your work in this format, you are also giving it to artists, like yourself. Actors and directors. Their job is to use their creativity and perspective to make your work shine.
And if you’re worried about your story being changed too much, rest at ease. Each episode in RoC Season 1 was aired 90-97% as written before recording.
How soon can I expect to hear about my submission?
We do our very best to respond to submissions within two (2) months after they are received. If you don’t hear back from us within that time, please be patient! It is our goal to make sure that each submission gets a good read.
Can I check the status of my submission?
You can check the status of your submissions at any time by logging into your account. “Received” means that we have your story and are considering it.
No Poetry?!?!!
Poetry is wonderful, but we don’t know much about it. We currently don’t have a poetry editor on staff that could chose and produce poetry for radio. Do you think you could be that person? Email us at republicofcamberville@gmail.com.
Can I Act in my Story? What about my friend?
It depends. All episodes of RoC are recorded in the metro-Boston area. Actors must be able to record in person.
Ok, well my friend lives in Brookline. Can he be in my story? Again, it depends. Everyone is welcome to audition regardless of previous experience. And we often have smaller roles for those folks who want to try something new. BUT, all casting decisions are made by the director of that episode. For those writers who want to be involved in the casting of their stories, feedback is welcome! But all final decisions are left up to the director.
Do i get to decide who acts in my story, or what music is used, etc.?
While we hope developing your story will be a collaboration, authors do not get “final say” on who performs your story or how it is edited/mastered. By submitting to RoC you are allowing a director to bring your vision to life.
That being said, writers can be as involved as they’d like. You can help decide the cast, create a playlist of potential music, or find some cool sound effects for your story. YOUR FEEDBACK IS WELCOME! As long as you understand that all final decisions are made by the director.
How involved can I be in the development of my story for radio?
As involved as you like! Help make casting decisions and offer your opinion on music choices. It can be a collaborative experience or you could be 100% hands off. Your call.
How can I listen to the first season of RoC?
It’s available for free on most podcast platforms. The easiest ways to listen are on SoundCloud, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Does RoC accept “genre fiction,” i.e., fantasy, sci-fi, horror, etc.?
RoC is seeking fiction that speaks to the human experience. Can “genre” fiction do that? Of course! While every story in Season 1 of RoC was realistic fiction (with a hint of magical realism here and there), we welcome any “genre” fiction (sci-fi, fantasy, etc.) that is character-driven and investigates what it means to be human. That being said, the vast majority of fiction podcasts today are genre fiction. And while the readers at RoC love genre, there any dozens of places where genre fiction is celebrated and only a few that feature realistic fiction. So, submissions of genre fiction must be exceptional to be considered.
What Are Cambridge and Somerville like?
Great question. Photos, statistics, demographics, and other info coming soon!