I sent the following e-mail last night after reading the eligibility requirements for the Speculative Literature Foundation's Fountain Award:

Dear Ms. Meisner,

I was disappointed to learn today that the Fountain Award is limited to publications that pay $.01 a word or $10 a story. My webzine, Lone Star Stories, pays $5 a story and has published excellent fiction over the past year by such authors as Jay Lake, Barth Anderson, Mikal Trimm, Josh Rountree, Jason Erik Lundberg, and Stephanie Burgis. It is unfortunate that their work cannot be considered for the Fountain Award because they were only paid $5 for their stories.

I'm sure you all put great thought into where to draw the line for your award, but, really, what is $5? Isn't the award about literary quality of fiction for which authors received monetary compensation?

As you can tell, I'm frustrated for my authors. I certainly didn't think my pay rate would exclude their work from a merit-related award given by an organization that encourages the growth of speculative literature small presses.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

Eric T. Marin
Publisher and Editor of Lone Star Stories

Yeah, I'm irritated.

UPDATE:

Well, I have come to realize that Karen Meisner is a very nice woman (and a good judge of quality fiction!). She sent me a pleasant and complimentary e-mail letting me know that she had wanted to invite Lone Star Stories to nominate fiction for the Fountain Award and has now changed the eligibility requirements to include markets that pay $5 a story. Thanks, Karen!

Now I have to pick three stories to nominate. Ack!