Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

Crime, Detective and Mystery Writing Opportunities & Guidelines

Sep 9, 2009

The Ellery Queen tradition of literary excellence has made it one of the finest periodicals of it kind while supporting established as well as aspiring writers.

While many established writers such as William Faulkner and Norman Mailer were were published in Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, others got their start in the magazine. These included Nancy Pickard, Harry Kemelman and Jack Finney. Over the years over 700 aspiring writers have appeared in its Department of First Stories.

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine History

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine was first published in the fall of 1941 by Lawrence E. Spivak of the Mercury Press. It was said to be the brainchild of Ellery Queen but it was actually created by the two-cousin writing team of Frederic Dannay and Manfred B. Lee. Dannay served as its editor-in-chief from 1941 until he died in 1982.

Dannay's aim was to raise the sights of mystery writers generally to a genuine literary form. His wish was to encourage good writing among colleagues by offering a practical market not otherwise available and to develop new writers seeking expression in the genre. He began by finding and publishing stories with elements of crime or mystery by great literary figures past and present. More than forty Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners were published in EQMM. The Readers Encylopedia of American Literature calls Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine the finest periodical of its kind.

EQMM Opportunities for New Writers

EQMM has a special interest in authors who have never before been published professionally. In evaluating submissions, the editors look for strong writing, an original and exciting plot and professional craftsmanship. It is especially important to read an issue of EQMM before submitting a fiction story because it has a distinctive tone and style.

EQMM Writer's Guidelines

It is not interested in explicit sex or violence, true detective or crime stories.

Length of stories range from 2,500-8,000 words but will consider up to 12,000 words. It also publishes short novels up to 20,000 words but these are usually reserved for established writers. Shorter stories, minute mysteries, will be accepted with as little as 250 words. It does not accept stories previously published in the United States.

It is not necessary to query EQMM as to subject matter or to ask permission to submit a story. Stories that are returned, if a stamped, self-addressed envelope sent along with the manuscript, will not be critiqued. It may take as long as three months to receive a reply.