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SO, YOU WANT TO BECOME SYNDICATED?
Thank you for your interest in Tribune Media Services. TMS accepts submissions for columns, comics, editorial cartoons and puzzles. We will need several weeks worth of samples to consider, as well as a cover letter detailing your experience and your idea.
TELL ME ABOUT THE COVER LETTER
Since we receive hundreds of submissions each month, your first impression is important. Briefly describe your feature. Has it been published elsewhere? What's the target audience? How will you reach that group? What's the hook? Summarize in two sentences what a syndicate sales person might tell a newspaper editor about your feature. If others are doing similar work, it's OK to acknowledge them and summarize how you're different.
We also would like to know something about the author or artist. Describe your relevant experience. You can list columns or cartoons that have been published or books and publications that you've written. Is this your first submission, a resubmission or a referral? Some creators send out simultaneous, multiple submissions to other syndicates. We appreciate a brief note if it is a multiple submission, but it's not required.
If the work being submitted is a comic strip, we would like to have a description of the main characters in the strip, explaining how they relate to one another. This helps us understand how you would sustain your idea over months and years.
Please list your address, phone number and e-mail address on the top of your letter.
HOW SHOULD I PREPARE AND SEND A SUBMISSION TO TMS?
For columns, send 8 to 10 sample columns. For comics, send 4 to 6 weeks of daily and Sunday strips, as well as character descriptions (see above).
Please do not send elaborate notebooks and binders. Photocopies or a simple folder will do. First-class mail is fine. Unless a syndicate editor requests a fax or overnight delivery, you can spare the expense.
Please send us 8½" x 11" copies of your material, not the originals, as we do not guarantee return of materials. If you request that your submission be returned, please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with sufficient postage for either the return of your materials or for a reply letter. If you do not provide sufficient postage, we will not return your material to you. Better yet - save the postage; if you include your e-mail address, we will e-mail a response, though we will not return your materials.
NOTE: Please do not meter the SASE. The Post Office requires that metered mail be stamped with the same date of mailing. The Post Office may not deliver your return package, or may deliver it "postage due."
Please allow several weeks for a reply (at least 6 to 8 weeks). Send your submission to:
Submissions Editor
Tribune Media Services
435 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60611
WHEN SHOULD I CALL THE SYNDICATE?
Unfortunately, we cannot answer calls to confirm the arrival of your submission. TMS usually responds within six to eight weeks from receipt.
HOW SHOULD I HONE MY IDEA?
It's unfortunately a lengthy process. Here's some advice.
- Find your niche.
- Research and write your submission. Rewrite it.
- Refine your pitch to the syndicate.
- Be patient.
- Accept rejection gracefully. Rework or move on.
- Keep your day job until...
HOW DO I FIND MY NICHE?
- Read a variety of newspapers, large and small, from all regions of the country. What kind of syndicated comics or news service copy are newspapers using? What kind of unique information can you provide?
- After you've identified an opportunity, review Editor & Publisher magazine. Is your concept already in syndication? This weekly trade journal has a regular report on syndication and creators. The annual E&P Syndicate Directory, published each summer, can be found at your local library.
- And check out Cartoonist Profiles, published quarterly. PO Box 325 Fairfield, CT 06430. This magazine offers profiles of creators, how-to guides and trend stories about syndicates, cartooning and education.
- Be aware of market conditions. Is a traditional cartoonist or columnist losing relevance and clients? Or is there a change in society that creates a new demand for your information? [For example, pet owners spend more than $14 billion annually and are seeking more information about exotic animals.]
THEY CALLED BACK AND WANT A NEW TWIST
Most of the time, you will get a polite rejection by form letter. If you have a marketable idea, you may hear soon by phone. Because it is a collaborative process with input from editorial, sales, licensing and promotion, you may be asked to revise your submission before a contract is discussed. Development time can stretch from a few months to two years at some syndicates.
SYNDICATION: BY THE NUMBERS...
Syndication to the national daily newspapers has never been more challenging as newspaper editors grapple with reduced news holes and tighter financial budgets. TMS receives about 100 submissions from writers and creators every week, 5,000 annually. TMS launches five to 10 new features each year.
IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED...
Because of the sheer volume of submissions, you are likely to get a form letter. Be prepared to handle rejection gracefully - don't take it personally. Some of the most successfully syndicated artists today were rejected early in their careers many times. The rejected work that took you a couple of days or weeks to create may be journalistically perfect, but a syndicate may turn it down because of poor market conditions in publishing. Possibly the syndicate already has a pet columnist or perhaps another syndicated stock picker has the dominant share of newspapers and it would be a poor business decision to syndicate another one.
OK, TELL ME ABOUT TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES
Tribune Media Services is one of the largest and most diverse content syndication operations in the world, managing and delivering content to a broad range of media and business customers. Our customers can choose from hundreds of different content products, including classic to cutting-edge comic strips, columns from top commentators and other specialty features products. For more information about TMS and its products and services, visit http://www.TMS.Tribune.com.
HOW TO CONSTRUCT A SUCCESSFUL CROSSWORD PUZZLE:
SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES: TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES PUZZLES
Editor: Wayne Robert Williams
E-mail address: (for standard communications ONLY): click here
E-mail address: (for PUZZLE TRANSMISSIONS ONLY): click here
IN GENERAL:
Welcome to one of the most successful international syndicators of America’s favorite crossword puzzles.
The most important feature of a puzzle is its theme. Themes should be upbeat. Intellectual challenges, pop culture and humor are prime areas to mine for theme ideas. Themes must be consistent. Themed entries are usually the longest in a puzzle and every entry should correspond to one in the opposite position in the puzzle diagram.
The words you pick to fill in the diagram are also important. Don’t use offensive words. Avoid obscure abbreviations, archaic words, spelling variations and uncommon not-used-in-English foreign words. All words in a puzzle, especially in The Daily Commuter Puzzle, should come from our spoken language. Puzzles are made more difficult by clever clues, not obscure answer words.
Multiple-word puzzle entries are good, but be sure to use complete word groups or phrases that can be defined without having to resort to fill-in-the-blank clues. Examples of good multiple-word entries: OUT OF IT, ON TIME, STAND UP, and the like. Do not use partial entries that can only be defined with a fill-in-the-blank clue, such as: A TIME, OF THE, ON UP, etc.
Puzzle diagrams are more attractive when black squares are kept to a minimum. Avoid using “cheater” black squares — any black square that can be removed from the diagram, along with its symmetrically opposite black square, without decreasing the total word count of the puzzle. Many constructors have trouble completing a diagram without resorting to some “cheater” black squares. Puzzles may be rejected if this method is overused.
SUBMISSION PROCEDURE:
Please send electronic submissions. Include your name, address and Social Security number on every puzzle. Indicate the word count somewhere on your submission, preferably just below the lower-left corner of the puzzle diagram.
The output of most Crossword Puzzle computer programs will be acceptable on disk or via e-mail, however, it’s a good idea to test the program you wish to use by sending a sample puzzle first to make certain it will be compatible.
THE PUZZLES:
DAILY CROSSWORD and DAILY COMMUTER CROSSWORD:
Size: 15-by-15 with maximum word count of 78 words. Both puzzles should be themed and titled whenever possible. Themeless puzzles are acceptable, provided the word count is 70 or lower. Use common words. Since many puzzle fans work the Daily Commuter without a dictionary, clues should be very direct and easy in this puzzle. Puzzles with themes related to specific days, such as holidays, are encouraged and should be indicated.
THE LA TIMES CROSSWORD
The Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle, syndicated by Tribune Media Services, uses 15x15 puzzles daily and 21x21 puzzles on Sunday.
Basic Rules
- Puzzle words must interlock throughout; grid patterns must be symmetrical
- Maximum word counts: 78 for 15x15, 72 for Saturday 15x15 themeless, 144 for 21x21.
- Maximum black-square count for 15x15 puzzles is 43.
- Standard typing paper (8 ½ x 11) with name, address and social security number on the grid page and the first page of clues. Name on all other pages.
- Hand-lettered grid acceptable.
- Solving grid not required.
- Clues to be typed on the left, no period after the numbers. Answer words to be typed on the right, aligned with their clues.
- Start a new page for ACROSS clues. It isn't necessary to start a new page for DOWN clues. Please double space.
| 1 Solver's pursuit 7 ___ Angeles 11 Animal rights org. |
PUZZLE LOS SPCA |
Submission Format For E-mail
- E-mailed puzzle files are acceptable in CC6 or earlier versions (Crossword Compiler for Windows) or Crossdown formats.
- If you use CC6, under File/Crossword Information, please put your name in the Author field and your address and SS# in the Description field. Under Clue Properties, please check the "right-aligned" box, but leave the "with period" box unchecked.
- If you use Crossdown, please be sure to put your address and SS# in the text of the e-mail itself. Crossdown puzzle files do not carry that information with them.
- THEMES should be fresh and consistently constructed. In general, avoid clichéd themes (colors, animals, etc.), although a new approach to an old theme will be considered. Daily puzzles should have at least 3 theme entries, with a minimum of 33 theme squares. Sunday puzzles should have at least 6 theme entries, minimum 84 theme squares. For THEMELESS puzzles, use plenty of lively, contemporary words and phrases. Avoid obscurities and (especially) obscure abbreviations. If you aren't sure about what's obscure, either (a) ask, or (b) don't use it. Difficulty level of themeless clues and fill should be similar to NYT Thursday (a bit harder than moderate).
- DIFFICULTY of daily puzzles can range from easy to moderate. In terms of The New York Times puzzle, that means no harder than Wednesday. Sunday puzzles should be of moderate difficulty, similar to Tues/Weds NYT
- DON'TS: Two-letter words; overuse of three-letter words; clumsy, made-up or strained phrases; uncommon abbreviations; obscurities; tasteless or graphically medical entries, including most diseases; blatant drug references; crossword clichés (crosswordese), including but not limited to ERNE, ESNE, ANOA, AROA, etc. Avoid variant spellings in all but the direst constructing emergencies. Keep brand names and abbreviations to a minimum. Avoid long brand names. Keep foreign words to a minimum as well, and use only those the meaning of which is either well known or obvious. Avoid overuse of partial phrases. Those of more than 5 letters are not forbidden-however, avoid awkward constructions such as AS A FIDDLE, ROCK AND, etc.
- ABOUT PROPER NAMES: Use of the names of people and places enhances a puzzle, especially when the names are drawn from all over: TV, movies, literature, music, science, etc. A variety of names scattered about the grid can challenge solvers and help expand their knowledge base. Too many names in a puzzle, in our opinion, turn it into a trivia contest. Please avoid overuse of people's names, or any other material that falls under the either-you-know-it-or-you-don't category. If you have no choice but to use a difficult name or place, make sure it doesn't cross something equally difficult in the grid. Always reference tough names.
- CLUES: Wherever possible, clues should be timely, clever, amusing, fresh. Avoid long-forgotten actors, athletes, films, songs, events, etc. Make clues specific (i.e., not "Man's name"). Avoid overuse of one-word clues that are thesaurus synonyms. Make your clues picturesque, and vary their length.
- REFERENCES: If you had to look it up, chances are good that we will, also, so cite your reference. If it's an unusual reference, enclose a copy of the page with your submission. Common sense should dictate when a reference is required. CC6 has a box in which you can enter a clue citation. Please remember to use it when appropriate.
- SASE: Include a self-addressed return envelope with postage (loose stamps, so that unused ones may be returned to you). Folded puzzles are acceptable.
Rich Norris
164 Fairway Drive
Carmel, NY 10512
E-mail puzzle files to: xwordrich@aol.com
NOTE: Puzzles are edited at least three months prior to publication, so keep this in mind when constructing puzzles for particular occasions.
DIAGRAMLESS CROSSWORD:
Maximum size 21-by-21. Maintain standard symmetry for abstract diagrams. Recognizable shapes with theme entries related to the overall shape of the puzzle diagram are encouraged. In this latter case, mirror symmetry is permitted.
TV CROSSWORD:
Size: 13-by-13 with maximum word count of 64 words. At least 50 percent of the puzzle entries must be TV related, preferably 75 percent or more. Every puzzle must have a TV-based theme and plenty of entertainment and pop culture to appeal to a wide range of ages. If you have a clue based on a new show, make sure it has adequate awareness and sustainability. Do not use two-letter words. NOTE: TMS distributes two different TV puzzles weekly.
SUNDAY CROSSWORD:
Size: 21-by-21 with maximum word count of 142 words. Puzzles must be themed and titled. Try to use only common, recognizable words. The difficulty level of the puzzle should be determined by the clues — not by the word choices for the puzzle entries.
CRYPTOGRAMS:
Submissions must include coded cryptogram in all caps, original text, encryption key and source/author of the quotation.
PAYMENT:
Payment varies for each type of puzzle. For full payment schedule, please contact Puzzle Editor Wayne Robert Williams.
UPON ACCEPTANCE AND PAYMENT, ALL PUZZLES BECOME THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES. The Company retails the right to edit all puzzles as it sees fit. In addition, TMS shall have the sole right to sell, license or otherwise authorize the use of the puzzles by newspapers published and circulated throughout the world, and in other media, and to take such other action, if any, to exploit the puzzle as TMS, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate. TMS shall have the sole right to publish or authorize the publication of the puzzle in book form, booklet form, pamphlet form, CD-ROM, electronic database, online electronic services, or in any other form of electronic or mechanical publication or transmission, whether now existing or hereafter developed, and shall be the owner of all exploitation rights in and to the puzzle.
