Submission Guidelines

Private Ice Publications is seeking submission of skating related non-fiction, fiction and poetry. This includes poetry, novels and short stories related to skaters, skating, skating fans, the internet skating community or the real world skating community. We cover all facets of skating: roller and ice, artistic, speed, hockey, aggressive, rexxing, and street and tour skating. We are also interested in other sports related fiction as long as the target market is women or girls.

What does PI offer?
Will it cost me anything to be published at PI?
Why would I want to have my work published as an unpaid serial when I can just set up my own web site?
Does PI recommend any third party editors or bookdoctors?
Does PI edit?
What's your turn around time for submissions?
Can I submit to PI while submitting to another publisher?
What if I've previously published my work on the internet?
Does PI accept cross genre submissions?
Does PI have restrictions on violent or erotic content?
I'm under 18, can I still be published?
I have a question that's not covered here.
The site looks unfinished, what's the deal?

What does PI offer?

PI is a full service publishing house offering:

• Editing, proofreading and formatting for ebooks
• Developmental (beta) reading for serials
• Submission to reviewers and search engines
• Copyright and ISBN acquisition (you will own the copyright)
• Marketing via internet and other media
• Sales of ebook via direct internet, ebookstores and traditional bookstores

Will it cost me anything to be published at PI?

PI does not charge for any standard services. Some extended services, available at the author's discression, may be chargeable. PI attempts to comply with standard industry practice. The author is; however, expected to participate in the marketing of her ebooks to the extent that she cooperates with the publicity efforts of PI (interviews, booksignings etc).

Why would I want to have my work published as an unpaid serial when I can just set up my own web site?

• PI is already established as the place for skating fiction on the internet. With 4 of the top 5 skating serials, a serial on PI will get a great deal more traffic than your own page on a free web site somewhere.
• Long (and popular) serials can have their archives published as royalty paying ebooks.
• Prestige: PI is a publisher, you will be published, not "self published," published.

Does PI recommend any third party editors or bookdoctors?

No.

Does PI Edit?

Absolutely! PI has editors, advanced (beta) readers, mentors and proofreaders on staff. That doesn't mean you shouldn't submit the best manuscript you possibly can, but it does mean that we have the resources to publish the best book we possibly can. We also have been known to take on promising but not ready for prime time works as an investment in the author. It has paid off so far.

What's your turn around time for submissions?

PI attempts to reply to queries within one week, to partials within three weeks and to (requested) complete manuscripts within 3 months. If PI has had your query for longer than one month and you have not received an acknowledgement, please send a copy of the original email (without the submission) with a polite inquiry to requery@skatefic.com.

Can I submit to PI while submitting to another publisher?

PI accepts multiply submitted manuscripts without predudice under the following conditions:

• PI must be notified at the time of submission that the manuscript is also being submitted to other publishers.
• PI must be notified immediately if the submission has been accepted for publication by another publisher or if a complete manuscript has been requested by another publisher..
• The author must maintain a current email address on file with PI.
• Should the author violate these conditions, no further multiply submitted manuscripts will be accepted from that author.

What if I've previously published my work on the internet?

If you own all the electronic rights, PI will still consider the submission.

Does PI accept cross-genre submissions?

Absolutely.

Does PI have restrictions on violent or erotic content?

PI accepts submissions of serious work which may have violent or erotic content and judges them on their merit. In general, violence for the sake of violence is frowned upon.

I'm under 18, can I still be published?

Yes, but a parent or legal guardian will have to sign in your stead and your contract will have to be renewed by you on your 18th birthday. In order to comply with federal rules on collecting personal information from minors we request that when submitting your query, you must also submit a signed statement from your parent or guardian authorizing the collection of your personal information via snail mail to:

I have a question that's not covered here.

Write to PreSubQuestions@skatefic.com

The site looks unfinished, what's the deal?

Private Ice has been undergoing a complete overhaul. In September of 2003, we were forced to change web hosts before we were ready. As a result there are some holes in the site.

Figure Skating at Private Ice | | On the Edge: A Figure Skating Melodrama | | The Strong and The Sequined: A Figure Skating Soap Opera
Whispers on the Ice (a Figure Skating Novel) | | Classic Figure Skating Fiction | | Short Stories, Poetry, Humor, Essays on Figure Skating
A Day in the Life | | SkateReviews: Figure Skating Books, Videos, and DVDs | | Figure Skating Fiction Directory
Figure Skating Blog | | Figure Skating Stuff at PI's Pro Shop | | Submissions

Figure Skating History—School Figures

Marks on ice may not mean much to figure skating's spectators, but they sure used to mean something to figure skating judges! For many years, skaters were required to perform movements called school figures (which is why the sport took on the name figure skating). School figures are patterns traced on the ice, usually in a figure-eight (two circles in a line) or serpentine (three circles in a line) or a loop (a small figure-eight with a tight turn at the top and bottom). The best way to see how well someone performs figures is to go out on the ice itself and look at the actual patterns.

While school figures were a chance for figure skaters to demonstrate skills such as concentration and body control, they were not very interesting to watch. Most of the audience preferred seeing freestyle performances that included jumps, spins, and musical interpretation. Television stations often did not broadcast the school figures portion of the competition. Sometimes a skater who performed well during the televised part had not done well in the school figures portion and did not medal. Viewers became confused and angry. They did not realize there was more to the competition than what they saw.

During the 1970s, school figures became less important to the total score. The final blow to school figures came in the 1990s when they were eliminated altogether. Without the obligation to perform figures, which took years of training to perfect, the face of the sport became increasingly younger, as witnessed by the quick rise of "jumping beans" such as Tara Lipinski and Sarah Hughes. Some figure skaters, however, continue to practice school figures because they believe tracing these patterns helps them to become better overall figure skaters.

—Beth Braccio Hering

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