Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Monthly Roundup... (January)

It’s the end of the month, so time for another look at how ‘My Year of Getting Published’ is getting on…

Results from the 15 query letters sent:

1 acceptance

‘I am interested in your article idea – as long as it is ‘Australianised’

...

7 responses (but no assignments) - here are some of the comments:

- ‘it does not meet our current editorial needs… Best of luck to you in your writing endeavors,’

- ‘ I have something very similar in the pipeline so the answer, this time, is no.’

- ‘I’d like to keep your idea on file as there are changes afoot with the magazine’s format .’

-’ I am afraid it is not quite right for … magazine.’

- ‘we do not pay for this type of article.’

- ‘thanks for your interest in (…magazine). I’d suggest you may like to contact one of the following press organisations about your idea.’(he then preceded to provide a list of 5 alternative placement locations) saying ‘…each of these newspapers have large weekly travel supplements…’

...

5 no response
............................................................................

Am now on "Journalists" mail group for one magazine I queried.

- They send out general ideas they are looking for and if you’re interested, then you send in a developed query. So far, no ideas that I can help with but it’s a foot in a door.

............................................................................

Two requests to interview me: - Amazing! I’ve been interviewed twice this month.

- One was a writer who was writing about ‘blog promotion’ for Ideolog, a New Zealand business/technology magazine (will let you know what the article says when it comes out)

- Second interview was for ‘The Traveler Next Door’ that runs every Friday over at Traveler's Pen

............................................................................

Signed up for the ‘Query Challenge 2007’

- another great motivator to get those query letters out.

MORE QUERY LETTERS OUT = MORE ASSIGNMENTS IN

...........................................................................

2 applications for Paid Blogging postitions

- one positive response for me to ‘come on board’. However, after reading the fine print, I decided against signing up. The amount of output required was too much for the small amount of compensation offered. Signing on there would have meant I would not have anytime to develop other writing options.

- 1 no response.

...

Conclusion: I am definitely the tortoise not the hare in this journey. but I'm having fun and learning lots along the way...

Sphere: Related Content

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations on the acceptance!

Julie said...

I think that's a month to be proud of. I most definitely feel like the tortoise. I go so slowly when developing ideas and writing up queries, but I feel I must be doing something right because I have received positive feedback that could result in assignments. The hardest thing for me is finding middle of the road markets that pay something and might actually assign stories to new writers like me. I also spend a lot of time tailoring queries very specifically to the publications. Any advice on finding legitimate markets more quickly?

Liz Lewis said...

Thanks alicia and julia.

Julia, have you checked out the article over at Regenade Writers about 'Front of the Book' articles. It suggests picking 3-5 magazines in your area, studying and targeting them. New writers have more chance with shorts than long articles apparently.

Also, I'd aim for the local paper, especially if your focus is food. Don't know what your paper focuses on, but my local paper has as weekly section on food (reviews, new products etc) just right for a new writer living in the area.

Did you read 'How to get your first food writing clip" and check out Food Writing 101

Hope this helps. Cheers, Liz

Kristen King, Inkthinker said...

Great round-up! You're doing wonderfully.

kk

Liz Lewis said...

Thanks Kristen. I'm feeling pretty positive about it. Cheers, Liz

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...