Always the same writers, is there room for more?!

Executive Member Joined: May 02 2012 Posts: 278

If you're talking about an "outside expert," who writes for all the magazines and newspapers, then if you have the same (or similar) credentials, there's no reason to assume publications will reject your submissions out of hand. Especially if you feel that this writer's work is getting stale; after all, many readers probably share your opinion and everyone appreciates something new and fresh. Kal v'chomer if you feel you can do a better job presenting the material.

re: submission time lags and rejections, it isn't realistic to expect a response right away - the magazines are flooded with submissions and they do have a magazine to produce, so they can't devote too much time to submissions. reasonable expectations are a fairly immediate confirmation of receipt, and then up to six weeks for an answer, although I've found that it's often only 2-3 weeks (and there have been times that it's been only a few hours. it really depends on the timing).

Diamond Member Joined: Oct 26 2009 Posts: 2510

Seeker, do you want to become one of those outside experts? You shouldn't get dejected, there is always room for more because each person has her own style/technique, etc.

I think a good idea would be to start small. How about sending to those local freebie magazines? If you're in NY there are lots of them (country yossi, mothers helper...) They might be more likely to accept your submissions or they might even be willing to take you as a new columnist. That will help you get your name out and you can build a portfolio. Don't know if they pay but I think it still might be worth it just to start.
good luck!

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5867

Thanks for the ideas and encouragement. Smile

Starting small is hard... necessary in most things, but hard...

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 01 2005 Posts: 16879

I donno... now I'm confused. do me a favor, contact me offline. mindycl@gmail.com. I cant keep checking back, and I'd like to help you.
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Moderator Joined: Dec 18 2008 Posts: 3611

Silver Member Joined: Nov 16 2010 Posts: 538

As a writer with many years experience I must disagree. If you are truly a talented writer, you will be recogenized by the top editors by your submissions alone. You will get one piece published, then another, and soon they'll be after you to write.

If you are a mediocre writer MAYBE this route will help you hone your skills but it wont get you very far in getting your work published. The only way mediocre writers get places is by bringing editors interesting stories or interviews with interesting personalities that the editors did not/could not get on their own.

If you do think you are a talented writer that somehw isn't being noticed there are two options.
1. Your topics aren't good.
2. You are deluded.

Its probably 1.

Posted: Thu, May 10 2012, 8:42 am Post subject:

There's no way I'd wait 6 weeks for an answer. I don't have the patience. I usually state in my email when I send it that I'll wait two weeks for an answer and then submit elsewhere. This usually works. Also I always state I want .10 cents a word and then let them haggle it down.
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Executive Member Joined: May 02 2012 Posts: 278

gp2.0 - playing hardball is okay for an established writer who already has a relationship of some sort with a publication. not good advice for a newbie.
and you may not have patience to wait more than two weeks for a response, but you obviously have no idea what it's like to run a magazine! if it's an obvious yes or no, sure they can respond fairly quickly. but it's not always so cut and dry and it's only fair to give them time to consider the pros and cons.

Platinum Member Joined: Oct 14 2009 Posts: 5867

Thanks for the tips, everyone! And for the encouragement! I'd better start writing; I don't actually have articles done and ready to send yet, only dreams of writing them... I WISH I had some way of knowing what people would want to publish/read, though. That's the hardest part for me. There is plenty I could write about but I don't know where to start, what would interest people... so much easier when you have an assignment.

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 01 2005 Posts: 16879

Seeker, (as I told you in my email to you), you come across confusing; bc you want to immediately become a staff writer with assignments. Most writers start out as freelancers and are then given assignments. As a freelancer myself, I think of a half dozen topics EVERY DAY!!!! but never have time to write them. I have about 30 pieces I'm bursting to write but wish I found the time. And funnily enough I hate, hate, HATE assignments. I can only write about something that's dear to my heart, that I experienced myself, that's when my words flow. If I am assigned a topic, it feels like school all over again, and I struggle. Even when I pitch an article and get given a deadline, my brain freezes up. I can only write at my own pace, and I have about 2 gazillion ideas that I have no time to flesh out. But that's how I got noticed; I pestered and pestered. I published in horizons, I submitted to binah over and over, until I was bh finally noticed, ironically enough , HERE ON IMAMOTHER. So I had been writing for free all this time; all these forum posts ended up being so passionate and eloquent that I ended up getting picked up by one mag and got a sort of behind-the-scenes job at another mag with an open invitation to write anytime, and was chased after by another magazine and was given an open invitation to write anytime but I declined for now. So it takes persistence, but it also takes constant writing. So I'm a little confused, if you can't think of topics, what avenues there are otherwise to get noticed as a writer and get actual assignments. The magazines dont assign pieces to new and unknown writers if they have no idea what youre capable of.

Dont think too hard. let inspiration hit you. when it'll hit you, you'll know it. and then just start typing! hatzlocha!

EDITED TO ADD: oops... I just reread your post and I realize I was a little too hasty. you did write you have plenty ideas but dont know what reaeders want to read. Well, readers want to read anything if it's engaging and interesting. Just pick a topic and write. If the mag rejects you, at least they've seen your style.

good luck.

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 18 2005 Posts: 2906

Diamond Member Joined: Dec 27 2005 Posts: 2795

Hi Seeker,

Can u PM me? I'd like to hear more specifics and I can help u if u like.

I'm on my phone now and have no energy to type lengthy posts now.