Rejection, and Other Issues

So, received a rejection today from the biggest parenting magazine in Canada. Or, as my friend J pointed out, they rejected my *pitch* not my *writing* since you send them a query, outlining the idea you have, and they decide if they want to see it or not...and they said, 'not'.

So, theres that. I'll keep plugging away, sending queries along. I wonder what the line is between 'persistant' and 'harrassment'? Guessing I'll find out, depending on if I finally get a positive response to a query, or a 'cease and desist' notice from a lawyer, lol!

On the other side, I do have 2 other actual articles submitted to them, in a different theme that they request full articles to be submitted. We're at week 3 of 6 that they say they'll contact you by if interested. Hopefully I hear a 'yes' from them on one of them soon!

One thing I find myself doing when stuff happens around the house these days is debating if its blog or article material. If I blog something, then I can't really use it in an article...what magazine wants a blog that's already available for free? So, it gets a wee bit tricky.

That the thought even occurs to me at all is a positive sign of how very seriously I'm taking creating a freelance writing career for myself...but may not bode as well for blog followers.

Wish me luck though...I need it!!

Hurry Up And Wait

Seems to be a theme of my life these days. And anyone who knows me even slightly knows that patience is NOT one of my many virtues. Nuh uh. I want it YESTERDAY.

So, I'm still waiting to hear from Today's Parent, both on the submission to 'My View' and an article proposal I sent in. And waiting to hear from Readers Digest, and two other magazines that I can think of off the top of my head.

*listens to crickets chirping*

Ok, so that's a lie. We still have snow here in Edmonton, so there isn't a cricket around.

Also waiting for all the fiction contests that I've submitted to as well. At least I have started another story, and written a cpl more articles as well. That's one of the few benefits with insomnia...I can get up and do some 1 handed typing until I think sleep might happen. 1 handed typing is also slooooooooooow going, which in itself is a frustrating issue...but until the day comes that I can afford a new puter and voice recognition program, 1 handed typin we shall go.

So, that's how things stand here at the Non Stepford house. Whole lotta nuttin going on.

Arent you glad I blogged? :oP

Go For Broke?

Ah, dilemmas. Gotta love 'em.

I currently find myself immersed neck deep.

See, I've submitted things to the big parenting mag here in Canada. They have a 6 wk wait period to hear back. And of course, material submitted to them cannot be under consideration anywhere else. So, there's 2 articles in limbo.

I heard back from another big parenting mag...a rejection without even submitting anything. See, you're to query first, then they decide if they even want to see your dazzling prose. Editor kindly wrote me back, informing me that she only accepts work from writers that have been previously published in a national publication.

Ah. The eternal oxymoron. We won't hire without experience, yet you can't get experience without being hired. How can you get published in a national magazine when the prerequsite is to already be published in a national magazine?

*sigh*

So, I drag out my handy dandy Writers Guide that my wonderful husband gave me for Christmas. Start going through the parenting magazines listed. Majority of them are Stateside...and a number of them have being American as a neccisity. Out of the rest, there are some possibilities. Problem is, the pay is crap...$20-$50. I know, I know, getting published is the first hurdle. But again, problem is...once its been published for a mere $20, its no longer 'original' and cannot be submitted elsewhere.

So, I'm wrestling with what to do. On one hand, being published somewhere would build my resume, absolutely. On the other hand...it depletes what I have prepared.

The logical thing to do is simply take the shotgun approach, submit everywhere possible, and keep writing, coming up with new material.

Problem is, the meds I'm on are knocking me on my butt, so writing is even more of a challenge than before.

I think I've answered my own question though...go for broke, celebrate whatever I get published, even if its only a $20 pay day, and build that resume so I can point to published clips and say, "See! I've been published!" in hopes that it lands me more lucrative gigs.

Wish me well...I still have other queries floating around the 'net somewhere, and haven't heard back on yet.

4 wks left in the Today's Parent consideration deadline.
77 days left before winners to be announced on one of the contests.
Other contest notifies winners in June
I swear I saw something that said that contest #2 would notify by April, but danged if I can find that now.

So, whole lot of nuttin so far. *headdesk*