Over the weekend, I spent a good part of a day updating my “Writing Magazines/Newsletters List” That is, my list of magazines and newsletters related to writing and publishing. I keep this list in a binder along with lists of the articles I’ve submitted to each of them. Whenever I get a spare moment or two, I write new articles or redirect reprints and submit them to magazines and newsletters on this list.
I maintain a list of around 60 appropriate publications and I submit to the various magazines and newsletters as often as possible. Why do I keep my fingers in this pie? It is part of my platform. I want to keep my name out there before hopeful authors and freelance writers. When an author is seeking an editor or good counsel with regard to his or her project, I want them to consider contacting me. When a writer is ready to move his/her career up a notch and they need guidance, I want them to think of working with me. I want to spread the word about my expertise, the online writing/publishing-related courses I teach and my array of books for sale, for example.
You should consider compiling your own organized list of publications that solicit articles or stories on your topic or in your genre. And make sure that you keep it updated. But beware, things are a-changing. Have you checked out submission guidelines, lately? If not, you may be in for a surprise when you do.
Submission guidelines are becoming extremely detailed, to the point that some of them are even restrictive. Some of them are so complex as to actually discourage submissions.
I’ve also noticed that publishing houses are asking for much more from their potential authors. Many of their submission guidelines are much more detailed and explicit than ever before. This may be a good topic for a future blog—let me know if you’d like me to do the work to bring you more information about publishers’ submission guidelines and how they differ from those of yesteryear.
But today, I want to talk about the changes in submission guidelines for newsletters and magazines. Of course, this is not across the board—but Mama Mia, some of the guidelines are so complex as to discourage submissions. Here’s what I mean:
One newsletter accepts submissions only in PDF format. Oh, you can submit your article in the body of the email, only you must remove all formatting. And they tell you how to do this—copy and paste your text into Notepad first and be sure to put a blank line between paragraphs so they will know where new paragraphs begin, etc…
Another set of guidelines gives you specific and unusual codes to use where you would like to indicate italics or bold. And don’t forget to turn off your “smart quotes.”
And be sure to type the right words in the subject line or your submission may be deleted.
Where submission guidelines used to be contained within a paragraph or two, now they can run on for pages and pages. I printed some out this morning—one ran 7 pages—another one filled 8 pages.
Some actually give you major tips for writing to the magazine’s specifications—which are things you used to discover only after reading their magazines. Some of them want you to use bullets, bold headings, write in third person or whatever. It’s all useful, helpful information, but when there is so much of it and when some of it actually goes against a freelance writer’s grain because it means falling back on the learning curve again, I am sure that many people are just rebelling and choosing not to comply.
The result is probably fewer submissions and especially fewer submissions that are acceptable.
So what is my point? Maybe this opens the door wider when it comes to opportunities for you. Yes, if you dream of being published in magazines or if you are on a mission to establish your author’s platform by contributing articles/stories to numbers of publications, maybe this is a good time to do it. While it may not be super easy, it is simple. Here’s how:
• Come up with some excellent stories, article-ideas.
• Locate appropriate publications.
• Read their submission guidelines.
• Comply with their submission guidelines
For more about establishing and building on your platform, order your copy of The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book. http://www.matilijapress.com/rightway.html If you need help in establishing a freelance writing career, order A Writer’s Guide to Magazine Articles. http://www.matilijapress.com/writingpage.html
If you are looking for a good editor for your manuscript, you need coaching help with your book proposal or query letter, or you want to consult with regard to your book marketing plan, contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com