The Place For My Writers Notes

Original posting 8 September 2009

Writers' Digest, October 2004, pages 26 to 33, has a collection of short "nuggets of wisdom" related to getting published. Maria Schneider is the author of the compilation. Take a deep breath, and here we go:

"If you don't have a bio and clips to die for, major magazine editors aren't likely to trust you with a long feature assignment right away. Instead, aim for the short articles in the front of the magazine, and stay on the lookout for appropriate ideas you could flesh out in a few hundred words or less." Jenna Glatzer

An interesting point, even if you're thinking about writing that novel. Somehow I don't think the current trend to thick novels and extended series actually means that your first novel should be written as a 500 page brick that clearly fits inside a lengthy series. Aim at something that an editor would feel that they can take the risk on -- just an ordinary novel.

Nonfiction, and the ever shrinking magazine market... it's hard to predict right now. Do you write blog pieces and other stuff on the web and try to figure out how to eventually get paid for it? Or do you fight for a slice of the print publication pie? How about the ebook market, which is starting to grow dramatically?

I have to admit, I still think the old advice to write what you enjoy and keep writing has some advantages. If you're interested in it, it's easier to get readers interested in it. But going from writing to getting published is a very complicated and difficult step, with a lot of factors that you can't control in it.