I won't mention names, but I recently came across someone who, from her comments, was clearly using very old copies of magazines for her research. It might seem like a money saving idea to use the copies you found in the cupboard under the 1973 tax paperwork but it'll cost you in other ways.There's no point crafting the perfect story for a magazine which no longer prints fiction, or which now has very different requirements in terms of length and/or style.
Most of us can't read every issue of every magazine, but it makes sense to read several current issues of whichever ones we're targeting.
Check any notes, lists or spreadsheets you've made for yourself too. Are all the details correct or are you saboutaging your chances by submitting work the editor simply can't use?
7 comments:
A timely reminder, Patsy. It pays us all to update our databases of info from time to time, too. Nothing beats reading a few recent issues but I do wish more magazines would publish their requirements online.
Ann
That is so true, Patsy. Unfortunately, with living in the Bahamas it's difficult for me to obtain current copies of overseas magazines! And few publications provide sample copies, even at a cost. I don’t mind paying for single copies, but can’t afford lots of annual subscriptions. Also, I agree with “aw” about more guidelines needing to be published online.
Thanks for the reminders. Patsy.
Yes, thank you Patsy. It`s amazing how quickly the inner workings of a magazine can change if you turn your back for a moment, even stop publishing. (something I wrote...)?
@ Ann and Fay - I suspect the magazines already get far more submissions than they need and so don't need to encourage more.
@Jan - you're welcome.
@ Dolores - I'm sure it was coincidence.
Nothing beats buying the magazine, and having a feet up afternoon with tea and biscuit. I'm on a Woman's Weekly phase.
I'm with Suzy Doodling, except I've got Take A Break...
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