(Sorry, I forgot to make this live - only just realised why it hadn't got a single comment!)
A) Do you use the database?
B) Is it important to you that it's regularly updated, or would it still be useful largely left as it is, with just occasional updates, as a reminder of markets to consider?
Please note, if you don't have an adblocker you may see adverts placed by Google. I have no control over those and DO NOT recommend any products, companies or services you may see mentioned. I'm considering moving this blog over to my website, but haven't had time to look into that. It's a paid for Wordpress site, so would be ad free except for me occasionally mentioning all my lovely books! Any thoughts on that issue are welcome.
27 comments:
a) I use the database from time to time. b) If it was largely left as it is, that would be fine, because it is our responsibility to do that last minute double double check and always do that myself anyway. c) I'm not really in a position to have my ear very close to the ground but if I heard changes, I'd certainly try to update you. As always, just grateful that you are keeping a together blog where you have pretty much everything in one place. I can see the value of you combining it with your own website rather than having umpteen individual things to update. Hmmm... good luck with the technology on that one.🙂 You've got some great photos there for prompts. Love the deer.🙂
Hi, yes I drop in whenever I see a message and would be glad to add things if I knew how. I've referred it to a few people in the past.
I'll be honest Pasty, I don't use the database, simply because it's out of date. I have my own mag info/ advice sheet, that I keep updated, as I hear of any changes. If you'd like a copy of this to help you update your database, let me know. It's not meant to be disturbed around writing groups, however! The ads on here don't really bother me, as there aren't many, compared to other blogs. If you moved this blog over to your website/ blog, how would people leave comments? Also, if this blog morphed with your own, how would people find it (You'd need to consider SEO). It would also lose its identity and purpose. I strongly feel that this blog should be for womag writers only, because that's the name of the blog! If it was just plonked on your website/ blog as a little extra, then naturally, the priority would be to promote your own projects and the womag stuff would be pushed aside.
Perhaps downgrading it is in the back of your mind anyway, if your interest in the womag market has dwindled.
sorry - I meant that it's not meant to be distributed around writing groups.
@ Marguerite – Thanks. There's not much overlap between my website blog and this one, so it wouldn't really cut down on how many updates I make - but it would probably help a little.
@ dgsjp – You can pass on information any time by leaving a comment on any of the posts. I'll be alerted even if it's not a recent post and it's fairly quick and easy to copy it into the next post or the database as appropriate. That should still work if I did change platforms.
@ Sharon – Your list will be very welcome if/when I update. I'll contact you then if that's OK? I totally understand about not wanting it shared with groups etc. I once had a writing tutor contact me to complain that the list she'd printed off and handed out was no longer entirely current.
I wasn't thinking of merging this blog with the one on my website, but keeping it separate, although hosted there - so people could choose to look at just one or the other, not have to scroll through a mix. I don't yet know if that's possible. It's one of the things I need to look into. If it is possible, comments would be left in the same way as now.
A and B are good for me. Wouldn’t know about C. Just grateful that you do this Patsy. Thanks LMS
I don't often look at the lists anymore, Patsy, but I did years back when Kath first started the blog and when you took over and I was new to writing. It was a very valuable resource. However the number of magazines accepting stories has decreased hugely since those days and I can understand there isn't so much to update and that it takes considerable time to do this.
In short, I would miss it if it wasn't there, but I don't use it often.
I only see adds for your books - the ad blocker must be working!
Thanks
Alyson
Yes, I use the database from time to time, though I am tending not to write so many short stories these days. I really appreciate all the efforts you make to keep it up to date and will continue to let you know if I hear of a change not mentioned on your website.
I use the database from time to time & as Marguerite said I would be happy with it as I would probably do a quick check myself to ascertain if details were current. I would be happy to add or notify the blog if I knew that there were any changes afoot. Thanks Patsy, appreciate all you do to keep blog updated, its a brilliant resource & connects me to other writers even during periods when I'm not writing much (probably the most valuable aspect for me)
I used to refer it a lot when there was a greater choice of where stories could be submitted. Now I just send to WW, MW and TPF whose guidelines I have written down in a notebook.
Hi, Patsy, I really appreciate all you do on this site, as it must take up quite a bit of your valuable time. Any news is always welcome about the mags and in the beginning I used the lists regularly, though with the number of mags sadly dwindling not so much now. I think I agree with Ados123, I don't use it often but would miss it if it wasn't there. I ignore the ads! And will certainly let you know if I hear anything of interest :)
Yes to A and B, Patsy, and C if I can.
a) I cannot even remember how I found your blog initially, Patsy, but back then I found the database extremely useful. I rarely use it now, but it still seems worthwhile to keep it available, if possible. b) I don't think it's necessary to update it very often, as most of us will use it as a starting point but go on to do some further research ourselves; certainly any seismic changes are worth putting up there. c) I would be happy to share any changes of which I become aware, but I think I usually hear of developments first on your blog, anyway! Thank you, thank you for continuing to run the blog, not just for factual information - although that is much appreciated - but also for the opportunity to connect with others in a similar line of writing. I wonder would you or your correspondents be interested in an exchange of views on how AI might impact us?
While I don't use it myself, I do keep up with the news, and direct writers to the blog if needed.
Thank you for all you do Patsy. To answer- a) I do check the blog, although I only submit to a very few magazines b) I’m happy for it not to be updated regularly as I do check guidelines myself c) I think I only heard about something once before others did, but I did come on here to pass it on.
In answer to Eirin’s question, I think a lot of us would be keen to talk about AI.
I found the database very useful when I first decided to have a go at writing for the womag market. Once I'd chosen my publications and submitted successfully to them, the database wasn't something I went back to. I'm guessing this is how the way it works for most of us.
I just ignore the ads, but don't mind whether you host this blog here or as part of your other site. I do think this is a great blog, though, and the posts have been a brilliant resource from when I first started submitting to womags. It also has a community feel, which I value.
I too would be keen to talk about AI and its likely impact on the womags and our work.
Sorry - the comment above was by me, Liz. I should go back to posting via my no-longer-active blog, really!
Liz
@ LMS - The more people share information the more useful this blog will be for everyone. I can't do it all on my own!
You don't need to spend hours trying to find news, although please pass on any you come across - otherwise just share whatever you learn. Eg if you get a response you could say how long the wait was, if it's a sale then others might be interested to know the word length, genre and when it's set if it's seasonal. You can do that in the monthly 'over to you posts' or as a comment to any other post.
@ Alyson - I think the database is most useful for new writers, those who've come back after a break, or those thinking of changing direction.
@ Jenny - thanks. I appreciate that.
@ Sheelagh – I think it is of some use as a list of places to check. Even if I don't update it I'll keep what's there, plus a note of when it was last updated.
@ Anonymous - Yeah, it's getting easier to remember the different requirements now we don't have so many options.
@ Carrie - Thank you!
Hi Patsy, I very much agree with Marguerite's comments in relation to the questions you've asked. I appreciate the work and time put into the blog, so whatever works best for you Patsy.
@ Kate - Thank you!
@ Eirin – Doing our own research is always a good idea. Info can go out of date so quickly and it's entirely possible that compilers of lists like mine have made mistakes.
I'll try that as a topic for discussion and see how it goes!
@ Carol - I do try to include stuff of general interest, but the focus is always going to be mostly on short fiction.
@ Marian – I'm always grateful when people pass on information.
@ Liz - Yes, I suspect that once people start submitting to a magazine they don't go back to the database to check it. That's fair enough, as they should be getting the latest info via the editors if/when there's a change.
That last comment was from me, don't know why it came up anonymous!
@ Elizabeth - Thanks! I think maybe it's started defaulting to anonymous, although I don't know why that is - I didn't change any settings.
Just wanted to add my thanks, and to say that I agree with what others say, especially Marguerite and Eirin. And yes, I'd be interested in a discussion around the potential impact of AI on our work.
Tecchie question... I get an error message when I try to post on this blog using my laptop. I can only do it using my phone. Anybody else having this issue? It's only happened recently.
Maisie, yes that happened to me too. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one because I thought I was doing something wrong!
And me! I tried to comment on the last post and couldn't.
I'm hoping this works on my phone.
I like others used the database at first but not so much now. But it would be good to keep and update as and when something comes up.
I also enjoy sharing the successes (and woes) of others in this writing community, so thank you, Patsy, for keeping it going wherever it is easiest for you.
HB
Like many others I looked at the possible markets at first and then that tailed off along with the number of opportunities. I find the competition news useful and very much enjoy the community feeling we have here. Thank you Patsy for all you do. Happy to share any news or info I may come across.
@ Maisie and Marian - Sorry, I don't know why you're getting error messages. I've not altered any settings, but the comment section looks different to me so I assume Blogger have done something. I'll see if I can find out if there's anything I do (I already tried changing my settings and then reinstating them when I first became aware of a possible issue, but that hasn't helped.)
@ HB - Thanks. I'm going to keep things as they are for now and try to update now and then.
@ Sue - I intend to keep the competition news going.
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