tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post7667543868010353228..comments2024-03-27T15:56:17.348+00:00Comments on Womag and other writing: Guest post by womagwriter Sharon BoothroydPatsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-91044969970555439842016-09-25T22:22:44.020+01:002016-09-25T22:22:44.020+01:00I'm really glad that Shirley posted a response...I'm really glad that Shirley posted a response to this discussion. All too often social media can become a one-sided approach and I think that Shirley has eloquently put forward her side of the story. Yes, its tough to get success as a short story writer in today's market and I am well aware of what it feels like to have my submissions rejected, but now I can imagine what it must be wannabe a writerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06692361757891220849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-25507053232309436892016-09-21T16:31:45.124+01:002016-09-21T16:31:45.124+01:00Well, I never knew that, Shirley, but you've a...Well, I never knew that, Shirley, but you've answered the comments very well!Rosemary Gemmellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09311840205603508422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-47502066722891053062016-09-20T08:44:51.038+01:002016-09-20T08:44:51.038+01:00I didn't know until very recently either, Anne...I didn't know until very recently either, Anne. Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-89424419103540348312016-09-19T18:57:15.792+01:002016-09-19T18:57:15.792+01:00Thanks to Sharon for raising this - and Patsy for ...Thanks to Sharon for raising this - and Patsy for allowing it. I've been reading another blog about this saying how it's no secret and us writers shouldn't be surprised. Well, I must be a special kind of stupid because although I've been writing for mags, including DCT ones, for nearly ten years I had no clue this was going on until a week or so ago.<br /><br />Seems as though it Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-18763832305571388132016-09-19T18:30:57.795+01:002016-09-19T18:30:57.795+01:00I don't have a problem with this. PF is a big ...I don't have a problem with this. PF is a big market. Good on Shirley for taking the time to explain.Keith Havershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05133563220362208820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-91260883879240356592016-09-19T17:30:02.999+01:002016-09-19T17:30:02.999+01:00I don't feel this was a negative or resentful ...I don't feel this was a negative or resentful post. It has raised some interesting points and generated some debate. Good. (Anon4)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-2906577619184986312016-09-19T17:14:35.170+01:002016-09-19T17:14:35.170+01:00Well said, Shirley. I second Jackie's comment ...Well said, Shirley. I second Jackie's comment above. I write and occasionally sell short stories to People's Friend and I don't feel threatened by this 'revelation'. Surely there is enough room for everyone. <br />I've always found reading the Womagwriter's blog to be a positive experience and source of inspiration so I was saddened to see this rather negative and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-21634585942830979462016-09-19T15:35:53.378+01:002016-09-19T15:35:53.378+01:00I don't see a problem. Many journalists write ...I don't see a problem. Many journalists write fiction and features for magazines and I know of staffers who write fiction for other publications. It called earning a living as a writer. In fact features pay more than fiction in many mags.Elaine Everesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14202264445526075693noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-79987928642117637722016-09-19T15:06:22.540+01:002016-09-19T15:06:22.540+01:00Well said. Thank you, Shirley. Also, how frustrati...Well said. Thank you, Shirley. Also, how frustrating for you not to be able to sub your work elsewhere or write a novel. I think your writerly heart would probably burst without some kind of outlet. I know mine would! Good luck to you.Jackie Saylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13047994593375513101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-8530085769840042072016-09-19T14:37:40.180+01:002016-09-19T14:37:40.180+01:00Hi, again. Have to ping back here to make it clear...Hi, again. Have to ping back here to make it clear that staff aren't being asked to write in order to save the company money. That's not the case at all. I write because I want to. If I didn't want to, I wouldn't write - and there is no pressure, requirement or expectation either way. Any writer's stories only find their way into the magazine on merit, never on how much the Shirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14765410865669906893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-39873712365736729492016-09-19T14:06:34.902+01:002016-09-19T14:06:34.902+01:00Hello. Just stumbled upon this today. I worked on ...Hello. Just stumbled upon this today. I worked on the staff of The People's Friend and My Weekly over 25 years ago, and I can confirm Shirley's comments above. It may seem as if a staff writer has an unfair advantage, but if they don't write for DCT, they're not allowed to write for anyone. However, when I worked on the PF staff were not allowed to write fiction for the magazine. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-9985452457653597082016-09-19T11:44:49.950+01:002016-09-19T11:44:49.950+01:00Thank you so much for replying and explaining the ...Thank you so much for replying and explaining the situation, Shirley.<br /><br />Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-10251277812261669512016-09-19T11:34:52.967+01:002016-09-19T11:34:52.967+01:00Hi, may I step in here to explain?
Yes, I sometime...Hi, may I step in here to explain?<br />Yes, I sometimes write short stories and serials for The People’s Friend. I’ve worked in fiction for more than 40 years and love it. And I’ve always written it, too. Like any writer, I have a writing itch that needs scratching. Some of that finds an outlet in helping writers develop their stories to be the best they can be. But some of it finds its way intoShirleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14765410865669906893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-40549812000305442812016-09-19T11:17:31.495+01:002016-09-19T11:17:31.495+01:00I hadn't thought of it as being similar to in-...I hadn't thought of it as being similar to in-house writers producing non fiction, but now I think about it there isn't really any difference - other than that being far more common.<br /><br />Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-82416752213708181652016-09-19T11:11:08.222+01:002016-09-19T11:11:08.222+01:00I agree it’s probably no different to in-house sta...I agree it’s probably no different to in-house staff writing non-fiction features, but it is certainly demoralising for the many fiction writers hoping to get published. More demoralising, however, are the payment rates. I submitted two stories to People’s Friend, and received two rejections. I was disheartened… until I read a hint somewhere of what they were actually paying authors! If correct,Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-27895877002658898452016-09-19T08:13:09.357+01:002016-09-19T08:13:09.357+01:00A lot of non-fiction articles are written in-house...A lot of non-fiction articles are written in-house. Should short stories be any different? Karen Byrom of My Weekly writes both fiction and non-fiction for My Weekly. (Anon 3)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-27494930249916300952016-09-18T18:47:32.939+01:002016-09-18T18:47:32.939+01:00I think it’s unfair because they are in a position...I think it’s unfair because they are in a position to edit and publish their own work. You can bet they won’t get rejected. I’m thinking they do it more often than we think. I’ve submitted to them before, but doubt I’ll ever do it again. (Anon 2)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-89880139552051654022016-09-18T17:42:47.807+01:002016-09-18T17:42:47.807+01:00Ooh, this is a tough one. On the one hand, if they...Ooh, this is a tough one. On the one hand, if they are writers then like us they must feel the desire to write, just as strongly as we do. And they know what sort of stories they are missing from the mag. Why should they not write, particularly if they have a team of editors who can comment? On the other hand it does seem unfair to those of us submitting in good faith. Surely it's a question Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-73334725350659155942016-09-18T17:16:22.995+01:002016-09-18T17:16:22.995+01:00Makes me wonder why I bother - then again I haven&...Makes me wonder why I bother - then again I haven't for a long while as I get tired of stories being rejected. suzy doodlinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09115717046181879704noreply@blogger.com