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Topic: Submitting personal essays (from a newbie)
| Author | Message |
| Newsy | Posted – 6/29/2006 7:03:51 PM | show profile Hi everyone, I'm new to Media Bistro, and have found it to be very helpful. I'm trying to get a freelance career going after having graduated college last year. I've written a couple personal essays I'd like to submit to magazines. How do you all go about doing this? What's the secret? Are personal essays the type of thing you query? Thanks! :) |
| lenagrove | Posted – 6/29/2006 8:05:53 PM | show profile No. You send the complete manuscript. Good luck! |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 6/29/2006 10:03:49 PM | show profile Easy thing in the world. I've sold dozens and dozens of essays, by just mailing or emailing them to editors. That's it. You don't even need a cover letter. If they like it, they'll buy it. |
| WellerFan | Posted – 6/29/2006 10:19:18 PM | show profile I also would like to learn more about personal essays. Are there any websites(besides mediabistro of course) or books that you can recommend to read some sample stories? |
| Village Gal | Posted – 6/29/2006 10:31:14 PM | show profile Lots of good classes in this genre. Take one, learn how this process works, develop you voice, always get feedback on your pieces before you submit, study the markets, and target the right places. I've sold many over the years. |
| Newsy | Posted – 6/30/2006 12:10:03 PM | show profile Thanks everyone! Anyone have any luck pitching to the women's magazines? |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 6/30/2006 12:32:40 PM | show profile A number of years ago, I mailed in a humorous essay to Ladies Home Journal. They bought it, but I think I didn't hear from them for 9 months. (With essays, I just mail them out to a lot of people at once and don't track who responds). Essays really break down barriers. In my experience, if you send in a good essay editors will respond, whether Dog Fancy magazine (which bought one) to the New Yorker (whose ME told me close). --Thanks everyone! Anyone have any luck pitching to the women's magazines?-- |
| ItsAMysteryNY | Posted – 7/1/2006 10:54:25 AM | show profile | email poster I've written an essay about having been mugged (the perp was never caught) and how I dealt with it. I haven't had much luck marketing it to magazines so far (might be targeting the wrong editor?) I wonder if newspapers would be better fit but it's got to be one that PAYS. (Being mugged again would be even worse!) |
| ItsAMysteryNY | Posted – 7/1/2006 11:28:31 AM | show profile | email poster I wrote an essay about having been mugged (the perp was never caught) and how I dealt with it. I haven't had luck pitching it to magazines so far (maybe sent to the wrong editor?) I might try newspapers, BUT.....ones that pay (wouldn't want to feel I was mugged again) |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 7/1/2006 1:14:30 PM | show profile Unless the magazine has an essay section (usually the back page), and you can find out who's in charge of it, there really isn't much targeting. An essay depends largely on personal reaction, and you can't predict how anyone will react. I've sent essays to editors, managing editors, feature editors, etc. and nenever saw any connection between what title it goes to and what sells. --I've written an essay about having been mugged (the perp was never caught) and how I dealt with it. I haven't had much luck marketing it to magazines so far (might be targeting the wrong editor?).. |
| sweetmatilda | Posted – 7/6/2006 5:42:20 PM | show profile word count and essay Anyone know if it's considered in bad form to submit a piece that's a lot longer than what they normally publish? Can I assume that the editor would want to see it in its entirety and will just cut? Or should I whittle it down myself? (FYI: I'm specifically thinking NYTimes Modern Love column...) |
| dribbledrive1 | Posted – 7/6/2006 6:24:13 PM | show profile If you are submittied to a section of a specified length, the piece should be that length. I mean, wouldn't you rather be the one to decide what to cut rather than leave that to someone else? --word count and essay Anyone know if it's considered in bad form to submit a piece that's a lot longer than what they normally publish? Can I assume that the editor would want to see it in its entirety and will just cut? Or should I whittle it down myself? (FYI: I'm specifically thinking NYTimes Modern Love column...).. |
| Newsy | Posted – 7/6/2006 6:45:15 PM | show profile Hi -- yes, I always try to get it to conform to the requirements. I think if editors see it's too long or not written in the mag's style right off the bat, then they're not going to bother reading it. |
| Newsy | Posted – 7/6/2006 6:45:19 PM | show profile Hi -- yes, I always try to get it to conform to the requirements. I think if editors see it's too long or not written in the mag's style right off the bat, then they're not going to bother reading it. |
| Newsy | Posted – 7/6/2006 6:45:22 PM | show profile Hi -- yes, I always try to get it to conform to the requirements. I think if editors see it's too long or not written in the mag's style right off the bat, then they're not going to bother reading it. |
| Newsy | Posted – 7/6/2006 6:47:23 PM | show profile My problem is - and maybe someone can give me some advice - that the women's mag that's reading it is taking forever to give me an answer. They said they've been busy...any thoughts? |
| activeverb | Posted – 7/6/2006 8:12:25 PM | show profile Fine. Let them keep waiting to read it. But also send it out to other places. As soon as someone buys it, tell the others it's off the market. When I used to write a lot of spec essays, I'd normally send them out to a dozen places at once. --My problem is - and maybe someone can give me some advice - that the women's mag that's reading it is taking forever to give me an answer. They said they've been busy...any thoughts?-- |
| Newsy | Posted – 7/6/2006 8:50:41 PM | show profile Thanks...I've always hated the waiting part. :) |
| sweetmatilda | Posted – 7/6/2006 11:45:11 PM | show profile Yes, the waiting's the worst, especially if you have your heart set... but multiple submissions is the best practice for your time. And thanks for the word count advice dribbledrive1 and Newsy... I suspected as much, cutting is just so hard! |
| ItsAMysteryNY | Posted – 7/7/2006 8:45:28 AM | show profile I just went WAY over the suggested length on an assigned article, but I asked the editor before I submitted it if he would consider it or if I should cut it. He said he'd edit if necessary- turns out he e-mailed me that he hardly had to cut anything- and it was 400 words OVER his original suggested word count. But- ALWAYS ask. And this was assigned which makes a difference, I guess. |
| Newsy | Posted – 7/13/2006 12:28:53 PM | show profile Good luck!!! |
| Newsy | Posted – 7/21/2006 9:39:27 PM | show profile :) |
| Newsy | Posted – 8/10/2006 3:19:04 PM | show profile Is it easier to get it accepted online as opposed to print? Sorry for all the questions! |
