"I've written for a hand-full of trade publications and for each assignment I turned my work in early and had no complaints from editors! My question is, how do I get repeat assignments from editors? With one particular editor, I have sent two sets of ideas and have not gotten a repeat assignment. Does it just take more time? I've sent follow-up e-mails saying I'm willing to work again. I don't want to keep bugging them. Any tips?" The advice here.

And another, on travel writing: "My partner and I are planning a trip to Belize this January. We'll be traveling there from the deepest, darkest regions of Minnesota. I gave myself a goal of making at least an equal amount of money from writing about the trip as we spend on it. Now, having a goal is great, but I haven't had any experience travel writing and little experience pitching stories (I generally write on assignment). I have read that it's unadvisable to email an editor with the I'm-traveling-to-X-country-soon. Do-you-want-me-to-write-an-article-on-it-for-you? However, I'm not sure how to craft a query for travel articles that will make editors sit up and say, "Hey! Where's my checkbook?" Advice here.