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| Critique and Advice Works seeking critique, advice or assistance. |
04-25-2007, 10:23 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 20
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query query
I am ready to submit my first query letter to a magazine, for a non-fictoin article. In Writer's Market they say to submit "a 300 word sample" of an article for consideration. They also say they pay slightly less for unsolicited material. Their website says to submit a complete article.
What should I do? I've read that its to my advantage to NOT send a complete article unless necessary, but I dont want them to think I havent researched their submission guidelines. I have, but they arent consistent. Am I worrying about nothing?
Second question-if I send only a sample and they say they are interested, would the final article still considered "unsolicited"? I'm guessing that it would, that solicited probably means on assignment only. Thanks!
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04-26-2007, 03:02 AM
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#2
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Addict
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Birthplace of the Tudor Dynasty, UK
Gender: Male
Posts: 109
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I believe a magazine or literary agent will solicit your entire manuscript if they are sufficiently impressed with your sample, which does not constitute an unsolicited approach.
There appears to be a reasonable element of variance in submissions guidelines, so I suspect you would be wise to follow the guidance of the magazine's own site, and state as much in your query letter.
__________________
I don't need an agent, I need a magician.
Last edited by BeyondPeru : 04-26-2007 at 03:05 AM.
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04-26-2007, 09:36 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 20
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I got the guidelines backwards-their website is the one that suggests sending a sample. That is my preference anyway, so I can get feedback on how the article is developing. If I can get a few extra pennies per word doing it that way, thats another good reason.
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04-26-2007, 07:25 PM
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#4
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Back 'home' on Tinian!
Gender: Female
Posts: 11,445
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always go by what you find on the mag's website, since wm isn't always up to date!... and if you're still not sure, invest in a quick phone call to ask...
__________________
For 100% free writing help/mentoring:
www.saysmom.com
"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
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05-09-2007, 12:34 AM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Gender: Male
Posts: 20
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Hey, thanks everyone. I heard back and they want to do my article. I dont know whether to celebrate while not getting too excited, or celebrate while not getting too excited. But I'm purty happy. I guess for me the dozens of rejections will come after my first ever query and acceptance. I'm not sure if thats good or bad in the long run but its good right now.  |
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05-09-2007, 01:39 AM
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#6
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Addict
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: UK
Posts: 136
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Congrats on the success then.
__________________
"What? Weapon ineffective? I need a BIGGER SWORD!!" - Minsc, Baldur's Gate II
"My blood cries out for the vengeance of my people's blood, which can only be repaid with twice as much blood! Or maybe three times as much blood! Like, if you went to hell and it was full of blood, and that blood was on fire, and it was raining blood, then maybe THAT would be enough blood. But, uh, probably not." - Blood Mage, The Frozen Throne
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05-09-2007, 07:00 AM
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#7
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Prolific Writer
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Great Dismal Swamp, VA
Gender: Male
Posts: 489
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Why not get excited? It's a wonderful thing; don't worry about rejections down the road. Your acceptance means your writing is up to professional standards, rejection doesn't mean anything because it might only be that they just did an article on the same subject a couple of issues ago.
Congratulations,
JohnB
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05-09-2007, 07:13 PM
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#8
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Wordsmith
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Back 'home' on Tinian!
Gender: Female
Posts: 11,445
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good for you!... what magazine is it?
__________________
For 100% free writing help/mentoring:
www.saysmom.com
"You must BE the change you wish to see in the world." Gandhi
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