The Motivational Editor

Helping Writers Go from Unpublished to Published

submissions

How to Analyze a Magazine

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analyze a magazineSave yourself time and heartache over rejection. Analyze a magazine first, then submit to those that will be interested in your idea.

Here’s what to look for.

Front Page: design and headlines will help you determine the target audience.

The ads: Who are their advertisers? Read enough of the ads to get a feel for the target audience.

General topics: are the articles about [Read more…] about How to Analyze a Magazine

5 Ways to Grow as a Writer While You Wait for an Editor’s Response

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Wait for the sunrise.Recently I had more than one person comment about their struggle with waiting. I’m talking about the wait between when you submit (or pitch) your work and when you hear back from the editor (or publisher).

We all have a different tolerance level for waiting, and the instant society we live in compounds the problem. But we can stay encouraged and productive while we wait.

What to Do While You Wait

  • Enter your article on your submission tracker, and start on the next project.
  • Develop/tweak your author website.
  • Read a book on writing craft and work to improve.
  • Learn the ins and outs of your favorite social media network(s) and use it to build your platform.
  • Most publications give a “will respond in” period of time. It can be several weeks to several months. List this on your submission tracker, schedule a reminder task in your calendar (I use Outlook) and follow up with an email to the editor when it is appropriate.

I think Kathy Carlton Willis offers the best advice with this quote from her upcoming book Your Life on Hold: Don’t Hate the Wait! “Sometimes between the ‘wait’ and the ‘yes’ we need to fall at Jesus’ feet and be caught up in total adoration of the Savior.”

We may not get a “yes” when the answer comes, but keeping our focus on the Savior provides us the peace and strength for every moment of the day, no matter what we face.

How about it readers? Add to the list the things that work for you. Leave your answer in the comments.

Debra L. Butterfield © 2013

How to Track Your Article Submissions

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Whether you submit with regularity or not, it’s important to track your submissions. How else will you follow up if you have no record of the magazines and editors (or agents/publishing houses) to whom you have submitted your work?

I keep a simple Excel file with the following info:

  • Date submitted
  • Magazine name
  • Editor’s name
  • Editor’s email
  • Editor’s phone number
  • Name of article submitted
  • Date to follow up. Most publications state a period of time to allow for review of your submission. Follow up with an email to the editor only after the stated time for review has passed.
  • Status (accepted or rejected)
  • Payment due. If accepted you need to know when your payment is due because some publications pay on acceptance and some on publication.
  • Payment rec’d date.  If you record this date as soon as the payment comes in, you won’t be left wondering later on if you got paid.

Not all of us are uber organized. I take advantage of the tools someone else has designed to help me. I just adjust them to suit my needs and circumstances.

Design whatever works for you, and be diligent to use it.