Ouch! Rough Crowd.

[seaaircarol]

I heard from Woman's World about my Halloween-themed romance. The story had made it through Jimmy and on to Johnene. Johnene wrote at the bottom of my rejection letter "I enjoyed this romance, but unfortunately the editor-in-chief decided to decline."

So now *three* people have to approve the stories????


Ouch.

[lrs]

Yikes. I sent them one about a month ago. I'm sure i'll be rejected any moment. But at least they liked yours! I'm afraid my story is too dramatic. I dont mean to be rude, but i read two different romances in their magazine and to be honest, they were very bland. I just dont understand why it takes them so long to respond.

[seaaircarol]

I read somewhere that they get thousands of submissions, which I guess makes sense because of their pay scale.

I know what you mean about the stories. They definitely like ultra G-rated stuff.

[Cathy C]

Ouch, indeed. Sorry, Carol. I've still got my fingers crossed for my latest submission. It might be too dramatic too--a happy tear-jerker twist at the end.

Well, don't forget to keep sending it out elsewhere. It might find a happy foster home for a little less money, but an equally appreciative audience!

[seaaircarol]

Thanks, Cathy. Good luck on yours, and you, too, Irs.

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

Sorry Carol! But getting this far is an accomplishment in itself, no?

Cathy: Where would one send rejects from Woman's World? I haven't really been able to find appropriate markets, given the rather specific requirements of WW.

[seaaircarol]

Thanks, Noo Bee. Yeah, I don't feel *too* terrible, because I know 2/3 people liked it.

Good question re. where to send rejects. I can't seem to find alternates, either.

[MissAimee]

Good Luck Carol..

[ElleF]

Sorry Carol! But getting this far is an accomplishment in itself, no?

Cathy: Where would one send rejects from Woman's World? I haven't really been able to find appropriate markets, given the rather specific requirements of WW.

The Wild Rose Press! I know of at least 10 Rosettes that are WW rejects. However, they just upped the word count on subs for Rosettes, so you'd need to beef up your story a bit. Check their submission guidelines.

Carol, yeah. They get 2500 submissions a month. Making it past Jimmy is a major hurdle, so pat yourself on the back.

[seaaircarol]

Hi Elle,

Thanks very much.

I actually tried a WW reject with Wild Rose. I worked with an editor on a couple of revisions and the story was ultimately rejected. Still, I could try again. That's what we writers do, isn't it? LOL.

Carol

[Gillhoughly]

I got this bit of advice from one of the senior editors at Ace:

Write a story every week and send it out. At the end of the year you'll have at least 50 in circulation. If one comes back, then you've got 49 others with a chance of selling. That single rejection doesn't hurt so much.

The best part is you get into the solid habit of writing every day and meeting a deadline.

Writing is like learning the piano; you only get better when you practice.

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

Ouch again--WW just sent me a form rejection, after sitting on the story for four months... I had high hopes for that one! *sighs*

[seaaircarol]

Oh, no!

Are you sure it wasn't at least from Johnene? I think Johnene is located in Washington state. Do you still have the envelope?

That's an awfully long time for it not to have made it through to Johnene.

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

YES, the envelope says Seattle, Washington. Does this really mean it came from Johnene? That would make me feel a little better (or actually a lot better).

[seaaircarol]

Noo-Bee,

I really think that means it made it through Jimmy and on to Johnene. I had the same postmark, and mine was definitely from Johnene.

You're on your way!

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

:) Thanks so much Carol! You've made my day.

[Jenny]

It might mean a bit of a re-write (eg setting changes) but some WW stories might suit English women's magazines like My Weekly or even People's Friend if the story is very G-rated. Good luck :) I think I copied a link to a website listing these markets, and their guidelines, somewhere else on this site. If I find it, I'll come back and edit in a link here.

This was the site I stumbled across http://www.sallyquilford.co.uk/page13.htm Maybe to find the guidelines will mean a bit more hunting. Perhaps one of the writers' yearbooks will help.

[seaaircarol]

Thanks, Jenny!

[Cathy C]

Sorry, just noticed the question directed to me. There are actually quite a few regional publications that look for short fiction to fill their pages. One of them is even featured over in our Paying Markets forum--Spotlight on Pahrump (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69367).

And, the WW guidelines often make a perfect fit for rural trade magazines like for electric cooperatives, agricultural insurance (Farm Bureau, State Farm) and such. It takes a little searching around. Here's one called Prairie Times (http://www.prairietimes.com/) that I sold to long ago, that might work for a WW story.

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

Thanks Jenny and Cathy! Very useful.

[seaaircarol]

Thanks, everyone!

[Jenny]

I just posted the fiction submissions address for English Women's Weekly magazine over in Short Fiction (http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1567355#post1567355). They take 1,000 word stories. Good luck!

[seaaircarol]

Thanks, Jenny! :)

[Renee Russell]

I've got a submission over at WW too. I made it very G-rated, so I'm hoping they'll take this one. I've been rejected before (sigh). It's nice to know so many others out there in the trenches with me!

Renee

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

Full guidelines for Women's Weekly (UK) are available here:

http://womagwriter.blogspot.com/2007/05/womans-weekly-full-guidelines.html

Good luck everyone!

[seaaircarol]

Women's Weekly looks like it is definitely worth a try, though I wish they'd accept e-mail submissions! Also, they seem to like unpredictable--whereas Woman's World seems to like the opposite!

I actually just sent off three Woman's World rejects to the Prairie Times, which Cathy had recommended. I'll let you know how it goes!

Carol
P.S. Sorry for all the exclamation points. I just ate some peach and banana shortcake and I guess the sugar is getting to me.

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

I heard from Woman's World about my Halloween-themed romance. The story had made it through Jimmy and on to Johnene. Johnene wrote at the bottom of my rejection letter "I enjoyed this romance, but unfortunately the editor-in-chief decided to decline."

So now *three* people have to approve the stories????


Ouch.

Ouch here too. The exact same thing happened to me today with a mini-mystery: "I liked it, but the Editor-in-Chief decided to decline. Sorry!"

:cry:

[seaaircarol]

So sorry, Noo-Bee. I wonder what exactly the editor-in-chief is looking for???? Well, I guess what they are actually publishing. Maybe I'd better pick up a copy and see if their stories have changed at all...have you seen a copy lately?

Carol

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

Thanks for the commiseration, Carol. I've been reading the magazine religiously every week the past year or so... But honestly, I don't think our problem is being out of tune with what they're looking for--I mean Johnene should know what's right for them, right? *sighs audibly*

[seaaircarol]

*adds her own sigh*

[lrs]

Well I was just rejected too! Form letter, but she sent with it the guidelines underlining they do not accept life or death. I thought that meant a life or death suspenseful situation. guess not! Man, really didn't need this this weekend!

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

Sorry lrs! At least it's not a life-or-death issue for you...

[seaaircarol]

I'm sorry, too. This is a really, really tough market. That said, I just sent off a mini-mystery. I'm just a masochist, I guess. ;)

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

You go, Carol!

I've all but given it up. They still have one mini-mystery of mine, but given the history, I doubt that they'll buy it.

It was fun while it lasted...

[lrs]

Thanks guys! for making me feel better. Good luck Carol! I might try women's weekly. That is only a british magazine, right? Anyone know what their pay is?

[seaaircarol]

Thanks for the good wishes, Noo-Bee and Irs. I do believe Women's Weekly is an exclusively British publication. Not sure what the pay rates are...but maybe it's posted somewhere?

[choppersmom]

I've been turned down by Jimmy twice. I did get some very encouraging handwritten notes on the second rejection letter which led me to believe all was not lost as far as future submissions, so I am redoing one of the stories and resending. I like the idea of doing a story a week - tough deadline though!!

Trish

[Rye-Ting Noo-Bee]

Good luck Trish! I was on the story-a-week plan for a couple months in the winter, but couldn't sustain it. It's tough to come up with new mini-romances every week that aren't so trite you're ashamed to send them out...

[choppersmom]

Good luck Trish! I was on the story-a-week plan for a couple months in the winter, but couldn't sustain it. It's tough to come up with new mini-romances every week that aren't so trite you're ashamed to send them out...

LOL, that's very true, but IMO, some of the ones they do select for publication are so trite I'd be ashamed to admit to being their author! (Chandler voice) Could they BE any more tame?? The answer is zero. Zero more tame!

But in all seriousness, the WW market is too potentially lucrative to pass up. I can eat a little crow to get my name on paper, I guess. Onwards and upwards!!

[seaaircarol]

Best of luck, Trish! You're right--it's always good to get handwritten notes. They wouldn't do that unless they thought you had promise. :D