where to start?

ctal · Apr 27, 2008

Coming out of Grad school I had sat down and developed a 5-year plan.
One of the items left from that plan is to be published.

I'm guessing that writing on my trade is the best for now.

I've acquired the 2008 Writer's Market and I only see a few listings for
magazines in my trade. Does the online version have
of this book have more resources?

In order to have a better understanding of the world of journalism
and freelance writing I've also been reading multiple books and
lurking on this site and a few others.

I feel like I had one of those great stories fall into my lap this
past Friday. My concern is that I will have extreme difficulty in
getting accepted as the writer for this story.

Any recommendations in developing that perfect query letter?

Thanks!

WildScribe · Apr 27, 2008

If your goal is publication, and not a specific kind, then I would definitely stick to freelance at first. Book publishing is a LOT more challenging!

The freelance forum has a lot of great advice for you if you'd like to go read some, including a trade magazine section.

Also, I don't know what your trade is, but could it be of interest to other genres? You could be a runner, so you want to write for a running mag, but maybe your story would be a perfect fit for a woman's magazine with a little twist to it. Right?

nybx4life · Apr 27, 2008

Yeah, there's an SYW section of these forums.

Now, if you're attempting to create a query letter, there's a section of the Share Your Work (SYW) for query letters. They have info on how to create a query letter, and you have other people of this kind community look at any query letters you made so far, and you can get their opinion on how to upgrade it.

Simple as that

ctal · Apr 27, 2008

To be mildly self-centered for a moment, I think most people these days are interested in my trade to some degree: Information Technology, specialized in Security.

Currently many of the topics I'm developing wouldn't be a directed at my peers but at
a general audience that may be interested in knowing "how does that work?"

Desert Author · Apr 27, 2008

CTAL,

Glad to have you on the boards. My advice is, write the piece and go forward trying to get it published. If nothing else, it will be a learning experience.

If you look for reasons not to do this, you'll find plenty of them. With some effort, there aren't any that you can't overcome.

Good luck,

jeff

Nickie · Apr 27, 2008

I can only agree with what's said before: go ahead and write your article. Then (try) and offer it to the publishers.
Btw; welcome to AW!

Nickie

HeronW · Apr 28, 2008

Welcome, check out the Query letter critique section

CACTUSWENDY · Apr 28, 2008

Welcome to AW. Hope you enjoy your stay with us.

How do you like your popcorn?

Danalynn · Apr 28, 2008

* WELCOME ABOARD!!!! *
:hi:

You've picked THE BEST place on the entire internet to join!

kct webber · Apr 28, 2008

I think everyone else has pretty much covered where to start, so I'll just say, Welcome!

where to start?

ctal

WildScribe

Slave to the Wordcount

nybx4life

ctal

Desert Author

Writing junkie

Nickie

Not too old to learn

HeronW

Down Under Fan

CACTUSWENDY

An old, sappy, and happy one.

Danalynn

NEVER give up!!!!

kct webber

Squirrel, Sekrit type, 1 ea.