Extending your reach: Editor's Notes, May 2005
Published: March 25, 2005
Has your writing hit a plateau? You're selling your work but beginning to feel like you're doing the same thing over and over? Could be it's time to get out of your comfort zone and try something new. This issue is filled with advice that will help you extend your reach. Break into a bigger market. Write your first short story. Enter a contest. Apply for a grant that will buy you some time to write.
If you've been humming along at the local level but want to break into higher-paying national magazines, you'll find encouragement and direction in Gwen Moran's "Breaking into the majors" (page 26). She debunks the myth that you have to know someone in order to crack the top tier, and she tells you how to do it. Included are 18 prime markets.
Maybe you've written your first short story and are looking for a place to submit it. Don't overlook contests. Winning an award from a recognized contest is one way to get noticed by editors and agents. Bethanne Patrick talked with five literary-contest winners about the recognition and monetary rewards that come with winning first place. You'll also learn how to pick the right contest to enter and how to improve your odds of winning. You'll find 117 contests to choose from in our Market Listings (page 52).
Also, we've added an exciting new column, Get Published (page 45). It gives you the inside track on getting into print. For example, if your next step is to move from writing articles to a nonfiction book, you'll have to sell yourself as well as your idea. Kelly James-Enger shows you how to do just that. Every month, you can count on Get Published for the latest information on contracts, negotiating with editors, working with agents and more.
We think this issue will give you dozens of ideas for moving your writing career to the next level. We encourage you to try something new, and let us know how you do.
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