Hello. I'm a new member from today. I joined after suffering a recent run of rejections from different magazines for different article queries as well as rejections from three agencies for my first novel. After reading a few members' experiences and advice I immediately felt better. I have no other writing contacts apart from The Writers Bureau correspondance course and do not know any other writers personally so it has felt a bit lonely. Does anybody else have a problem targeting their ideas to magazines especially when the published cuttings file is very small?

Hi, Hannah, and welcome to WriteWords

I'm afraid I can't answer your question about magazine articles, but I'm sure someone will be along who can.

Meanwhile, if you have any questions about the Site, feel free to ask.


- NaomiM

<Added>

Just to add that as far as submissions to agents are concerned, I usually send them out in 3 batches of ~8, so don't give up yet.

Hello Hannah Maria, and welcome to WW.
It is lonely when you don't have contacts and connections, isn't it? I've found WW invaluable for support, and also for a realistic idea of how publishing works - the realism goes both ways, in that there are fabulous, inspiring stories of success and also the inevitable stories of rejection. Persistence (something I struggle with) is key. As Naomi says, three rejections is nothing, and normal (I have been discouraged by six so far, and know I need to continue submitting). So keep sending them out there, and if you can, keep the same number in circulation - ie as soon as one comes back, send another out. It's a tough business. Can't answer re. mags, but I'm sure there are dozens of others here who can.
Susiex

Hello Hannah Maria and welcome to WW. There are lots of journos on WW, so I'm sure someone will be along with more specific advice in a minute, but I think the stage you're stuck in is very common, and can be got through, if you can keep going despite the rejections. They are the name of the game, unfortunately, but that does mean that rejections aren't necessarily telling you you're in the wrong game!

Emma

Thankyou very much to all who replied. I've felt so much better today and ideas for another book have flooded in. I will keep sending off to agents but now at least I feel more able to start another project.