Hello,

While in the process of writing my first book I am thinking of also trying to get magazine articles published so that I have some form of published experience to put on my "writer's CV".

Any thoughts as to whether this is a good idea or not?

Cassie

Yes, yes, yes. Do it! Definitely a good idea!

Good luck!

LoL

A
xxx

Absolutely definitely, and it's also quite vital to have cuttings to be able to send out if people ask to see examples of published work.

Thank you HollyB!

Better get writing...

Cassie

Anna,

Thanks for that tip. I hadn't thought about actual cuttings - better get multiple copies of all these magazines I'm going to write for!

Cassie

Definitely!
Out of interest; when you do this, how do you prove it if asked? Keep a copy of the mag? Maybe people don't ask?

Quite often people will say when applying for a freelance job, or whatever, provide examples of published work, ie. copies of cuttings, stories etc, so that's why it's so invaluable.

Whoops! I actually didn't think of cuttings either. I wrote for a bestselling music mag for 4 years and (in a fit of being sick of journalism and determined to get stuck into fiction instead) chucked all my copies away last time I moved house!! Probably a bit silly, really, as even though I'm not interested in journalism as a proper career thing, you never know what the future may hold and when it could come in useful for extra cash....

Cath

<Added>

Oh well. There's always Ebay for back issues, I guess.

Aaagghh! Yes, I've done similiar things in fits of pique or forgetfulness, but thank god for the net and the ability to claw back such things. It can make the difference in people taking your work seriously.

Well, now I'm in the middle of moving again my original copies have been dug out from the top of my wardrobe. Maybe I should work out which issues contained my best work and try and get hold of a few of them....

Yep, good plan, and get a load of copies done and stick them in plastic files so you don't end up sending them all out and not having some left..