I'm a new member with a couple of pretty basic queries about submitting non-fiction work to Women's Magazines. Hope some of you have the time to respond to me. I submitted about four pieces to various magazines earlier this year. Letter, fillers and the like. I received one reply in the form of a cheque for £20 - three months following submission. So...do magazines normally advise you that they are going to reject/use your work? How long is reasonable in terms of waiting time before you offer the piece elsewhere? And, is it acceptable/unacceptable, when submitting work, to include a rider stating to the effect "...work open to acceptance for a period of (say)six weeks after which time it will be offered to other publications..."? Coming from a business background this seems a very sensible approach to me - but maybe not one that is acceptable amongst the literary profession. Don't want to put a foot wrong - so help me out.

Hi Kathy
I've been a magazine journalist for some years and will try to help if I can with your query. I'm not sure though, what exactly you have submitted..
If it is articles, short or otherwise, then the done thing is to approach the editor in question (you can find this out by ringing the switchboard and asking who is the right person to approach for freelancers)and then dropping her/him an email, quickly setting out your idea in a really snappy way. They will get 100s of emails every day and will be scanning quickly to see if they like an idea. If you have experience, all to the good, so then briefly say what it is. If you haven't any, I would say something like this, 'I understand if you are reluctant to commission me as an unknown, but if you are interested in my idea, I would be more than happy to write the piece anyway without a formal commission. Then, if you like it, we can talk about the fee.' or something thereabouts!

I may be working on a misunderstanding here though, about what exactly you are trying to sell. If it is for those sections that invite you to write in, then I don't really know. But I do think finding out the editor's name and sending a brief, courteous email asking if they are planning to use the piece is never going to cause offence.


If I can help further, or you want to webmail me, I'm very happy to help.
all the best anyway
Caroline

Kathy,

Caroline has said it all... I was also in the business and her reply has my full support. Very nicely put, Caroline and every success to you Kathy.

Len

Len,
Why, thank you sir!

Caroline, thank you for taking the time to respond to my query. Your reply is helpful and informative and will certainly help me with my approach to magazine/newspaper editors, particularly, in relation to an article I am working on at present. I am absolutely itching to do a "layman's piece" in response to the Heather Mills/Paul McCartney divorce petition revelation scenario. My dilemna is that I know I am only likely to broker interest from editors, in my work, if I allow them to refer to my, and my former husband's, past appearances in the media, which I don't. My feeling is that I need to capitalise on past media exposure, with the editors, but make my article a stand alone piece and one that they would be interested in publishing. Thanks again for your reply...

Thanks for your reply and good wishes - we will see...

Hi Kathy

I've worked on the staff and freelance for several women's magazines, and in my experience it's really hard to get a commission if you're an unknown or you don't have any cuttings. Obviously it's a hugely competitive marketplace and most section eds will have their favourite tried and tested freelancers that they use. I personally don't remember any instances of someone getting commissioned just from a 'cold' email. Doesn't mean it's not possible, just unlikely. To increase your chances, you could send the feature in on spec instead of just sending a pitch.

Having said that, even though you are reluctant, if you do have some previous celebrity exposure I am sure this would (sadly) really make a difference.

Finally, one thing to bear in mind, monthly magazines have at least a couple of months' lead time. The feature you want to write is obviously topical, so might be better suited to a Sunday newspaper's magazine. By the time it got printed in a women's monthly it would be 'old news' – for example, I'm working on a feature for a February issue at the moment...

Hope that helps,
Charlotte

Hi Charlotte,

Thanks for your reply and advice - all very helpful.

As you say, the subject matter is pretty topical and I agree that it would be more suited to either a Sunday newspaper's magazine, or the female section of a daily.

So...think I better get on with it, then consider all the good advice about the best way to submit it.

I do have a journalist contact at the Femail section of the Daily Mail, by virtue of a cover story they ran featuring me and former hubby, so might be worth my while talking to her.

Thanks again Charlotte - your help and time is appreciated.

Kind Regards

Kathy

p.s.Could definitely not claim celebrity status!

Kathy
I'd just head straight for your Mail contact. If she already knows you, you've crossed a huge hurdle, so maybe you ought to just go for it and give her a call. Good luck!

Yes, I agree with Caroline - always good if you've got a contact! Journalism is all about contacts.

Reminds me of a quote I read somewhere: 'The media is a village and all the idiots know each other'.

Thanks ladies - I'm now putting my head down and going for it!