Small Ray Of Sunshine

I wished I'd saved my daffodil photo until now!

Thanks to the world of Twitter, a friend tweeted me (@Natalieroberts1 - a fellow Writer's Bureau student) congratulating me on my letter being published in Sainsbury's Magazine.

I'd totally forgotten that in January I'd sent a letter off to them and had even forgot to note it on my spreadsheet.  (I note everything I've sent to keep track of it).  I also keep all of my sent emails, but this one had gone into a different folder.


Anyway, though I am yet to see it for myself - I'll try to wait until Friday when I'm meeting a friend for coffee at Sainsbury's cafe, they do a wicked cappuccino! - apparently I've had my letter published.

I panicked initially too.  What if it was March issue and I'd just missed it? (I know it's March, but magazines like to publish a month ahead - not even sure what that's about).  But phew, it is the April edition.  

After the last couple of days feeling a bit depressed with my writing (or the lack of it) this was a nice little bonus.  Okay, it's not a paid published piece, but it's still a letter, and they're not easy to get published.  I'm assuming this counts to my writing CV?  Well, I'm making it count.

Two letters published and it's only the 2nd March! Whooo hooo!

Oh and I will say, (as they published my letter!) Sainsbury's Magazine is only £1.60 and is a good read, with some smashing recipes.  Considering Good Food or Good Housekeeping is around £3.60, it's an excellent, value for money buy. 

I'll keep trying to get an article in there...

Making Time For Magazines

Tonight I'd thought I'd tackle my 7th Assignment. I've read three of the modules, I started reading the last and had to give up half way through.  Eyes are just tired, going in one eye and out the other - see what I did there?

I'd also read some more of my friends children's book draft, and read a chunk of Stephen King On Writing.

My RSI has flared up, especially in my right arm, so yes, I shouldn't really be typing this.

I have three pieces I need to do for this next assignment, I've thought of one, a humorous piece about bottling patience.  Haven't the foggiest where to send it, where it would be suitable and obviously will need to edit to suit a house style. Somewhere interested in rambling mothers ideally. 

My problem is I need to make time for magazines. I am currently on February issue of Writing Magazine, March has already arrived! (I never get this one month ahead thing - someone somewhere started that off didn't they, thinking it would make their magazine stand out as more up to date than the others - we'll be reading June next in December).  I want to catch up with this particular magazine because I subscribe to it, and I have found it very useful for writing advice.

Then, I need to do 'research' and read magazines that I want to submit articles for.  This is where I FAIL! I'm trying to read more mags and less books - my 40 books this year may suffer, but so be it.  Even so, things seem to get in the way - particularly housework!  But reading magazines is a slow process, too.

I'm trying to focus on a few, so I'm not swamped - it's bloody expensive for an unpaid writer.  My favourite is Sainsburys Magazine - get some great recipes for half the price of The Good Food or Good Housekeeping.  And I really should start reading Runner's World, because all my running, I must come up with an article for them - right?  (Hubby subscribed to that one, so doesn't cost me anything).  Another one, my tutor recommended, is The Lady.  Apparently easier to get work accepted there.  So maybe that's what I need to do - focus.

I've got other women's mags: Women's Own, My Weekly, Take A Break, People's Friend... but those were mainly purchased for the fiction side of things.


Who decided there should only be 24 hours in a day?  And why do I need eight hours sleep?

Does This Make It Official?

I got my first rejection letter today.  

I've had some stuff either not answered via email, or an email back saying they're not wanting this type of article current, but this was a rejection letter from People's Friend for a short story I sent, titled Love Will Find You.  Sent back in my SAE.  I knew by the thickness of the envelope it said rejection.  They wouldn't send it back if they wanted it - would they?  Apparently not strong enough.  Which, maybe I can see their point, but it's around 1700 words and meant to be more sweet.  Maybe I need to get to the action quicker... I don't know.


So at least I feel officially a writer... still not a published one yet!

I think I feel ultra miserable about it all as it's you know, red bus time and all that, and I'm just extra suicidal and murderous this time of the month.  Good job I wasn't wheeling a knife when the postman came to the door!

I'll take a look at it again and maybe try Woman's Weekly as My Weekly aren't taking on new short story authors.

And the other thing, now that I am a writer, and trying to be more open about it, when asked what my novel is about I should NOT reply, "Oh, um, this woman has to go to a wedding but doesn't want to, and, oh, um, this guy gets talked into going with her, and oh..." change the subject quickly.


For some reason I go all shy (yeah - me shy?) and stupid, and can't spit words out, and think as I'm telling them about it I'm making it sound crap.  I need more confidence!  A little cheque from The People's Friend would have done it... but we won't go there.