This has been an interesting week.

It’s Tuesday evening. Tomorrow is my 22nd wedding anniversary and, of course I didn’t get a present until this afternoon. But it’s cool, I’ll Tell you what I gave and received tomorrow. 

In addition to waiting until the day before, I got an early present today. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been sending out query letters. These are letters pitching an idea for an article, and it’s the main way freelance writers get articles published before they have a solid list of publications. I got a response this evening. My first response to a query letter. I’m so excited to announce...

Sierra Magazine rejected my article!

Neat, huh?

i know, not exactly what you were hoping. Me neither. They didn’t reject it because it sucked, but that it didn’t fit the magazine’s editorial needs at this time. Magazines are weird. Like television, there’s a season for everything. Right now, Sierra magazine is not looking for articles on zero waste, so they had no need to ask for the article so they could read it. Rather, they chucked it. Magazine editors know there’s another writer who can do the article when it’s time for it. Or, they may reach out to me and ask for the article I pitched way back when. So, no worries. Plus, I sent the same story idea to another magazine. They might be looking for that topic for an upcoming issue.

This discussion reminds me, I need to send out more query letters to pitch story ideas. For me, this is always the hardest part, coming up with ideas. In fact, I hate it. However, when I put my mind to it I can come up with some good ones. It’s a habit I need to develop if I’m going to be successful. 

Okay, I’m off to find a good-sized notebook to write down ideas in. I actually have something like four blank notebooks, leather-bound, that can fit in my pocket. Which one to use...?

Cheers!

Stephen