Today’s entry is a bit lacking from what I had planned (“housekeeping” and a “list of magazines”). My apologies. I have been on a good stroke of late with my writing routine and with taking some time to look for venues. However, I haven’t really decided on the ones I’d really like to query. I have some long-shots and some “maybes” but not a massive “mail out” query. (I’m really liking double-quoting today. Whether I mean the real word or not, I am not sure. For better or worse, eh?)
In the past few weeks, I found myself pondering a rather largish issue: am I looking for magazines that I want to WRITE FOR or to EDIT FOR? My science background allows me to do both, but what do I really want to do? I am qualified to edit scientific journals and reports and it pays fine, I am already doing that as my “day job”, albeit at around 50% of my time. But creating content, and interviewing, researching and such, is much more involved. I enjoy just sitting here and creating my own world of sci-fi, fantasy, drama and re-telling my versions of the Truth. That's what I want to publish the other 50% of the time.
Editors write too. However, they need to have a more broad, big-picture understanding than the writer and can clean up a piece and still be technically accurate. Being a pure content writer, you are subjected to an editor and have to “correct yourself” to his/her style. Eventually you know them/they know you and it works well if you work well, everything is great. If not, well, you know where you can go. Some place nicer hopefully.
I’ve broken down my interests into geographical regions and topics. These days with the Internet, perhaps one need not be so concerned about the locations of your clients. Since it does take a bit more on the logistical side though, it becomes a lower priority, even if it is highly desired or coveted. “Drink Locally, Think Globally” or something like that. So, I’m fixing on the German/Swiss-based English audience, mainly science journalism and science fiction pieces. There’s not much room for too much drama here. I just have to get off my a** and get through my contacts this month.
Tougher yet is the broader EU but not UK. I think I’ll leave that as third base priority. The UK market is more feasible and lots of Brits seem to like Switzerland and Americans. So there’s camaraderie there. I need to tap into that some more. That’s really my second base. Fourth place of course, is still the good ol’ USA. There’s tons of online literary journals which make it somewhat more reachable. But my focus isn’t going to be on that until probably mid-summer or so. I really like the Seed Media Group for science journalism, among others. But I’ve got a long way to go to get to where I want to be. A plan a plan a plan. Yes I know. See previous paragraph last sentence.
Next week, I had planned to make a list about contests I’ll be entering. Instead, I’ll keep building these two lists (magazines and contests). When I’ve made some progress, I’ll publish my list of actual queries/contest entries, not just a wish list. Somehow that’s more interesting, don’t you think???
Let’s make a plan for end of first quarter, Monday April 6th. I am really glad for this blogging experience and space, it will keep me honest (somewhat ☺ as much as a wannabe fiction writer can be).
Next three weeks: a fun, seasonal, three-part story born out of a word prompt exercise. Enjoy!
Word Count: 618
