A great start to the day.
This morning I received an email from a magazine in America. I had long forgotten that I sent anything to that particular magazine so it really was kick-ass when I opened my inbox.
You see, I have a few short stories that are just kind of laying about on hard disks or in my desk drawer. One day I thought to myself ‘Why don’t I try sending some of this shit off?’
So I did.
I’ve trawled freelance writing forums for months now. They are awash with the number of people who have sent things off and subsequently wondered if they have just mailed their work to a black hole. Suffice to say I thought I was one of them.
The email I received this morning however was most heartening.
While the magazine is not buying my work, they have suggested I try to send the same piece again in six months time.
‘What? Is that it?’ I hear you cry.
Yep. I can see how others would say that this news is nothing, that I have been perhaps let down gently but I would disagree.
I have had a response, and I am led to believe that those are few and far between.
For this reason, for this tiny insignificant victory, I rejoice.
I will try again in six months too and not only that but I will also send more work out to other magazines.
As Bill & Ted would say ‘Most Excellent, Dude!’
Toodles,
M 🙂
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Author: Mark S Thompson
Okay, so these things are kind of hit and miss. If you’re reading this then I am thankful to you for taking the time out of your day to do so. I’ll be honest, when I think of myself as a writer, I kinda cringe. Don’t get me wrong, it is the dream, it's just I never really believe it will go anywhere.
When I think back to the day that I first knew I loved writing, and I mean really knew, I see myself sitting in an English lesson at secondary school. The school was called Wrotham and is in the county of Kent, England. As far as I know, it's still there. English was far and away my favourite subject. The best bit was when the teacher gave the class a selection of words and asked us to make up a story that either contained those words or was about those words, you know. At other times we would be given the first sentence and then write what happens next. Good times. Many times my work would reflect what I had recently read and it would be okay. Nothing special, just okay. On one occasion though I wrote about a merman called Finchy and can remember going into so much depth and detail about him and the underwater kingdom he lived in. I really enjoyed writing that and it must have shown because my teacher commented on it. She was really impressed and loved the story. That was it for me, my moment. Now when I write I think back to those great times and to that story. Hopefully, I’ll write something that you, the reader, will be moved to comment on. For me, there is no greater elixir
View all posts by Mark S Thompson
Captain's Log 
Errrr…send ‘the same piece’ again in 6 months? WTF? Why dont they just keep the file they’ve already got and read it again in 6 months?
I don’t geddit.
But congrats on getting a response. I often wonder myself if anyone ever reads the stuff I write…but then I don’t publicise anything, so no-one knows its out there. Talk about shouting into the dark.
Maybe one day I’ll follow your example and make a proper effort to get published, eh?
‘Next year, Rodders…………’
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