Yesterday, spent a lot of time looking through magazines, trying to find some markets for my as yet unwritten first health article. Wrote an introduction to the article, which could also be used as a query, but didn’t I read somewhere that you weren’t supposed to repeat your query hook in the article? Sigh.
That’s the way it’s been, too many projects, too many questions.
Stalled on the Jennifer Crusie article after ethical crisis involving whether it was okay to use a NYT bestselling author as my “hook.” Debating sending her an email about it, asking permission. Don’t want to sound like too much of a dumb-ass, however.
Woman’s Day magazine has lots of the kind of thing I want to write, but they don’t take unsolicited manuscripts. Which brings me to another question: when I write a query, offering to send an article “on spec” do I use those words?? Somehow, “spec” just seems too corny, or too flashy in an unaware way. Like I’m pretending to know the vocabulary when actually I’m a rank beginner.
Got distracted from these concerns by the arrival of more books to review. Was curious about the editor who sent them, so checked her out on RT’s masthead. Turns out she’s a SENIOR reviewer. And further on down the line, they list the ASSOCIATE reviewers. And I’m listed!! On a masthead!! Wow. Had to show Al, who seemed impressed. Either that or he was trying really hard not to let on how silly he thought the whole thing was.
Have decided I need to write and send these two articles before writing anymore on the new novel. Unless the girls in the basement start talking. Also want to send some queries to agents and more publishers about Watch Your Back.
Feeling quite the busy writer today, yet without actually doing much writing. Determined to get a first draft written of the health article. And to write Ms. Crusie to see how she feels about being my hook…