tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post396321160913438839..comments2024-03-28T07:57:20.138-07:00Comments on Writing for Woman's World Magazine: My Story, EditedKate Willoughbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-19333518459173566132013-02-11T11:19:05.892-08:002013-02-11T11:19:05.892-08:00Bite your tongue, Carolyn! I sincerely hope that W...Bite your tongue, Carolyn! I sincerely hope that WW will continue to publish the romantic fiction. I think it's part of what sets them apart from the other women's magazines.Kate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-18207945296880273172013-02-09T10:17:25.565-08:002013-02-09T10:17:25.565-08:00Finally catching up on WW and delighted to see you...Finally catching up on WW and delighted to see your story with edits marked. Aside from its being a wonderfully original idea, Kate, seeing the edits is so helpful!<br /><br />Also comforting, as I was really shocked that half the words in my story (Waiting for Marcy - my first sale) had been cut and nearly an equal number had been added - made me feel as though the story was no longer mine.<br /><br />I did some counting and calculating on your story and see that it, too, has not much more than half your original words, so I guess that is just the way it is. <br /><br />Re the title change, think that must be an age factor. Johnene and Stephanie are probably in their mid-sixties, and apparently Johnene remembers the form of those menus in the little Chinese cafes in the 40s and 50s. Wouldn't be surprised that once J and S retire, WW fiction will be a thing of the past. Lesson to be learned: WRITE FAST!Carolyn Martinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-5316861436811902082013-02-06T16:23:07.339-08:002013-02-06T16:23:07.339-08:00I thought I explained, but maybe not, Kate. My WW ...I thought I explained, but maybe not, Kate. My WW copies stopped coming, and after missing three issues, I called their subscription service and was told that an issue addressed to me had been returned to them by USPS as "undeliverable". So they had stopped my subscription. They said it would be two or three weeks before I started receiving them again.<br /><br />Yes, sometimes the cover gets trashed, but so far as I know, the label does stick. However, I had missed a couple of other issues this past year, so maybe that was the problem then.Mary Jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-12885298643087050942013-02-06T12:22:15.109-08:002013-02-06T12:22:15.109-08:00After calling around town, I found that Book World...After calling around town, I found that Book World on Mackey Street, Palmdale, had the February 4th issue. This is where I used to buy them from in the past, but it's such a job getting there because of the horrendous traffic in the centre of Nassau! Anyway, they kept one for me and I picked it up.<br /><br />It was great to see your story in living colour, Kate! It's very good. And you must have prompted the magazine to do some features centered around the Chinese New Year! <br /><br />Bookworld sells magazines at U.S. prices, but sometimes it's false economy by the time I pay for gas to get there and have to put up with traffic jams. Sometimes it's easier and just as cost effective to pick it up from a nearby pharmacy if they have it, even though their prices are usually double!<br /><br />If you are ever in Nassau on a cruise ship and want to buy a copy of Woman's World or any other magazine, look for Cole Thompson's Pharmacy or Friendly Pharmacy, both on Bay Street in downtown Nassau. You'll have to be prepared to pay double for it though!Fay Knowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239945771922160765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-10670637926027005012013-02-06T11:01:33.109-08:002013-02-06T11:01:33.109-08:00Mary Jo, I'm confused about what's going o...Mary Jo, I'm confused about what's going on with your subscription, but I hope everything works out. I don't think they throw stories out without looking at them. I think they're just inundated.<br /><br />Yeah, I never heard anything about my Christmas ornament story either. :(Kate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-42179496679574889802013-02-05T01:12:29.101-08:002013-02-05T01:12:29.101-08:00I've had a couple of stories get lost with Wom...I've had a couple of stories get lost with Woman's World but then I always assumed it was the distance they have to travel from the UK. After about seven months I emailed and asked if there was any news and Jimmy Meiss (shows you how long ago it was) said they couldn't be found and agreed to let me resubmit by email - it was still a no, but at least they were accommodating.<br /><br /> Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-64672983080906950552013-02-04T20:02:21.798-08:002013-02-04T20:02:21.798-08:00Hey, maybe Johnene lost my return SASE. I do have ...Hey, maybe Johnene lost my return SASE. I do have my name, address, phone number and email address on every page, though.Mary Jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-71878440713046238372013-02-04T19:55:21.455-08:002013-02-04T19:55:21.455-08:00But then how would the subscription service know i...But then how would the subscription service know it wasn't delivered to ME? That's why they cut off my service. I was told I wouldn't get any issues now for several weeks. <br /><br />The Valentine issue of WW is out now, of course. I never heard word one from the editors about my Valentine story, so I guess it is hanging out there somewhere in limbo. Do you suppose when the stacks of submissions pile up to a daunting height, they just throw them in the recycling bin? I have never lost a story to them before, though.Mary Jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-89561838845183433612013-02-04T19:24:20.113-08:002013-02-04T19:24:20.113-08:00I'm sorry you missed the issue, Mary Jo. I'...I'm sorry you missed the issue, Mary Jo. I'm convinced it's the flimsy covers at fault. The USPS can't deliver something if the address label on the cover is unreadably mangled.<br /><br />Thanks, Jane. :) Kate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-88469248259390172082013-02-03T18:22:53.268-08:002013-02-03T18:22:53.268-08:00Kate, what a sweet story -- a great idea and well ...Kate, what a sweet story -- a great idea and well executed. Thanks for sharing the edited version! So very useful.<br /><br />I also appreciate your comments about editing something with a one-week shelf life vs. something that is a bigger project and will stay out there forever. Good thing to keep in mind!Jane Smith Sibleyhttp://janesmithsibley.blogspot.ca/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-41732664029755092792013-02-02T16:59:57.612-08:002013-02-02T16:59:57.612-08:00Kate, I am really glad you posted your story, edit...Kate, I am really glad you posted your story, editing included. Though I stopped at two big pharmacies this week, neither carried Woman's World. By the time I got to the grocery today, your issue was gone and the Valentine issue was out with Tamara's story. So now I am waiting for your review of that.<br /><br />I hope WW's subscription service starts sending again soon. My sub was supposed to run until July and now I have missed over a month of issues. Thanks to the U.S. Postal Service.Mary Jonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-12215752104731759152013-02-02T11:12:09.598-08:002013-02-02T11:12:09.598-08:00Hi, Chris, I'm actually weird in that I like g...Hi, Chris, I'm actually weird in that I like getting edited. I'm always in agreement with probably 97% of their edits. Also, let me say this. I'm far more accepting of changes, even ones I don't agree with, when it's a story that appears for a week and then disappears. With my electronic novels and novellas, not so much. Those books will hopefully remain available for many more years, and so I'm more picky about the product I'm putting my name on.<br /><br />Hi, LInda N.! By now you should have gotten my email reply. :DKate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-89369278612562166002013-02-02T09:48:02.797-08:002013-02-02T09:48:02.797-08:00Hi Kate,
Very nice story and seeing the edits was...Hi Kate,<br /><br />Very nice story and seeing the edits was very helpful!<br /><br />I sent you an e-mail requesting your editing services but not sure if you got it? <br /><br />Please let me know...<br /><br />Thanks,<br />Linda (lindaanielsen@gmail.com)<br />Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11590002618800678898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-10709274887651048202013-02-02T04:36:29.940-08:002013-02-02T04:36:29.940-08:00Another really useful post, Kate, thanks. No one l...Another really useful post, Kate, thanks. No one likes having their work edited but this was pretty sympathetically done. I preferred your 'crowds of eager bargain hunters', which painted a more vivid picture than the bland 'busy day', but otherwise I could see the thinking behind the changes. Ridiculous, isn't it - we labour away for days trying to come up with something fresh and original, only for our little gems to fall foul of the editor's red pen!<br /><br />I didn't get the new title either. Two from Column B sounds vaguely military to me, but once you know the story's setting it makes more sense.<br /><br />I hope you're successful in finding a writers' group near you, Tracie. I belong to two(our next meetings are today and on Monday) and they're invaluable for support, exchanging markets news and getting feedback. Maybe if you don't find one, you should start one yourself?Chrisnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-7891359814099327572013-01-31T21:26:52.918-08:002013-01-31T21:26:52.918-08:00Well, I see by the voting poll she changed the nam...Well, I see by the voting poll she changed the name of my Valentine story. :) I should be able to get a copy and see what else she did by tomorrow or Saturday.Tamaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-65590658793255171842013-01-31T13:42:17.192-08:002013-01-31T13:42:17.192-08:00Jody, "yucky" made Julie seem juvenile t...Jody, "yucky" made Julie seem juvenile to me, like a high schooler. Maybe "revolting" would have worked. Or maybe Johnene wanted a word with less umph. Who knows? :)Kate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-40464853224457665202013-01-31T08:54:35.163-08:002013-01-31T08:54:35.163-08:00I also like Kate's title better. But I think ...I also like Kate's title better. But I think Johnene did a great job of tightening the story. Thank you for posting the changes. What a great learning opportunity and a good lesson in cutting extraneous words. I sort of agree that 'disgusting' could be changed, but I'm not crazy about 'yucky' either. But that's a small detail. Overall this was a great story. WW worthy for sure. Jody E. Lebelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08777207515123248962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-52765491729115924112013-01-30T18:44:48.575-08:002013-01-30T18:44:48.575-08:00Thanks, Kate. That issue probably hasn't arriv...Thanks, Kate. That issue probably hasn't arrived on the island yet, so at least I won't have missed it!Fay Knowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239945771922160765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-17725729410716168042013-01-30T17:34:30.398-08:002013-01-30T17:34:30.398-08:00I had posted twice. Doh.I had posted twice. Doh.Kate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-18615203987394794052013-01-30T17:33:52.104-08:002013-01-30T17:33:52.104-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Kate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-83121740835255962762013-01-30T17:33:51.127-08:002013-01-30T17:33:51.127-08:00Mary Jo, you're right. REading it over again, ...Mary Jo, you're right. REading it over again, I realized that I hadn't given any indication Julie had ordered take-out.<br /><br />Melanie, I think they've changed two or three titles of mine that I can remember.<br /><br />Fay, it was in the February 4th issue.<br /><br />Tamara, thanks for the catch on the missing "man." :)<br /><br />Kate Willoughbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08923324775303769386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-90573703796149563412013-01-30T16:05:13.258-08:002013-01-30T16:05:13.258-08:00Kate, people are not voting "loved it" b...Kate, people are not voting "loved it" because it's your story, they are voting "loved it" because it's a great story. Outstandingly clever idea. And, I am echoing Mary Jo here -- I never thought I'd say it, but I liked Johnene's editing. She did tighten it up, and she didn't take out any pithy sentences as editors have been known to do. (I think you left out the word "man" in the paragraph starting with "The bell jangled.")Anyway, I repeat, clever -- the rat and dragon premise. No wonder they published this one.Tamaranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-50246258248824999582013-01-30T12:50:35.057-08:002013-01-30T12:50:35.057-08:00Thanks for sharing the edits, Kate. Most helpful! ...Thanks for sharing the edits, Kate. Most helpful! <br /><br />Clever little story. I like the way you hooked Julie and Daniel up together. Smooth and seamless.<br /><br />Which issue is this in? I haven't found a copy of Woman's World on the island since I obtained the January 14th issue, but I'm going to call around. Thanks.Fay Knowleshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09239945771922160765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-69282924409201734512013-01-30T11:43:57.815-08:002013-01-30T11:43:57.815-08:00Do they often change titles? My first and only pu...Do they often change titles? My first and only published story was originally title "Splendor in the Garage," which is so gawd awful I regetted it as soon as it hit the mailbox. When I got the contract, the title listed was "Fixed Up," which I thought was really cute because the story is set in an autobody shop and they make a date at the end. Then when it came out it was titled "Car Trouble," which is so generic it made me cringe. Titles either come to me right away or I labor over them till the end.Melanie Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17176767091301717002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-406318704822590967.post-21109750611005807182013-01-30T11:15:08.903-08:002013-01-30T11:15:08.903-08:00I just read your comments above, Kate, and as far ...I just read your comments above, Kate, and as far as "romance" in the title, I think the word "Two", itself, suggests that. Anyway, it did for me.Mary Jonoreply@blogger.com