Some key elements in the story are french fries and some cryptic writing.I should really get another one going because likely it'll be months before I hear back.
Photos by Brandi Jordan and Carabou (cc)
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Sent It
I finally have a story out. Put it in the mail a couple of days ago. It was the fastest story I've ever written for Woman's World. I'm happy that it's one of those stories that has no time period associated with it. It'll fit in at any time of the year.
Some key elements in the story are french fries and some cryptic writing.
I should really get another one going because likely it'll be months before I hear back.
Photos by Brandi Jordan and Carabou (cc)
Some key elements in the story are french fries and some cryptic writing.I should really get another one going because likely it'll be months before I hear back.
Photos by Brandi Jordan and Carabou (cc)
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43 comments:
So true on the time frame, Kate. I'm waiting on a story six months out today.
I'd buy any story with French fries in it...haha.
Good luck, Kate! I was trying some other things for awhile and only have one out and one that I co-wrote with my daughter. (That one is really her story, I just edited mostly.)But you're right, time to get moving, because it's months before you hear back.
By the way, I think you might have missed reviewing a story. There was one about a small town and a date at a diner. Am I right?
--Mary Ann
Thanks, Pat.
I know, right, Pat? I LOVE potatoes in really any form except raw!
Mary Jo, I can't find that issue. Either I lost it or never received it and it's already off the stands at my market. :( I'd be happy to analyze it if someone sends me a photo of it.
Thanks, Pat.
I know, right, Pat? I LOVE potatoes in really any form except raw!
Mary Jo, I can't find that issue. Either I lost it or never received it and it's already off the stands at my market. :( I'd be happy to analyze it if someone sends me a photo of it.
Kate,
It's actually Mary Ann Joyce, not Mary Jo. But anyway, I'm at work and don't have it with me to scan to you. It's actually a really cute story. I don't remember the author, or if she's on this site. Anyone else have any info?
--Mary Ann (not Mary Jo, LOL)
Maj:
What's the date on that story? I have issues back to December 2012.
Jody: I just received the copy of your story you sent to me. Thanks. I liked it very much.
Regarding the issue Mary Ann is referring to, I scanned it at the store and became thoroughly disgusted because it had a few elements in it that I had in a story that was rejected.
I wanted to throw the magazine to the floor and stomp on it, but I didn't. That wouldn't have been very nice. And obviously, it was written better than mine.
MAJ, the name mix up reminded me of a tight little group we had in an office where I worked: Mary Ann, Mary Paul, Jo Ann and Mary Jo. It was fun.
Jody, I also thank you for sending your Mystery Date story after I missed that issue of WW. Honestly, it is one of the best I have seen in WW in a long time. Thank you.
The date in the diner story, are you talking about Coffee Date, Feb 18th? Kate did that one....
Thanks for the nice words, ladies. It put a smile on my face.
The missing story came out in the March 4 issue and is entitled "Small Town, Big Hearts." It contains a clever play on the concepts of small town/big town. There is a repeat of a term in two consecutive sentences ("the ladies' room"), and I am picturing the author screaming, because I bet she didn't write it that way.
Congratulations on writing yet another story, Kate. Now, that looooong stretch of time awaiting word.
Jody,
did you get my email sent on 23rd Feb? You kindly offered to send me some of your accepted WW stories as I can't get the mag in the UK... looking forward to seeing them.
Tamara is right, the story is called, "Small Town, Big Hearts" and was written by Shannon Fay. It's told by the man, and is very cute and clever, I think.
Mary Jo, several of my friends growing up had the same name as me, Mary Ann or some form of it. We all used nicknames. I think our mothers must have been reading the same book the year we were born or something.
Kate, I can scan the story to you on Monday if you don't get it sooner. Keep us posted.
Jody, it was the same issue the mystery was "An Old Hand" that you reviewed.
--Mary Ann
Mary Ann, please send it to me too when you scan it for Kate -- by the time I got to the store, the new issue was out. Diane C was just telling me how much she loved the small town story, so I'm anxious to read it!
Chris, I did not get your email with your mailing address. I just went back in my mail history and you're not there. I have several copies of the whole magazine I'll be glad to send you. Please email me again at ladyrprter@aol.com. When I get your email I'll respond. I do remember sending out 2 packets to the UK, but I didn't save the addresses, so if one was yours it didn't make it. Let's try it again...
Mary Ann, I'm so sorry about the mix up! I was in a hurry and tried to go from memory without scrolling back to see the actual name. My apologies.
Mary Ann, thanks. I just gave that issue to my mom to read. If no one mangages to get their hands on it, I can get the issue back. I'll keep an eye on this comment thread to see if someone else has it.
PS I really liked this week's mystery story. I could not find one thing to comment on. What did you think of it?
Thanks, Jody, have just tried again, so we'll see if it gets there. If not, let me know and I'll put my email address here and see if it works that way.
Kate,
Don't worry about the mix-up. I scanned the story to you this morning. Check your email when you get a chance. And it went to you, too, Betsi.
Jody, I loved John Floyd's latest. Very clever!
--Mary Ann Joyce
Question for everyone: I submitted three stories to WW last month and today I recieved a rejectino letter for the second story I sent. Does that mean the first one is still be considered? Also it was postmarked Asheville, NC at what point in the process would that have been, first reader?
Question for everyone: I submitted three stories to WW last month and today I recieved a rejection letter for the second story I sent. Does that mean the first one is still being considered? Also it was postmarked Asheville, NC at what point in the process would that have been, first reader?
Reevessarah40, I just had the same experience -- today. I received a rejection from Asheville, which is Patty Gaddis, first editor. This was one I thought they'd love -- if only she'd said one ittle word to let me know why. And, like you, I sent another submission in before that one, which means it has been passed on to Johnene, second editor, which I also didn't expect to happen.
The thing is, I don't know if Patricia reads them in the order you sent them. They may get reshuffled by the time they reach her desk. Kate, do you have any thought on that?
Mine have been pretty true to order. Watch, now, I'll probably get the other one back tomorrow. :)
How are some of you getting quick responses? I still haven't heard anything about a story I sent last August. It's driving me crazy. I re-submitted it a couple of weeks ago. Maybe I'll get a faster response this time. In the meantime, I sent them another story.
Tracie, it looks like the only way to get a fast response these days is to get a rejection from the first reader (Patricia) and you don't want that! We just have to be patient. My submission from early July will be in the issue that comes out this week, so it was worth the wait for me.
That's great Betsi, what's it called? Also, have yall discovered any pet peeves that seem to be sure fire sale killers with Patricia or Johnene?
Sarah, you should ask that on the Yahoo group (I think you're a member?). This topic has been discussed there a few times. Sometimes it's less a pet peeve, just "it's been done too often." I've heard that laundromats and fairs are overused settings, but can't think of anything else off the top of my head.
As for my story title, they get changed about half the time so I won't know for a couple days. I called it "Hearts and Crafts."
If you sent two stories and got a rejection on the second one but not on the first, that means that your first story went further up the ladder. :) I have no idea if the stories are shuffled up by the time they get to Johnene. My guess would be no, because then the Christmas stories might be read before the Halloween ones.
Quick response = rejection. :( Good things come to those who wait!
Sure fire killers? Excessive negativity, sadness or angst; animal abuse or killing; too much sexiness. That's all I can think of right now.
What's with blogger lately? I keep getting double posts!
Tracie, I'm waiting on two stories submitted in mid-July. I've been watching the mailbox like a hawk since November. I admit I'm starting to lose hope that I'll even get a response at all!
Betsi, I just finished reading your story. Loved it. Loved the little old ladies reaction to a guy in the store. They kept your title Hearts and Crafts.
You share the magazine with John Floyd. He got me. I missed the clue and didn't know who the bad guy was. He really hides clues well.
Pat, I can't get it here for a couple days, thanks for telling me she kept my title.
John IS the mystery maestro!
Betsie, just got my copy in the mail. Very nice story. I like that the meeting seemed lucky but plausible. Last week's story "Meant To Be" just didn't seem very likely to me that the two would just happen to have known the same old lady. Also, I've been reading these stories for weeks now and I don't think I've read one that involves a married couple or a couple that is already in an established relationship. Are there ever stories featuring established couples or just people meeting for the first time?
Kate, thanks for the info on responses and sale killers. Excessive negativity: I'm working on a story now that involves a woman in cancer treatment, but she is very positive about her situation and of course the story will have a positive resolution. Would the very fact she has cancer be too much negativity?
Oh, Sarah, you can't send them a cancer story, that's a definite sales killer! My first rejection was a story where a breaking-up couple bonded after their dog got sick. I was told it was "too sad."
As for your other question, they most definitely take stories with established or married couples, although I just realized I've never managed to sell one!
Sarah, here are some no-no's. No illness, no poverty, no politics, no religion, no sex. In fact, no hint that there is any such thing. That is one reason that 98% of the WW romances are "cute meets". There is no opportunity, then, to examine any of the deep and meaningful facets to a relationship. Those would have to be addressed off stage.
reevessarah40, those types of stories are rare. My theory is that it's because they're challenging to write. Maybe someone else has a different take. On the bright side, that means Johnene would probably welcome a good one.
And as far as your cancer character, that's a tough call to make. Let's say the hero's wife died from cancer. That's fine. We see that all the time in WW stories--a spouse having passed away. However, the difference between an acceptance and a rejection can be in how that writer addressed that. So, I can't say without reading the story if you've kept it upbeat enough. Taking you at your word, I don't think that having her undergoing the treatment is a deal breaker in and of itself. It really depends on the execution. That's my opinion, anyway. Take it with a grain of salt. :)
I agree and disagree with Mary Jo. Illness, of course you can have people being sick. One of my published stories had a man who worked at a senior living home and one of the people at his facility had a heart attack. It was the main reason he was so exhausted and grateful for the woman who acted as an emergency nanny for his niece, who he was supposed to be taking care of. I've seen characters get the flu. So, you really have to just judge whether it's "too much." That's part of what makes this story writing business so difficult--judgment calls like that. Same with poverty. Obviously you don't want to write about a woman who lives in the projects or is on welfare, but you CAN write about someone who has to live on a tight budget. I hope this is making sense.
I would agree about the politics and the religion. I wouldn't broach topics that might alienate the reader.
Sex...you can have characters kiss, but you can't get too steamy. I've had several kisses in my published stories. You can get away with references to sex, especially in stories that feature married couples. Wife sets up a special date night at home, complete with a new negligee, but circumstances prevent it from happening. That type of thing.
This is exactly why I highly suggest people subscribe. There's no way to know this type of thing if you don't read the stories week after week. :)
Well, unless you just ask me. LMAO.
This site is worth its weight in gold, Kate. Every time I visit it I feel I've taken another step towards discovering what WW want. So many quality thoughts and tips.
I might add that there is no ethnicity in WW stories.
Wow, some great feedback, from everyone. Thank you very much.
RE: ethnicity. The only thing I've seen is a few Hispanic names. Ruiz, for example, was in John's latest mystery. But the race of this man didn't factor into the story. I think I've seen a Detective Ramos...?
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