Hunting for Markets Over the Holidays
Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks. Between preparing for, celebrating, and unwinding from the holidays it may be difficult to maintain your regular writing routine. And if researching potential homes for your work is part of that routine-as it is for many of us who regularly submit stories, essays, poems, articles, and reviews for publication-you may be worried about falling behind.
But it's time to put those worries to rest. In truth, there are many ways to keep up with your market-hunting over the holidays. Here are just four possibilities:
1) When you visit friends and family, peruse the magazines they may have on their coffee tables or stacked in their recycling bins. Chances are they may subscribe to some that you don't receive. Who knows how many new markets you may discover? (Just be sure to ask for permission before you start rummaging!)
2) Be bold with your gift list. If someone close to you should ask what you might like for the holidays, go ahead and say it. Go ahead and tell that person: "I'd like you to bring me/send me all the magazines you've received for the past six months-and haven't yet thrown out." That person won't need to shop, and you will be able to spend the rest of the winter researching markets.
3) If you'll be traveling, take advantage of any complimentary publications that may come your way: inflight magazines, morning newspapers at hotels, and so on. Again, these may provide you sample issues for markets that you haven't considered before.
4) If you're visiting anyone out-of-town, stop by the local library, and check out the magazines the library keeps stocked. It's quite likely that you'll discover some-especially regional publications-that you won't be able to research as easily back home.
Can you think of other possibilities? Add them to the list! Happy holidays, and happy market-hunting.
(C) Copyright 2004 Erika Dreifus. All rights reserved. Article reprint permission is granted provided that the entire article, including the "About the Author" information--remains intact and unaltered. Please send a courtesy copy of the reprint to erikadrei (at ) yahoo (dot) com
Erika Dreifus (Ed.M., M.F.A., Ph.D.) edits the free monthly newsletter, "The Practicing Writer," and has published several resource guides, including "The Practicing Writer's Directory of Paying Short Story Markets" and "The Practicing Writer's Directory of Paying Poetry Markets." Visit her website at http://www.practicing-writer.com to learn more.
MORE RESOURCES:
Research and Markets: Barnes report: 2010 U.S. Printing & Writing Paper ... Reuters The Printing & Writing Paper Wholesales report, published annually, contains timely and accurate industry statistics, forecasts and demographics. ... |
Fifth Annual Media Matters Writing Conference to Be Held on November 5th and 6th Reuters More than 900 Attendees from 60 New England Schools Registered BOSTON--(Business Wire)-- The fifth annual Media Matters Writing Conference for High ... |
 New York Daily News | 'Sesame Street' at 40: Reading, writing and always welcoming jazz Examiner.com The late, great Tito Puente is among the many jazz artists who have appeared on "Sesame Street." If you recognize those big bird (or, rather, Big Bird) feet ... Google Celebrates Sesame Street's 40th Anniversary with Big Bird |
 mediabistro.com (blog) | Milwaukee Writers Unite for National Novel Writing Month Examiner.com November 1 marked the beginning of National Novel Writing Month, encouraging upward of 150000 writers from 90 countries to participate in 30 straight days ... Novel Writing Month inspires PSU students A novel idea – Nation Novel Writing Month Strikes Again November writing challenge is novel idea |
David Archuleta Writing 'Fun Music' For Next Album MTV.com 'You can tell that it's my story, and I like that,' 'American Idol' alum says of songs he's writing for his second LP. By Jim Cantiello Landing in the ... |
Koop Acknowledges Writing Letter to Reid Roll Call (subscription) Capitol Police temporarily shut down Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's (D-Nev.) office Wednesday after staffers alerted them to what they ... |
Ticket-writing indictment dismissed against Chicago cop Chicago Breaking News - Tribune A Cook County judge today dismissed the indictment against Chicago Police Officer John Haleas, the officer accused of writing numerous false drunken driving ... |
THEATER NOTES Injuries playwright wins national writing award Houston Chronicle Rajiv Joseph, whose play Gruesome Playground Injuries is enjoying its world premiere at the Alley Theatre, ... |
Teen's writing career takes flight Sioux City Journal ... up "Twilight," Elizabeth Sterling has staked her claim on the premise that while vampires may -- um -- suck, writing about them most assuredly does not. ... Teen author Elizabeth Sterling's top three writing tips |
 Plain Dealer | Mary Karr talks about memoirs, alcohol abuse and her new 'Lit' USA Today But in the living room/writing space of her Manhattan apartment, Karr is more modest. "I don't know about that. If people sold more memoirs after me, ... In 'Lit,' her latest memoir, Mary Karr lets her readers see the unseemly Lit by Mary Karr TOP STOPS Hey, It's a Pun! Mary Karr |
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