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.�Writers�must�learn�to�live�with�rejection.�It�happens�to�every�writer.�A�publication's�decision�not�to�use�a�submitted�manuscript�or�idea�proposal�does�not�always�mean�it�is�a�bad�one.�It�could�mean�that�there�were�other�reasons�for�not�using�it.�However,�many�inexperienced�writers�do�not�contemplate�the�reason�offered�for�a�rejection,�if�it�is�specific,�and�give�up�on�the�idea.�Freelance�feature�writer�Richard�Matthews�(1991),�like�many�other�successful�and�persistent�writers,�explained�the�next�step�is�not�giving�up,�but�revising,�refocusing,�and�resubmitting�to�"another�publication�that�might�be�receptive�to�the�same�general�idea�tailored�to�its�editorial�content"�(p.�22).�"Restructuring�an�idea�with�a�different�set�of�readers�in�mind�often�meets�with�success�the�second�time�around,"�he�said.�A�distinction�between�an�amateur�freelancer�and�a�real�professional,�Matthews�believes,�is�how�you�handle�the�rejection�pile.�The�worst�thing�to�do�is�to�let�an�idea�sit�around,�he�says.Kevin�Robinson�(1993),�a�veteran�freelance�writer,�agreed�that�rejection�is�part�of�the�business,�but�it�should�be�taken�personally.�He�explains,�"To�be�a�good�writer,�you�must�be�human~�you�must�see�and�feel�what�those�around�you�see�and�feel.�More�importantly,�you�mustPage�488see�and�feel�what�you�see�and�feel,"�he�says�(p.�27).�If�you�do�that�as�a�writer,�he�maintains,�you�react�personally�to�rejection.�And,�he�says,�that's�perfectly�okay.�His�own�rejection�rate�is�about�80%.�"I�decided�long�ago�that�there's�nothing�particularly�noble�about�suffering�in�silence�or�pretending�that�being�rejected�isn't�painful.�But�I�don't�get�mad�either."�His�solution,�like�that�of�so�many�other�professionals,�is�persistence.�The�lesson:�Do�not�give�up�on�an�idea�until�all�options�are�exhausted.There�are�numerous�reasons�editors�reject�or�substantially�revise�accepted�ideas�and�manuscripts.�Veteran�Southern�California�freelance�writer�John�M.�Wilson�(1990)�identified�at�least�nine�reasons�for�failure.�Manuscripts�with�flaws,�he�feels,�are�just�unfinished�works�in�progress.�Rejected�writers�simply�need�to�work�more�to�solve�the�problems.�He�has�created�a�pre�submission�checklist�that�can�be�helpful�in�preventing�such�errors�the�first�time�around:" �Angle�and�focus�of�the�article" �Appropriate�viewpoint�and�voice" �Vivid�description" �Logical�organization" �Style�in�writing" �Lead�that�attracts�and�a�distinct,�impressive�ending" �Appealing�direct�quotations" �Manuscript�must�reflect�what�editor�assigned" �Edit�and�proofread�thoroughlyAs�a�writer�seeking�a�publisher,�you�must�go�further�than�discovering�a�subject�for�an�article.�A�subject�is�simply�not�enough�in�the�highly�competitive�writing�world.�As�the�American�Society�of�Journalists�and�Authors,�Inc.,�defines�it,�the�idea�is�one�step�toward�the�finished�product�(Bloom,�Bedell,�Olds,�Moldafsky,�&�Schultz,�1992).�An�idea�is�a�subject�combined�with�an�approach,�ASJA�says.�This�is�your�property,�even�if�you�do�not�have�the�article�written�yet.�Once�you�get�a�good�article�idea,�you�have�to�decide�when�and�where�it�is�best�to�market�it.Writers�should�not�try�to�query�a�publication�with�a�subject�by�telephone.�Most�professionals�prepare�a�query�letter�or�an�article�idea�proposal.�Some�freelance�writers�combine�a�letter�and�proposal�into�a�single�document�but,�for�your�purposes�as�a�novice,�you�should�consider�them�separate�steps.�A�query�letter�is�briefer,�less�detailed,�andPage�489an�abstract�of�a�fuller�proposal.�If�you�have�refined�the�idea,�then�develop�a�separate�proposal�running�500�to�750�words�that�summarizes�what�you�plan�to�do.�Your�basic�strategy�is�to�develop�the�idea to�describe�to�an�editor�what�you�will�do,�or�have�done without�writing�or�sending�the�entire�article.�This�is�a�more�detailed�outline�of�the�article�you�plan�to�write.�Editors�find�these�helpful�in�determining�whether�your�work�would�fit�their�plans�for�an�upcoming�issue.Perlstein�(1993,�personal�communication),�a�freelance�writer�and�author�in�Minneapolis,�sold�his�first�freelance�article�to�The�New�York�Times.�Now�he�writes�for�a�variety�of�newspapers�and�magazines.�He�recommends�human�interest�features�as�a�type�of�article�that�may�increase�your�chances�for�success:When�pitching�human�interest�pieces,�writers�have�to�tailor�their�queries�to�particular�markets~�editors�scan�through�query�letters�very�quickly,�and�unless�a�human�interest�piece�pegs�their�niche�exactly�they'll�drop�a�preprinted�rejection�slip�in�the�SASE�[self�addressed,�stamped�envelope]�and�be�done�with�it.�When�I'm�on�a�hot�streak�I�get�maybe�one�hit�in�20�or�30�queries,�many�of�them�human�interest�pieces.San�Diego�freelancer�Rathbone�(1998,�personal�communication)�pitches�his�ideas�to�editors�this�way:First,�get�the�publication's�proper�name,�address,�and�writer's�guidelines.�Usually�the�weary�receptionist�will�recite�these�over�the�phone.�Next,�grab�as�many�back�issues�as�you�can�find�at�local�thrift�shops�or�a�condominium's�magazine�swap�pile.�Your�story�must�fit�into�a�magazine's�specific�area,�or�the�editor�won't�take�it.�Next,�write�a�query�letter�with�a�grabbing�first�graph,�followed�by�a�short�description�of�the�story,�as�well�as�the�reason�why�you�are�the�best�person�to�write�it.�Rules?�Make�sure�it�all�fits�on�one�page.�If�you�can't�sum�it�up�in�one�page,�you�haven't�found�a�decent�angle�for�the�story.�If�they�haven't�followed�up�in�a�month,�send�a�follow�up�letter.�After�45�days,�I'll�give�them�a�phone�call.�Don'ts?�Don't�call�the�publication�unless�it's�to�get�their�address�and�current�editor's�name.�Editors�don't�like�being�bugged�over�the�phone.�And�for�crying�out�loud,�don't�spell�anything�wrong,�either!�Editors�don't�want�to�work�and�if�they�see�any�misspellings,�they�know�they're�in�for�some�serious�revisions�on�the�manuscript.Another�veteran�freelance�feature�writer,�Steele,�writes�about�medicine,�computers,�chemicals,�and�drugs.�Steele,�from�Ithaca,�NewPage�490York,�advocates�being�prepared�when�entering�the�query�process.�This�is�especially�true�of�''cold"�queries:My�basic�rule�in�querying�is�to�do�a�lot�of�homework�beforehand.�When�an�editor�who�knows�you�calls�up�and�gives�you�an�assignment,�it's�usually�just�an�idea�the�editor�had:�How�are�lawn�care�pesticides�affecting�the�squirrels,�or�whatever.�And�you�can�approach�an�editor�with�whom�you�work�regularly�with�something�like�that
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