Yipee!!! Success at Last!

[Sea Star]

!thumbsup! I am sure all you struggling writers out there will be able to relate to my mood of joy this morning. I have been working on a book for several months now, but decided to step back & start submitting magazine articles first. It's much more sensible to get a few articles published & establish yourself as a legit writer, before trying to launch out into the much tougher world of book publishing.

:( My first 3 attempts were turned down for various reasons. Usually you aren't given a reason, just a stock rejection letter. I was blessed on one occasion to get feedback (because I specifically requested it after the fact & they were willing to provide it). I was told that while the writing was good, it didn't reflect the specific denomination's magazine that it would be representing. I am not a member of that denomination & the story line didn't include any information along that line either.

:) However, today I just got a phone call from the editor of my fourth submission. The Christian publication has just accepted my article & it will be printed in early October. They wil be mailing me 5 copies, and were calling me to verify that I was writing in first person & it was a true story. They also wanted a picture of me & a short bio for the bottom of the article. Needless to say, I am flying high this morning & feeling very thankful to the Lord for His help in this often time difficult process.

[Merry]

Whoo-hoo! Good job, Sea Star. Sounds like you followed the Lord's leading in developing and working a good plan. Well done! What publication will your article appear in?

[Sea Star]

Hi Merry, thank you for the kind words! The article was accepted for publication in "The Breakthrough Intercessor" magazine, started about 25 yrs. ago by Catherine Marshall, well known author & wife of Peter Marshall. I found it originally by searching for places to submit articles, by using the Christian Writer's Market Guide, 2005 issue. The first two articles that were turned down were submitted to very large, well known magazines. I discovered after sending them, that they do not consider articles by authors who have not yet been published, so it was an automatic rejection. I will be submitting a short story to Grit magazine soon, as well as to Ruralite. Neither are Christian publications, but both 'family friendly' & the type of medium that my stories fit within. I'll keep you posted! Thanks for the encouragement, Miralee

[writegirl1949]

Congratulations, Sea Star. Sometimes the writing and publication of a book can take so long that we get discouraged. Something like this is very encouraging.

Keep up the good work.

Blessings, Francine

[Sea Star]

Yes, it has been very encouraging. I was going to keep moving forward regardless, but I must admit, having a piece published is a huge incentive to keep doing so! Miralee

[AngelAzariah]

_____That good news put a smile on my face.

[MsSherry]

!thumbsup! !thumbsup! !thumbsup!

[Bill Snodgrass]

Congratulations!

[edmmom]

Congrads, Sea Star !thumbsup! !thumbsup! !thumbsup!
As I read your good news, I found myself beaming from ear to ear :)
May God bless you with continued success with your other articles and your book :)

[David Meigs]

Great news! Can't wait for October.

[Diannecp]

Congratulations - that is good news indeed

[whitehawke]

Sea Star,
wow, so cool. Congratulations. !thumbsup!
I just moved your thread to the writers lounge because it is writing related.
Rulan

[Sea Star]

Thank you so much to one & all who have replied, I am still floating around the house! I just mailed off a totally different story to Grit Magazine today, so we'll see what happens there.

Thank you also for moving this to the writer's lounge, I wasn't quite sure where to post it. By the way, the story that was accepted was posted a couple of months ago on the Non-fiction board, but it's been completely revised since then, shortened & tightened. It was the one called the airplane & the missionary. Miralee

[Chiara]

Congrats! Is the earlier version of this story still available somewhere online?

(Oh, I found it just now. Nevermind! :o )


Best,

Chiara

[BrotherDave]

Congrads! You are doing just what I did a couple of years ago. My first pub was in Grit. I love that mag! Real nice editors there. Keep submitting and learning! Writer Market is great too!

VICTORY! YEa!

brotherdave

[rodojeki]

Congrats Sea Star....wonderful news !!!

Blessings
Donna

[dublinheart]

Sea Star,
Congratulations! That news was music to my ears. I am so proud of you, and I don't even know you except through CW. It's great to hear the success of a fellow writer. !thumbsup!

[Sea Star]

Brother Dave, I actually found the Breakthrough Intercessor thru the Christian Writers Market & found Grit thru the Writers Market, so you are right, they are very helpful. I appreciate your encouragement about Grit, I know my dad used to take it during my growing up years & I remember it well. I sent in a story, with photos, about an incident we had with our cougars. I'll go ahead & post it on the non fiction board & you can see what you think. I did an earlier version of it too, but this one is completely changed, cut & revised.

Thank you to all of you here on the boards. This place really is an encouraging place to come & I'm very thankful I found you a few months ago. Miralee

[paulchernoch]

Thank you for the good news, example of perseverance and good tips on finding places to submit articles.

- Paul

[DrRita]

Seastar,
I'm so happy for you. HOoray!!! You go girl! I pray this will be the first of many.
Blessings.