After a dearth of acceptances over the summer months I’ve had four bits of good news in three days:
- Writers’ Forum have accepted an article that I first pitched to them back in July.
- I have a short story in this week’s Weekly News (dated 24th September). Thanks to Julia for letting me know it had been published and to Helen Yendall, my writing buddy, for giving the story the once-over before I sent it.
- I have won the Friends of Morley Literature Festival short story competition. This was a free to enter competition (which we like!) with a £50 first prize. There is also a prize-giving in Morley, near Leeds – I’m still working on the logistics of attending that. The 2012 short story competition is now open and entry forms are available via email from the organisers. Details are here.
- I have been asked to write for the Work Your Way magazine website. I mentioned this magazine on my blog a couple of weeks ago. It’s a new publication aimed at entrepreneurial/self-employed mums.
So at the moment my head’s buzzing and I feel great! But now I need to get some more work out there in the hope of getting this ‘high’ feeling again in the future. So I’m trying to learn from these acceptances.
Writers’ Forum taught me not to be afraid to chase an editor if he doesn’t reply to a pitch within a reasonable time – the summer holidays meant time was short and things were overlooked.
The Weekly News story was written from a male point of view and involved sport. This may have increased its chances of success in a publication read by both sexes.
My competition win shows that there’s nothing to lose and everything to be gained by sending off an entry to a free competition. For more free competitions check out Patsy Collins’ blog.
The offer from Work Your Way came about because once I’d had one article accepted by the magazine, I went back to the editor with another idea before she had time to forget who I was! Now I have to get my thinking cap on and come up with several more ideas – it feels quite scary to be put on the spot!
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by blogaboutwriting on September 26, 2011 - 11:40 am
Well done Sally, I’m really pleased to see you doing so well! Yes, get some more stuff out there. You can do it! Helen
#2 by Tracy Fells on September 26, 2011 - 1:05 pm
Hi Sally, excellent to see a writer seeing their hard work pay off. Sometimes you have to keep ploughing on even when you’re not hearing anything back, and then keep ploughing when the good news comes in…cos you still have to keep feeding the machine.
Tracy
#3 by Sarah Pearson on September 26, 2011 - 1:10 pm
Congratulations on all your good news! It’s lovely to hear a shout out for Morley. I used to live in Tingley, a tiny village within (long) walking distance 🙂
#4 by Dorinda Cass on September 26, 2011 - 1:37 pm
Really well done, Sally. You are showing us that it can be done. Your recent posts have inspired me to enter a couple of stories in a local competition. I’m hoping for a critique if nothing else.
Dorinda
#5 by Lorraine Hellier on September 26, 2011 - 4:31 pm
Congratulations! Great to hear your good news.
Lorraine Hellier
Children’s Author
#6 by susanjanejones on September 26, 2011 - 5:28 pm
Hi Sally,
Fantastic news. Don’t those acceptances come all at once? Well done, can we read your winning story anywhere? Off to have a look now. I go a bit blank when an editor says, “send more” not that they do that often, but it makes me panic when they expect something else off the cuff when you’d sent them a previous idea that had taken months to perfect. Well done with work your way. I had a look at that but drew a blank.
#7 by Sally Jenkins on September 26, 2011 - 7:18 pm
Many thanks to you all for your kind comments! I wish all of you the same (& more!) success – keep us posted with any acceptances or competition wins.
Susan – I think my winning story is going to be printed in the local Morley newspaper, but I’m not entirely sure.
#8 by Sue on September 27, 2011 - 9:16 am
Well done Sally, what lovely news!
#9 by Patsy Collins (@PatsyCollins) on September 27, 2011 - 8:52 pm
Congratulations on all your well deserved success – and thanks for the link.
#10 by Sandra Madeira on October 5, 2011 - 5:40 pm
Well done Sally – sounds like you have been very busy and persistent. Also thanks for your comment about my success in Writing Magazine – you’ve seen it before me! I’ll give you a mention my blog today.
Sandra
#11 by Sally Jenkins on October 6, 2011 - 12:04 pm
Thanks, Sandra!
#12 by Damsel in Distress on October 7, 2011 - 11:05 pm
Congratulations!! Your blog is amazing!! x (WB friend)
Thanks for visiting my blog…you said you tried to leave a comment but couldn’t manage, would you mind checking if it works now? http://damselindistresswrite.blogspot.com
#13 by Sally Jenkins on October 10, 2011 - 12:07 pm
Damsel in distress – yep, I’ve managed to comment successfully now. Best wishes with the blog!