Today I got a reply from ‘Woman’s Weekly’ magazine, returning a short story contribution which they advise is not quite what the editor is looking for.
I am very heartened by this for three reasons.
First, I did not send a stamped self-addressed envelope with my letter. I know this because if and when I do, I use first class postage affixed to a standard business envelope, assuming that, if what I send is unsuitable for the current round of articles or features, which it almost always is, my contribution will be routinely binned and that I might, if I am very lucky, receive a single sheet form letter in reply. (I have long since left behind the desire to see my printouts returned, because they are rarely used twice, and the material will doubtless have been revised many times since it was submitted.) So, the fact that ‘Woman’s Weekly return anything in a large envelope with the proper second-class postage means that someone probably read it and decided it was good enough to merit a reply – result!
Secondly, despite the fact that the form letter enclosed with my story says, ‘unfortunately we are unable to return manuscripts that are submitted without an sae’, someone clearly did return it, suggesting that they are reminding me of their submissions guidelines. Nudge, nudge!
Thirdly, that someone takes the trouble to remind me of their submission guidelines reinforces how important it is to follow these to the letter, and suggests that someone might want to hear from me again. I shall study the guidance carefully and write another short story which might be more suitable next time. I think I can do that. And, to make their lives easier, I shall enclose a second-class large letter postage stamp on a suitable envelope as routine.
I call that an excellent outcome. I am very grateful to Woman’s Weekly for taking the time to reply, and for returning my contribution with such useful feedback.
Please share:
diane
March 4, 2016 @ 1:50 pm
I agree with all that you say and send a big smile – However, I am afraid I have to also send a cluck of disapproval. I know I am a lot older than you are my lovely friend but for me – to send something without a stamped and addressed envelope would never have occurred to me. I help to run a short story web site and I have to be honest and say it really is irritating when authors ignore our submission guidelines. They have been thought about carefully a) to give people a better chance of having their work published and b) because of the way that we handle submissions (we read every one at least once and usually all five editors vote) it is all so very much easier for us to handle the submissions if they are in the correct format etc. Whatever though I wish you the very best of luck with your next submission. 🙂
Fran Macilvey
March 4, 2016 @ 2:15 pm
Thank you so much, Diane. Perhaps my carelessness originates with the old, old a feeling that my work is not worthy……I shall be paying very close attention in future. (Though I will say in my defense that I did get an annual subsciption to WW and then could not access it.) I shall let you know how I get on with my next submission. Meantime, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. 😀
Val
March 6, 2016 @ 10:17 am
Nice one, Fran! That was good of them!
Fran Macilvey
March 6, 2016 @ 12:02 pm
Thanks! Yesterday I edited down a story from four thousand words to two thousand and submitted it with an SAE. We’ll see how it pans out. 🙂
Jane Bwye
March 8, 2016 @ 11:36 am
I’m astonished that magazines still demand the physical MSS for submissions, when so many publishers accept the electronic form!
Fran Macilvey
March 8, 2016 @ 1:25 pm
Yes, that is interesting, isn’t it, Jane? I suppose the mags have a good system in place and since it works, see no reason to change it. There is something reassuring about sending in a physical copy, though. I do enjoy it. Thanks for commenting! 🙂