Avoid These Mistakes When Submitting to Editors
Although the piece is aimed at travel writers, the advice is universal. Must read if you’re fairly new to the game. — EES
Travel Writers — Avoid These Mistakes When Submitting to Editors
Unedited Guest Article by Wendy VanHatten
Travel writers, would you like to work with editors? Are you ready to submit your work to various publications? If you are, read these “don’ts” before you submit your work to an editor. Avoiding these mistakes will help improve your chances of being published in your favorite newspaper or magazine.
There’s nothing worse than submitting your work only to find out you misspelled the editor’s name. Worse yet, you may have sent it to his predecessor. Make a phone call if you cannot find the correct spelling of an editor’s name.
Submit work that is flawless. Travel writers, check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Use the AP Stylebook or The Chicago Style Manual as a guideline. These books may seem intimidating to use, but they are nothing more than references. Besides, many publications require AP or The Chicago Style Manual style of writing. It will behoove you to learn about these two styles.
Editor Don’ts
Rule # 1: Don’t Screw Up an Editor’s Name.
Naturally, editors also get very grouchy if you misspell their name or you address your cover note to their predecessor of five years ago. This reveals that you’re not up-to-date with the publication. Bingo! That’s one rejection slip in the bag already.
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Rule # 2: Don’t Make an Editor Guess How to Contact You.
Ensure your full name and contact details are easy to find.
What ever you do, don’t leave the editor guessing who the heck Babs is with an e-mail babs@yahoo.com.
Most editors receive hundreds of articles each week…and they certainly don’t keep a writer’s introductory letter in a scrapbook. Now, leaving out this vital information might not result in obtaining one of those prized rejection slips, but at least you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing your story will remain unpublished…probably forever.
Rule # 3: Don’t Write Like a Dunce.
Spell check, and then spell check again.
One editor says she immediately rejects a manuscript when seeing the word “accomodation” instead of “accommodation.”
All computers have a spell-check. So make sure you use it. Always. Then check again.
Rule # 4: Don’t Use Clichés!
If you start off your story by describing a place as “a paradise,” “an Eden,” or the most beautiful, or a region’s “best-kept secret”, you are looking for a rejection slip.
The phrase “When we told friends we were going to XXXX, they said we were crazy!” is also likely to see your story heading straight for the trash can.
Using cliches invariably results in automatic rejection. If you’re in search of rejection slips, here’s another thing to note: Most editors also abhor “azure-blue waters,” villages that “nestle” and trade winds that “caress.”
Rule # 5: Don’t Ignore a Publication’s Past Articles.
Pay attention to how recently a publication might have run a story on the same destination you are looking to write. Pitch a query or submit an article on a recently featured destination and here comes the rejection.
Again, it clearly shows that you don’t read the publication. Last month’s cover feature focused on California’s National Parks… and along comes your story on exactly the same theme. Excellent rejection slip material!!
Rule # 6: Don’t Ignore a Publications Guidelines.
Guidelines are for ALL writers. Think you don’t need to get the magazine’s Writer’s Guidelines before submitting that 12-part series of 5000-word articles about your three-month trek across the Gobi Desert?
If you’d read, and followed the guidelines, you’d know the editor doesn’t accept personal journey stories. And that all articles run to 1,200 words, maximum.
Rule # 7: Don’t be Impatient.
Realize your story might not be acknowledged immediately.
Editors do not appreciate abusive phone calls. In fact, they generally don’t want to be harassed by any phone calls.
It may be six weeks or eight weeks before you hear back about your story on the best fish in New Orleans. So don’t even think about calling at frequent intervals after you sent it.
Rule # 8: Don’t Try to Second-Guess an Editor.
Understand editors know their audience and what it takes to have a successful travel section. They really don’t want to hear how you are the one to improve it.
In fact, the editor undoubtedly does not want to hear why shoestring travelers like you believe the publication’s regular feature on Five Star hotels is a waste of space.
Rule # 9: Don’t Live (or Write) in the Past.
Keep your subject and stories up to date.
I’m sure if you submit an article with the title “Berlin Wall Falls”, you haven’t got a prayer of selling this story. It’s not timely to any publication at this date.
Rule # 10: Don’t Write a Long Cover Letter.
It’s better to limit your information in your cover letter.
A blow-by-blow account of everything in your travel article is another sure-fire rejection slip move.
Rule # 11: Don’t be a Negative Nelly
Positive, not negative writing is what most editors are looking for.
“10 reasons not to go to New York” is a sure-fire loser. “The worst places to stay in San Jose” is right up there, too. Stress how the natives are unfriendly, the food is sickening, and the accommodations are all over priced and bordering on pits. Works every time…rejections are coming in now.
Wendy VanHatten writes for the Travel Writers Exchange, a website dedicated to aspiring and experienced travel writers. The site provides inspiration, encouragement and education on everything travel writing.
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