Non-food, kinda food-related: I'd like to submit some of my food stories to a local

M

marilynfl

Moderator
women's monthly magazine. When I read the Writer's Guidelines, it sounded a bit too formal, but then I hit the word "pithy" and this phrase: "and at least one belly laugh per issue.

Okay...maybe...

Length is 500-1200 and they hold editing rights.

So, what would be your choice? Any favorite stories you think might work for a magazine that "celebrates the wisdom, insight, experience, and know-how of women. We want to read about women doing stuff: building things–whether it is barns, businesses, or better mousetraps; fixing things, whether it is her plumbing, her car, or her life."

Every person I know outside of this site only remembers my virgin GBH story, but that's too long and it's too early in the year for a holiday story. But if there was anywhere in the world it would work, it would be in Asheville where the National GBH contest is held.

But...other stories??

Thank you,

 
For a start: search all of your posts here. . .

Re-work (if needed) some of your posts here? You are very funny, and I think you have material here to get you started.

 
Marilyn, I'm so glad that you will be sending your work out to a wider audience...

How about the reverse engineered oatmeal cookies, or operation cookie drop?

 
Hi missy...thanks for the confidence boost--I still need to be accepted. I can

review the two you mentioned but I think they're both too long. I've got to start pulling my stories into Word to get the word count, but 500-1200 doesn't seem like much.

My problem is, I usually fire off these stories after a 3-day binge of kitchen frustration that has driven me crazy. Half the time I don't remember them after the trauma has subsided.

PS: Just checked: Reverse-engineered cookies were 1600 words.
OCD rambled on for days in different posts.

 
I'm sure you can reduce 1600 words to 1200.

Once you start rewriting ( and rewriting... I have to be grabbed screaming away from my 6th draft), you do see ways to condense, and then more ways. And I am confident that others will love what you write. I like these two stories because they are so positive. The cookie drop story will take longer to write because there are so many bits. Cut and paste everything into one document, then start looking at it as a whole. The great thing about Word is that it's so easy to move bits around. 500 words is very short, but 1200 is not too bad.It's amazing how short you can make things when you have an incentive.

 
Some old faves, hope you find inspiration...good luck!

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=2271
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=22036
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=21026

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=22733
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=38596
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=57606
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=85611

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=86979
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=91236
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=105312
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=105312

http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=166542
http://eat.at/swap/forum/index.php?action=display&forumid=1&msgid=21026

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top