WHEN I first started writing there were times when all I got three or four rejection slips in a row. Writers can find this very depressing and begin to doubt their own talent or suitability for the profession. One way I had of cheering myself up was to write as many "fillers" I could in a day.
Markets for fillers are easy to find as they include all kinds of writing, from writing letters to cooking tips.
Take a look at a pile of magazines; nearly all them give prizes, often cash, for letters to the editor. I'd write about anything and everything, often commenting on a previous article. I found that criticism of the magazine never resulted in being published but that some sincere flattery often would. Humour, as long as it was gentle and not unkind, was often a winner. I got into the habit of jotting down funny little things that happened so that I could send off the snippet to a magazine. This was fun and lucrative too.
Go through each magazine and see what they are asking their readers for. I have made money out of children's funny sayings, jokes, a tip for cleaning brass, a list of my pet hates, a simple recipe using leftovers and a photograph of my dog, to mention but a few.
Posts
