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I'm want to take the plunge and submit to some magazines. Stampington appeals to me because they take actual cards. Submitting electronically is really daunting to me.
I have a definite style, sort of the Stampin' Up style, lots of layers, patterned paper, embellishments. The Stampington style seems to be mostly artsy-fartsy, with a lot of stamps that are completely unfamiliar to me. I look at those cards and feel like they are really artistic and my work is not, KWIM?
So I wonder, do I try to change my style to be more, ahem, artistic? Do I stick with what I do well? I want to stretch and grow, and I wonder, do I prefer my current style because it's what I'm comfortable with? I mean, I learned how to create by studying this site. So, if I study more magazines, maybe I could grow into something else.
Any input?
__________________ Janet aka Granna 'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.' --The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
First, best of luck on your endeavor! Submitting is the first step -- it's like Publisher's Clearinghouse... you can't win if you don't enter.
My recommendation to you would be to submit to the publications that seem to mirror your style. I've had around 40 projects published, and I submitted 'real' cards for all of them.
In general:
Set a goal and stick to it! When I first really decided that I wanted to be published, I sent in a certain number of projects a month. It's a numbers game... eventually something's going to get picked up. (And it takes some time... most magazines are 4-8 months out.)
Each publication (generally on the Web site and inside the pages of their magazine) has information on what their upcoming themes are AND information on where to send, etc. You are correct in that each magazine has its own style of projects that it is more likely to publish.
Most publications will allow you the option of sending them a self-addressed stamped envelope with your submission in order to get it returned. However, in my experience, your project is more likely to get published if you let the magazine hold on to it. Then it will be considered again in subsequent months. (I had one project that was recently published... and I submitted it SIXTEEN MONTHS before.)
Remember that it's subjective. My two very favorite cards that I've ever made weren't picked up for publication. Who knows why they pick what they pick?
I've never published so don't have advice with that. However, just want to say your cards are all gorgeous and I can picture them all in a magazine!
__________________ Anjou My Gallery * My Blog - Dreaming in Color "Don't be afraid of the space between your dreams and reality. If you can dream it, you can make it so." - Belva Davis
My guess is to tailor your submissions to the MAGS that your card fits best, never try to adapt your style to a certain mag you want to be published in, if that makes sense I am saying to tailor the mags to YOU and not the other way around ...
My guess is to tailor your submissions to the MAGS that your card fits best, never try to adapt your style to a certain mag you want to be published in, if that makes sense I am saying to tailor the mags to YOU and not the other way around ...
Good advice - makes perfect sense. Thanks.
__________________ Janet aka Granna 'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.' --The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
First, best of luck on your endeavor! Submitting is the first step -- it's like Publisher's Clearinghouse... you can't win if you don't enter.
My recommendation to you would be to submit to the publications that seem to mirror your style. I've had around 40 projects published, and I submitted 'real' cards for all of them.
In general:
Set a goal and stick to it! When I first really decided that I wanted to be published, I sent in a certain number of projects a month. It's a numbers game... eventually something's going to get picked up. (And it takes some time... most magazines are 4-8 months out.)
Each publication (generally on the Web site and inside the pages of their magazine) has information on what their upcoming themes are AND information on where to send, etc. You are correct in that each magazine has its own style of projects that it is more likely to publish.
Most publications will allow you the option of sending them a self-addressed stamped envelope with your submission in order to get it returned. However, in my experience, your project is more likely to get published if you let the magazine hold on to it. Then it will be considered again in subsequent months. (I had one project that was recently published... and I submitted it SIXTEEN MONTHS before.)
Remember that it's subjective. My two very favorite cards that I've ever made weren't picked up for publication. Who knows why they pick what they pick?
Bottom line: Try it! You'll be glad you did!
Thanks for the links. Some of these mags I'm not familiar with, but looking at their sites, it seems that they fit my style a lot better than the arty ones. I think I'll pick up a coupla' copies today and see what they have coming up.
Thanks so much!!! I was really stressing over this!
__________________ Janet aka Granna 'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.' --The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
I'd love to consider this endevor but it just seems so overwhelming and I have no idea if my ability is anywhere close to a magazine standard. Guess I'll just continue enjoying the cards that are in the mags. :-)
As far as submitting electronically I think most publications only use that to see if they are interested, if they are then they ask you to send them the actual item to be photographed, etc.
Your cards are simply beautiful! I wouldn't change anything just to get published. Your style is timeless. Good luck, and I think they are every bit as nice--nicer in some cases--than what I see out there. Some aren't appealing to me at all.
Hey, thank you all so much for your encouragement. I picked up a copy of CARDS this week-end, and I'm so glad I did. The issue of Stampington that feaked me out is now on the bottom of my stack of reading :-) I looked through CARDS, and I have about 12 cards that I can submit right now, without changing anything! And the electronic submission doesn't seem so daunting after all, after thinking about a little while.
And, Wiggy, I looked at your gallery, and IMHO you have lots of cards that could be submitted. I know it seems overwhelming at first, but I just got some magazines, looked at the calls for submission, decided what I would like to try and started making cards.
But you have some cards that you could submit to CARDS right now!!
Go to http://scrapbooktrendsmag.com/submissions.html (thanks, Stampingspud for the link), and read about what they are looking for and how to submit. Their mag is pretty pricey, so if you want a copy, use a Michael's 40% off coupon.
I'm far from being a good stamper, just average, but I want to at least try. I would so love to be published!! So affirming!!!!!
I really, really would like to see you take a deep breath and TRY. You have nothing to lose. You don't even have to pay postage!
__________________ Janet aka Granna 'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.' --The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
I would like to add that when submitting to a magazine like The Stampers' Sampler, it helps to send cards in batches that would look good together on a page.Use cards that have a similar color and/or style theme.This way you will be more likely to have a few cards published together because you have already done some of the work for them !
Oh, wow, that's awesome. I noticed that they do page layouts like that, but never thought about helping them along a little! :-)
__________________ Janet aka Granna 'Safe?' said Mr. Beaver...'Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. but he's good. He's the King, I tell you.' --The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Dilemna regarding publishing style
