I wanna start writing

Gannicus

I've recently crashed my car and have found myself back to good aul dublin bus. Now I don't mind as I am reading a lot more now to pass the journey but have found that I've caught the writing bug. Don't get me wrong I'M DELIGHTED and I was wondering is there any of the everyday newspapers that publish work sent in by amateurs or just general submissions from the public.

Antilles

The Stinging Fly takes submissions. Its a quarterly magazine though. Don't know of any newspapers that do it in Ireland.

EileenG

If you are writing non-fiction, all the papers will take it if it's good enough.

Gannicus

EileenG wrote: »

If you are writing non-fiction, all the papers will take it if it's good enough.

It is a non fiction piece. More of an satirical critique of my general observations

EileenG

Then check out some of the magazines that do that sort of thing. Basically, look to see who is already printing stuff like yours, then approach them, politely and professionally, and ask to send yours to the relevant editor. Make a point of asking about payment.

Before you send anything, go over it again and again, and make sure it is as good as you can possibly get it. Read it out loud to someone else. It's amazing how many bloopers you pick up when you read aloud.

Gannicus

EileenG wrote: »

Make a point of asking about payment.

I wanted to get a small few of them published before I start asking for payment. Should I really start asking for payment as a previously unpublished amateur writer

EileenG

If your work is good enough to be published, it's good enough to earn money. Always ask about payment.

Some of the smaller magazines don't pay much, but make sure you get something. No-one will commit to buying your article without seeing it, but if you talk to the editor, you will get a reading, and after that, it's up to your work to speak for itself. Then keep an eye out to see if it's been printed, since most editors are terrible about telling you something has been printed. Then send in an invoice.

Trust me, asking for payment won't hurt your chances, it will mark you out as someone who is serious and professional about your writing.

If you've been giving them stuff for free, it's hard to get money out of them later.

I once made the mistake of writing something for free for a midland newspaper, and I've never been able to get money out of them since.

Blush_01

Antilles wrote: »

The Stinging Fly takes submissions. Its a quarterly magazine though. Don't know of any newspapers that do it in Ireland.

IIRC the Stinging Fly's closing date for submissions for the year is in March - I'm open to correction on that though.

Also, the Sunday Tribune on the first Sunday of each month has a literary supplement of some sort. I've never read it, but they accept fiction submissions to the best of my knowledge.

Best of luck!