I'm posting it anyway, and I'm doing so because I think there is an important message to those out there that do submit to magazines, but get frustrated by the process.
So few pieces are actually selected, and it always is a bit of a mystery as to why some are selected, and others are not. I feel like I can say this now with some confidence since I have had a piece selected and published. Although I would not say that I am a regular contributor by any stretch of the imagination. But, I did think that I had finally figured out what might be selected, only to have 2 others rejected. And even more frustrating is that it seems to always be the same designers showing up. One other tip I will tell you is that once you submit you end up with a bit of a dialogue with the editors and it does help to make your name known to them. Although it clearly made no difference for me!
The message I would give other designers out there is to keep designing. Design in exactly your style. There are so many amazing pieces out there that never end up in the few select pages of these magazines --- to match whatever theme happens to be on the drawing board for that issue.
What I would encourage you all to do is to check out Bead Chat Magazine. This is an eMagazine designed, written and edited by the bead community. And in our short 7 months of publishing we are up to 100 pages each month full of the designs from all of you (August issue). You can find more about us on the CBC Facebook page or on Artisan Whimsy for upcoming themes. Or you can email us at beadchatmagazine@gmail.com
Join us!
Its a beautiful necklace, I love the different colors of pearls. I'd keep right on submitting if I were you!
ReplyDeleteWell I don't know what their criteria was, but I think this necklace is gorgeous -- delicate, yet modern and funky -- a great interpretation of the theme. I actually love pearls, and this is definitely one of my favourites :)
ReplyDeleteThat is a beautiful piece. Nowhere near what I picture as a grandmotherly type...LOL...
ReplyDeleteYour necklace is totally beautiful regardless of it not being featured. :) I bet their is some sort of nepotism going on with magazines. That is sketchy that the same artisans are chosen over and over again. Pearls are such stunners and I love how you can dress them up or down.
ReplyDeleteEditors, like all of us, have certain styles they are drawn to. You can't take it personally if your piece isn't selected--you just need to find a different magazine where the editors appreciate *your* style.
ReplyDeleteyes! well said Rachel! I do think that editors have their own likes/ dislikes and can be hard to know how to cater to that! I agree that it shouldn't alter your own style, or get you down!
ReplyDeleteAlthough I didn't like the way Bead Trends photographed jewelry, they were wonderful because they published new designers all the time. Like me!
ReplyDeleteYour necklace is beautiful and something I would wear. And I'm definitely not a grandmother.
I agree it isn't always obvious how these selections are made, Cynthia (and I also think your necklace is a stunner!) Interestingly, this relates to the theme explored this week by the editor of a leading polymer clay magazine, at their blog:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thepolymerarts.com/
Bottom line: there are many more wonderful designs, ideas and artists, than can ever be packed into a single magazine. Far from making one shy away from submission, this should be an encouragement to approach the process as objectively and globally as possible. Whatever one's style, there is probably an ideal place to showcase it and an editor ready to embrace it. Well, in a perfect world, anyway :)
Love your necklace, Cynthia! Since there's always going to be limited print space and likely a multitude of submissions it's not only editor's taste, but simple math that you've got only a certain % chance. All the more reason to increase your chances by submitting and submitting if that's your goal - publication.
ReplyDeleteGreat post to give every the heads-up on a wonderful online magazine by Bead Chat!
It's a beautiful necklace and you should keep on submitting. You may be luckier next time around.
ReplyDeleteYour designs are gorgeous so should be published! Love that necklace! Thanks for the tips on submitting but I'm pretty sure I've got a ways to go yet.
ReplyDeleteI would have selected it! That necklace is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteLovely necklace!!!
ReplyDeleteI am on holiday in the Costa del Sol (southern Spain) I still have the blog a post a week!
I hope your holiday... very nice!!!
Have a good week, dear friend!!! my g++++ for you!!!:)))
Besos, desde España, Marcela♥
Great advice ;o) Personally, I think your necklace is gorgeous ;o)
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful necklace!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice on getting published. You won't know if you don't try and the more you try, the more likely your chances :)
It is a beautiful necklace - and I am not even trying to understand the process, just because it is subjective, based on personal taste and preferences... what I like you might not and the other way around (although I don't think you've posted something I didn't like - which might mean that we need to make our own magazine! wait... we kind of did that too, with Bead Chat Magazine - LOL)
ReplyDeleteYep, I agree - yours should have been chosen - IMHO anyway! I submitted too - I mean it was pearls, after all - but nada! ;-)
ReplyDeleteGreat advise to keep submitting and to keep trying. It gets your name out there and keeps you in front of the ones who make those decisions. I really, really love this necklace, it's just too pretty! I'm glad you shared it with all of us.
Oh, and one more thing - BEAD Chat Magazine is super and you all do a fantastic job of presenting such a wide range of talent and styles - always a great source of inspiration for me!
ReplyDeleteI love this post. A few of your commentators made some really good points to consider. I guess you could say I'm a "regular" contributor to Jewelry Stringing magazine. The publishing aspect of jewelry-making happens to be one of the areas that I focus the most on and I work really very hard on it and put a ton of energy and focus on that area. Many times I will submit the maximum number of jewelry pieces you can submit for each issue. I have gotten jewelry rejected each and every time I have ever submitted since I started in 2010. I may get one or two pieces selected out of 6 I have submitted. You are right, there are so many variables that go into the selection process, but one key to getting published is to submit as many pieces as you possibly can for each issue. If it's something you are passionate about keep submitting and keep trying and give it all you got and submit as many pieces as you can! I really loved that bracelet you had published. What a knock out it was!
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