Five things

[hawkwing_lb]

1. I have started writing proposals for nonfiction articles. I have no idea how to do this for commercial or genre markets, and with my (lack of) track record this might be as fruitful as tilting at windmills, but I've started.

If any of you guys have helpful tips, please don't be shy about sharing them, because -

- point two:


2. This country is, er, doomed. Not the exciting kind of BOOM VOLCANO RIOTS APOCALYPSE doom, which is at least over quickly, but the grim kind of grey projected record emigration/joblessness doom. So it would be nice if I could start earning something towards stockpiling tinned beans and paying for my over-the-counter painkillers.

It's an apocalysp. Because we can't even pronounce our apocalypses right.


3. Small bit of happy news: by this time tomorrow, I will actually have the piece of parchment proving I am, indeed, B.A. (Hons). (I took a first! This is a tiny thing to be proud of, since god knows a first in ancient history is not going to do me that much good in the medium-term.)

Expect ridiculous engowned pictures.


4. Writing up anthropology notes is enough to make me suspect it might be possible to die of boredom.


5. There is no fifth thing. Except for doooom.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Congratulations on the parchment.
What sort of articles are you thinking of? Academic jopurnals don't need a proposal -- you write the piece and send it in with a query. For popular magazines and such, you need to check their submissions' guidelines (usually available on their websites or in the Artists' And Writers' Yearbook), then send your submission in the appropriate form. Let them know why you're qualified to write it, what sort of length you're offering, what, if any illustrations you can supply, and -- if relevant -- why you think it's suitable for their publication. Eg. I am a fully qualified and certified plumber. After thirty years as a washing machine engineer, I decided I'd had enough and cashed in my tools for a timeshare tent in Dun Laoghaire. My hilarious adventures training seagulls to carry messages to ferry passengers, helping my elderly neighbours mend their tent with copper pipe and entertaining local retailers with my origami skills, strike me as something bound to appeal to the readers of Ex-Plumber Monthly. I envisage a piece of 750-1200 words, lavishly illustrated with my own lino cuts (saved from all those years under misbehaving washer-dryers) and accompanied with a fold-in-yourself U-bend replacement kit.'

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

I'm working on ideas to pitch to places like Strange Horizons etc - I'm not familiar enough with the ground outside the genre to be comfortable pitching (yet) and right now, I want to stay reasonably close to my main areas of interest - classical history/archaeology, including its reception into the modern period (which means there's actually quite a lot to talk about in terms of genre, actually) and SFF. Since I've only just started researching my own masters thesis, I don't want to stray into areas that might need more than a few days' focused researches at any one time. Otherwise I'll never get those pretty extra letters after the name!

Next year will be time enough to start thinking about the academic end of things, when I have actually made progress towards the kind of competence with which I might not be embarrassed to write an academic article with my name on it.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I've written n-f for SH: I'd suggest dropping them an email with some suggestions and your relevant qualifications.

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

This is my plan. They actually have n-f guidelines on their website: a lot of other places (like Fantasy Magazine and Tor.com) imply they accept n-f proposals but do not give specific channels through which to send them.

My only relevant qualifications are my degree (I have a degree! Still not over that yet) and my enthusiasm, but it never hurts to ask.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Good luck!

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

Thanks.

[txanne.livejournal.com]

A parchment with Hons. on it is no small thing.

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

Not physically. :P

[katallen.livejournal.com]

Woo, oh honorable one!

[hawkwing-lb.livejournal.com]

*is officially a Bachelor*