I feel like what you're saying has some roots in truth, but it may be simply the fact that your rejections from being published in the states has misguided you into some 'beliefs' about the U.S. As a citizen of the United States, I know we take everyone in as equal individuals. I'm not sure about the magazines and whatever because i'm not an editor, but i think you might be going on some misguided tangent here.
As an American writer who has also hired dozens of freelance writers both for publication and for copywriting, I think that you're overlooking a number of factors. I can't speak for the industry as a whole, but I can tell you that I liked working with international writers in some subject areas. In others, familiarity with U.S. culture is an important part of the assignment and it's very difficult for someone unfamiliar with day-to-day American life (or, someone who thinks we're all "psycho") to achieve the right tone and context.
I don't know any editors or publishers who automatically rule out Australian writers.
I do know that many American writers have the same complaints you do, though they replace "being Australian" with age or the region of the country they live in or race or gender or any of a million other identifiers that they've decided are ruling them out.
The truth is that getting published in an established publication is highly competitive, and all the more so since blogging and self-publishing proliferated. The first time I put out a call for submissions for a new webzine paying $50/article, I received more than 200 responses in less than 36 hours. Imagine what the volume is like at larger, established, higher-paying publications.
There's really no productive value in taking it personally, or in trying to write it off to editor/publisher bias. If you're serious about getting published in the U.S, put that energy into research; find publications that have bylines from international authors, and those that focus in areas where you have specific expertise or experience to offer. Personally craft your communications with each publication, making sure that you're religiously following even the silliest guideline requirements, and have someone proofread those submissions to avoid the kind of minor but pervasive grammatical errors that appear on your blog and in your LinkedIn post.
The door is not closed. You get to decide whether to put your energy into resenting the difficulty of the path or climbing over the wall. I hope you get what you want.
Thanks so much for such a thorough response. I guess what you're saying is all true. I'm just one out of the many writers in the world frustrated for a break and a break into the U.S, where making it is the dream for anyone in their craft. You guys have the best journals and the best magazines and i might be setting my sights a little too high but even getting advice from people ( people on my level ) can be challenging. It's just the distance between where i am now and where i want to be.
Having said that, i do feel there is a certain exclusivity in the air that is present in all businesses ( and in this regard i'm deeming magazines and publications as such because they are ) . It's not something i'm resentful against, but it does present a problem for 'newcomers'. How can new writers be given a break when publishers and magazines are almost in DUTY of printing essays and articles written either by someone who will definitely garner attention ( Like James Franco ) or members of their own team who they've worked with for ages? I don't know about you guys, but i almost feel rude when i offer my services to magazines as a writer because i am not summoned. It feels like you have to be invited to get to do anything these days.
I'm an Australian currently living and working in NYC. I have only been here for about 6 weeks and have already been given so many amazing opportunities. I have two great jobs, a beautiful apartment and an internship at my favourite graphic design studio. In all honesty I believe my personable 'down to earth australian' attitude has definitely contributed to my success. I have a great network of Australian friends already living here and have been so for the past year. They're all killing it in completely different creative fields and I believe that is because we as Australians work really fucking hard. We worked really hard to get here and we work really hard to stay here. Don't get me wrong you will come across some people who will roll there eyes at you and say "oh another australia, surprise surprise" but that said there has never been a moment where being Australian has let me down. I am in utter love with this city and my advice to you would be to come here. It's very easy to judge it from the outside and I believe you will have a much greater understanding of how it all works if you were actually here. In terms of getting work submitted via Australia, I don't actually think its because you're Australian - it's more likely to do with the physical distance. I was told to hold off from contacting anyone/anything before I actually arrived as one on one interactions are much more valued here. I'm not a writer so I'm not particularly familiar with the process but what I do know is that it's who you know and not what you know here. You would be so surprised by the network of connections here, I know people who write like shit but are frequently published in Vice or Milk because they know someone who works there.
I hope this has added another perspective into this interesting topic.
Hi Yalei
ReplyDeleteI feel like what you're saying has some roots in truth, but it may be simply the fact that your rejections from being published in the states has misguided you into some 'beliefs' about the U.S.
As a citizen of the United States, I know we take everyone in as equal individuals. I'm not sure about the magazines and whatever because i'm not an editor, but i think you might be going on some misguided tangent here.
As an American writer who has also hired dozens of freelance writers both for publication and for copywriting, I think that you're overlooking a number of factors. I can't speak for the industry as a whole, but I can tell you that I liked working with international writers in some subject areas. In others, familiarity with U.S. culture is an important part of the assignment and it's very difficult for someone unfamiliar with day-to-day American life (or, someone who thinks we're all "psycho") to achieve the right tone and context.
ReplyDeleteI don't know any editors or publishers who automatically rule out Australian writers.
I do know that many American writers have the same complaints you do, though they replace "being Australian" with age or the region of the country they live in or race or gender or any of a million other identifiers that they've decided are ruling them out.
The truth is that getting published in an established publication is highly competitive, and all the more so since blogging and self-publishing proliferated. The first time I put out a call for submissions for a new webzine paying $50/article, I received more than 200 responses in less than 36 hours. Imagine what the volume is like at larger, established, higher-paying publications.
There's really no productive value in taking it personally, or in trying to write it off to editor/publisher bias. If you're serious about getting published in the U.S, put that energy into research; find publications that have bylines from international authors, and those that focus in areas where you have specific expertise or experience to offer. Personally craft your communications with each publication, making sure that you're religiously following even the silliest guideline requirements, and have someone proofread those submissions to avoid the kind of minor but pervasive grammatical errors that appear on your blog and in your LinkedIn post.
The door is not closed. You get to decide whether to put your energy into resenting the difficulty of the path or climbing over the wall. I hope you get what you want.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteHey Tiffany
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for such a thorough response. I guess what you're saying is all true. I'm just one out of the many writers in the world frustrated for a break and a break into the U.S, where making it is the dream for anyone in their craft. You guys have the best journals and the best magazines and i might be setting my sights a little too high but even getting advice from people ( people on my level ) can be challenging. It's just the distance between where i am now and where i want to be.
Having said that, i do feel there is a certain exclusivity in the air that is present in all businesses ( and in this regard i'm deeming magazines and publications as such because they are ) . It's not something i'm resentful against, but it does present a problem for 'newcomers'. How can new writers be given a break when publishers and magazines are almost in DUTY of printing essays and articles written either by someone who will definitely garner attention ( Like James Franco ) or members of their own team who they've worked with for ages?
ReplyDeleteI don't know about you guys, but i almost feel rude when i offer my services to magazines as a writer because i am not summoned. It feels like you have to be invited to get to do anything these days.
Hi Yalei,
ReplyDeleteI'm an Australian currently living and working in NYC. I have only been here for about 6 weeks and have already been given so many amazing opportunities. I have two great jobs, a beautiful apartment and an internship at my favourite graphic design studio. In all honesty I believe my personable 'down to earth australian' attitude has definitely contributed to my success. I have a great network of Australian friends already living here and have been so for the past year. They're all killing it in completely different creative fields and I believe that is because we as Australians work really fucking hard. We worked really hard to get here and we work really hard to stay here. Don't get me wrong you will come across some people who will roll there eyes at you and say "oh another australia, surprise surprise" but that said there has never been a moment where being Australian has let me down. I am in utter love with this city and my advice to you would be to come here. It's very easy to judge it from the outside and I believe you will have a much greater understanding of how it all works if you were actually here. In terms of getting work submitted via Australia, I don't actually think its because you're Australian - it's more likely to do with the physical distance. I was told to hold off from contacting anyone/anything before I actually arrived as one on one interactions are much more valued here. I'm not a writer so I'm not particularly familiar with the process but what I do know is that it's who you know and not what you know here. You would be so surprised by the network of connections here, I know people who write like shit but are frequently published in Vice or Milk because they know someone who works there.
I hope this has added another perspective into this interesting topic.