July/August N-Scale Magazine

[Pamela Clapp]

Don't miss the July/August issue of N-Scale Magazine now shipping, featuring new layouts, how-to articles, new products and more. I hope you will join us and share in the fun. Subscribe today at www.nscalemagazine.com and have your first issue shipped this Friday. Thank you for your support.

[Pamela Clapp]

Thank you for your support to N-Scale Magazine. We look forward to sharing the July/August issue. I hope you will join us and share in the fun. www.nscalemagazine.com

[signalmaintainer]

Hello Pamela, I sent you an email four weeks ago with photos and a couple story ideas. I also PM'd you here on TRW about it. In both cases you haven't responded.

I recall from our phone conversation that you were frustrated with at least one other TRW member who'd promised a story but never delivered. My question is, if you don't communicate with prospective authors, how do you expect them to contribute?

[Dave V]

I recall from our phone conversation that you were frustrated with at least one other TRW member who'd promised a story but never delivered.

That easily could have been me... I'd been promising an article for Pam for well more than a year or two, but life got in the way. And each time I did have time, I spent it on modeling rather than writing. I also tend sometimes to focus more on my primary scale--HOn3--and submitted at least one article to the HOn3 Annual when I should have made good on my promise to Pam. So if Pam was upset with a TRW member for failing to deliver, I would not be surprised if it was me.

That said, I finally did get off the pot and you'll see my 9-page Colorado Midland article in this month's issue.

[signalmaintainer]

That easily could have been me... I'd been promising an article for Pam for well more than a year or two, but life got in the way. And each time I did have time, I spent it on modeling rather than writing. I also tend sometimes to focus more on my primary scale--HOn3--and submitted at least one article to the HOn3 Annual when I should have made good on my promise to Pam. So if Pam was upset with a TRW member for failing to deliver, I would not be surprised if it was me.

That said, I finally did get off the pot and you'll see my 9-page Colorado Midland article in this month's issue.

Not you, Dave. Good article by the way!

[wm3798]

Hello Pamela, I sent you an email four weeks ago with photos and a couple story ideas. I also PM'd you here on TRW about it. In both cases you haven't responded.

I recall from our phone conversation that you were frustrated with at least one other TRW member who'd promised a story but never delivered. My question is, if you don't communicate with prospective authors, how do you expect them to contribute?

In my experience, floating a story "idea" will not get the same response as simply submitting a story.  I'm sure there are barrels of emails offering woulda couldas, but the ones that contain actual articles and photos are the ones that get prioritized.

So rather than expend energy stirring the pot, why not put pen to paper and turn those ideas into articles...?
Lee

[signalmaintainer]

In my experience, floating a story "idea" will not get the same response as simply submitting a story.  I'm sure there are barrels of emails offering woulda couldas, but the ones that contain actual articles and photos are the ones that get prioritized.

So rather than expend energy stirring the pot, why not put pen to paper and turn those ideas into articles...?
Lee

With all due respect, you weren't privy to the conversation, and I take exception to your allegation that I'm stirring the pot. Since this is her topic, and not yours, it seemed like a good place to try and reach out one last time. I followed through on what I verbally committed to do. Still awaiting the courtesy of a reply. Is that so hard?

Before I invest time, energy and money putting a feature story together, it would be appreciated to know if a publication at least has an interest in the story beforehand. See, there's no use offering coffee to someone who doesn't want any.

[wm3798]

True, I wasn't privy to the conversation.  But it was no longer a privy conversation when you brought it here to a public forum to air it out.  No need to take umbrage.  I was merely offering some advice from my own experience.

Having been published, like many of us here, as well as having served as an editor of a couple of journals myself, I can assure you that action speaks louder than words.  Most publications make their standards known, and as long as any effort you put forth colors more or less inside the lines, you should be able to get a response.

If you're fishing for interest, perhaps a more detailed outline of your proposal along with some example photos might be helpful in winning the attention of the editor.  If the quality of your pitch demonstrates that you've got chops, not just for the subject, but also for relating a story, then I'm sure you'll get the response you're looking for.  I'm sure the ideas are worthy, but you gotta sell them.

Looking forward to seeing you in print.
Lee

[signalmaintainer]

True, I wasn't privy to the conversation.  But it was no longer a privy conversation when you brought it here to a public forum to air it out.  No need to take umbrage.  I was merely offering some advice from my own experience.

Having been published, like many of us here, as well as having served as an editor of a couple of journals myself, I can assure you that action speaks louder than words.  Most publications make their standards known, and as long as any effort you put forth colors more or less inside the lines, you should be able to get a response.

If you're fishing for interest, perhaps a more detailed outline of your proposal along with some example photos might be helpful in winning the attention of the editor.  If the quality of your pitch demonstrates that you've got chops, not just for the subject, but also for relating a story, then I'm sure you'll get the response you're looking for.  I'm sure the ideas are worthy, but you gotta sell them.

Looking forward to seeing you in print.
Lee

Again, you're making assumptions.

I used this topic as one last-ditch attempt to reach her following a PM to her account here (sent prior to her most recent post on June 9). She presumably saw the PM notice. So if I decide to jump back into the journalism fray (and yeah, I've got the chops, and in spades -- previous career, including the hobby mags), it sure won't be for a publisher who can't provide the courtesy of a brief reply.

[peteski]

If you *REALLY* want to contact N-Scale editorial staff,  sent email to info@nscalemagazine.com

[signalmaintainer]

Happy to say that we're in communication with one another.

If you *REALLY* want to contact N-Scale editorial staff,  sent email to info@nscalemagazine.com

Which is where I sent the initial email last month.