About "Fillers"
Traditionally, fillers are those short pieces used to fill gaps when a published feature
falls short of the published page. Recently, fillers have developed an existence of their
own and are often used to lighten otherwise staid text, as for instance where crosswords
are featured in highbrow periodicals.
The term "filler" is one of the most confusing for
all new writers and some established writers too. To overcome these worries and to avoid
known ambiguities, this article concentrates on short writing assignments, not all of
which are traditionally viewed as fillers, not all of them writing in the true sense of
the word.
Writing fillers is an ideal way to start your writing career and a larger volume of work
can easily find you earning regular, albeit smaller sums, than might be so should you
restrict your efforts to larger articles and stories. And you will almost certainly find
it easier and quicker to break into print by starting with fillers.
Most importantly, you must make a careful study of your target market if you hope to
impress the editor.
About Writing
For fillers you need nothing but a pen, paper, envelopes and a few postal stamps. This
applies equally to some other short manuscripts, especially any where contributions are
requested from readers. For other writing forms, mainly those expected to come from
freelance writers, a typewriter or word processing software, such as MS Word, is essential
for the quality of work expected by editors.
Most important of all, whether you write or type, your work must look good and be free
from errors and blemishes. So, if you have good handwriting and you want to concentrate
on writing readers' letters, then you have everything you need already.
If your handwriting is poor or you want to try numerous writing forms, you really should invest in
a word processor or personal computer (PC).
Market Study
Market study is as important for fillers as it is for longer manuscripts including
articles, non-fiction books, serials, novels, and so on. Things you must do before you
submit anything include:
Learn about the markets themselves. Information can be found in market yearbooks and
other marketing guides for writers.
What kind of fillers various markets use. Remember that what suits one market will be
useless to another. Always get at least half a dozen recent copies of your target
magazine before submitting anything to it.
Study the kinds of paragraphs printed in recent issues, taking into account length, style, viewpoint, whether captions and
photographs are included, and so on. Ask if your target magazine issues contributors'
guidelines.
Take great care when researching the facts and figures used in your manuscript. Don't
think because your work fills less of a page than other writers' submissions that yours is
less important. It isn't and one big blunder could lose you all credibility with editors.
Ideas and How to Get Them
Ideas are the most important aspect of the filler writers' task and you must make your
work different from anyone else's. Take time to find something unusual to write about or
search for a different angle on an everyday subject.
Ways to generate ideas include:
Keep your eyes and ears open for anything remotely useful. Become a "sponge" for ideas.
Read other published pieces and use these to brainstorm for similar - but not identical -
topics.
Read letters and features already published in your target magazine and comment on any you
are particularly interested in.
"Think pictures" and take your camera with you wherever you go to capture unusual signs,
silly shop names, unusual events, celebrities, and so on.
Buy old magazines and newspapers at car boot sales and fleamarkets and look through these
for inspiration.
Listen to what people say. Listen to the odd things children say and watch out for
malapropisms and nonsensical conversations and comments.
Read all you can. Watch out for silly or other memorable quotes, press errors, and
anything else you can use in your letters and fillers.
The Writing Process
Study at least half a dozen publications you feel you might be able to contribute to and
start thinking up ideas for each.
When you have your ideas, do whatever research is necessary until you have enough facts
and information to start writing.
Start writing, making sure your work is tightly focused, sentences and paragraphs are
short, and that the whole piece is written in the style your target editor seems to
prefer.
Keep every piece in circulation until it finds a home or until it has been rejected three
or four times. After this, consider whether it should be rewritten or whether you have
targeted your piece at the wrong markets. Ultimately, ask whether the piece is good
enough for publication.
Keep accurate records of everything you write and know where each manuscript is at any
point in time.
Preparation and Presentation
Suggested format for most filler types with obvious exceptions such as crossword puzzles,
recipes, press errors:
Writer's name
and address in
single spacing
Date
The name
and address of
target market
in single spacing
Type of filler, e.g. anecdote xxx words
Title (if appropriate)
by
The writer's own name or pen name
Now type out your filler. Use double spacing and a standard typeface and indent each new
paragraph by five spaces. Use A4 paper, preferably 80 gms.
Leave a space between paragraphs. Don't try to dress up your work with fancy typefaces, graphics, or other
embellishing devices. Just a simple, accurate layout is all the editor needs. Leave
generous margins all around your work.
If you make too many mistakes typing out your filler, start again. Unless, of course,
you have a word processor which allows you to amend your work on screen, before the final
version is printed. Spell-checking is another valuable feature of most word processors.
Remember to number each subsequent page and to include a heading.
For example, I might type the header:
==> Merlin-Publishing.com Fillers and Me
Page 1 of 2
At the very end of my manuscript I retype my real name and address on the final page to
guard against my personal details being lost should the first page of this filler, or its
covering letter, be separated from the rest of my manuscript.
At the end of my manuscript I type:
The End
Writer's own name
and address
in single spacing
Enclosures: 2 photographs (if appropriate)
Send a covering letter saying saying that you hope your work is suitable for your target
magazine.
Special Note: A return enveloped - postage included - is essential for longer
manuscripts, especially if you want to have your work returned. For filler writers, this
usually applies only where photographs and other original illustrations are included.
Best of Luck!
Other related articles:
How
to Write, Publish and Sell a Manual from Information You already Know
"Writers:
Send us Your Novels" - At Last, Your Chance to Make it Big in the
Publishing World
Get
Paid for Your Writing with Elance
Writing
Fantasy: 5 Easy pieces of Advice
RESOURCE BOX:
Permission is granted to re-publish this article on your site, provided the original content remains unaltered and you retain
this RESOURCE BOX along with active links (below) to the original publisher:
Merlin-publishing.com.
Ever wondered how to get published? Self-publishing
is quicker and more profitable than dealing with publishers. Using our free guide you will quickly learn how to
publish your own book and begin reaping the benefits.
For more go to http://www.Merlin-Publishing.com.
Copyright © 2007. All Rights Reserved. Please note: This Resource Box MUST be included with article.
<< Home >>
