Query Letter: "Madison" Magazine

Here's another pitch email that disappeared into the ether along with my dignity and those lost socks from the dryer. I never heard back from Madison about my fantastic feng shui idea...

I'm a freelance writer and mediator for Consumer Affairs who's been published by magazines including Women's Health & Fitness and Cosmo Bride. Samples of my work are available on my blog, Becks and the City.

Feng shui, the Chinese system of aesthetics combining the laws of heaven and earth, shows no signs of waning in popularity. Mystical though it may be, feng shui can teach us a lot about making our lives orderly so every facet functions smoothly. Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow and Julia Roberts all reportedly use its principles to improve their lives and I'd like to write "Feng Shui Your Life" to help Madison readers do the same.

With advice from experts in the field and modern life coaches, the piece would contain sections focussing on transforming your happiness, house, health, wealth and general prosperity. A breakout box could highlight celebrity adherents to feng shui and give examples of how they've used it in ways readers can emulate at home.

Coming to 1,800 words, the article would be delivered within two weeks of hearing you're interested.
 
Yours sincerely,
 
Rebecca Douglas
 
I must not have sent my pitch on an auspicious occasion. Or was it something I said?

Fabulous Fridays: 23 December 2011

 THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE

A very Carrie Christmas to you! Just one sleep to go until fun, family, food and fabulousness. : ) Here's a few sprinkles of festive magic to tide you over...

• Remember Carrie's Christmas gift from her assistant Louise in the first Sex and the City movie? It was a DVD of Meet Me in St Louis.
• Martha Stewart teaches us how to make a snow globe. Gorgeous and glittery.
• Hooray for anonymous Kmart shoppers getting into the Christmas spirit!!! So lovely. : )
• Their handbags are not ultra-affordable, but the Burberry festive video sure is. See it here.
• When you don't mind the calorie count, you seriously can't go past Nigella's cooking: her egg nog recipe.
• Christmas craft and decorating eye candy -- My Little Jedi magazine via Hostess with the Mostess blog.
• The Killers do Christmas, cowboy-style. Ummm...?
• Sparkly reindeer and snowman cookies. Yum!
• How cheery are these magical gnome Mary Janes? I so should have found these in time for wearing Christmas Day. D'oh!
• On my travel wishlist: Ice Hotel, Sweden. Very cool (literally!).
• Nobody does a moving story like Dickens and nobody does merry-making like the Muppets. You get both in one of my favourite movies, The Muppet Christmas Carol.

Merry Christmas! xx

The Mini-Update

I'm back to playing secretary this week, so between that and last minute Christmas shopping, I can't stop long to chat...

So here's the briefest of updates on my writing projects right now:

• Magazines: I emailed a pitch to a gardening glossy tonight about the writer/garden designer I met on my recent seaside holiday.
• Blogging/copywriting: My first ever paid blog post (for a recruiting company) was well-received, but the company is still deciding how they want to use it. It remains in the unpublished ether for now. Sigh.
• Zine: I'm writing my own zine about magazines. Progress was excellent last week -- I wrote about movies and gifts for mag hags and pasted in some cute and quirky pictures. This week I'm still inspired, but haven't had the time to keep going yet. Stay tuned!

Have you been squeezing writing and other activities around your festive preparations? If you're doing it well, let me in on your secrets! ; )

Fabulous Fridays: 16 December 2011

If you're restive for the festive season, take a break, chill and have some fun...

• Stolen Sharpie Revolution 2 arrived in the mail earlier this week Hurrah!!! It's tiny, but info-packed. Absolutely recommended if you dream of releasing your own zine.
• Seth from The O.C. explains Jewish-Christian super-holiday, Chrismukkah. Don't knock it 'til you've tried it.
• Wanna spread seasonal cheer in a totally morbid way? Then Goth Christmas cards are just the ticket.
• Like girly-girl pastels and sweet little Japanese motifs? Don't miss the Drop Dead Cute blog. I can't get enough!
• I'm not usually a rev-head, but this little pink ride is molto bella.
• One of the best TV shows EVER, It's a Knockout. They've even brought it back, 2011-style. Hooray!!!
• How to look like a total muppet... in a good way: OPI's Muppet collection of nail polishes. My pick: glittery Rainbow Connection.
• Did you read Two-Minute Mysteries as a kid? If not, what were you doing with your time??? I loved 'em.
• If they give a (transgender) man bountiful boobs, imagine how these bras could enhance your cleavage. Clever.
• I would be a much more enthusiastic cook if Christopher Walken taught me.
• My childhood book addiction (well, one of many) is now a series of graphic novels. The Baby-Sitters Club never looked so hip!
• A visual guide to making Christmas stockings. Easy enough even for me!

Merry Chrismukkah!

Fabulous Fridays: 9 December 2011

When I'm not busy riding camels and dressing in cherry-red Dorothy-from-Oz shoes, I'm scouring the web for the best and brightest picks...

• Roxette's "Almost Unreal" definitely does that hocus pocus to me, although the Super Mario video clip weirds me out!
• The funkiest tutorial ever for making pop-up cards at The Hairpin. OMFG!
• Finally the world has come around to my view on Miranda Kerr.
• ... And on a related note -- the decline of the western world can all be linked back to her (check out the pic). Thought-provoking.
• What I'll be cooking this week: chicken a la king. My dance teacher's from South Africa and apparently it's a fave over  there. I'll give it a go.
• Don't mess with these elf sheilas, they're packing heat!
• How to go from self-published to a big publishing deal. Yes please, where do I sign up???
• A truly splendid blog celebrating vintage style: The Crafty Minx.
• Dr Cox is the funniest lovable bastard in the history of TV. Enjoy.
• Borrowed from the library, but now on my wish list: The Beginner's Guide to Preserving Food at Home. Your granny will be proud when you start whipping up the jams and chutneys. : )
• Although nothing can beat the LEGO one we bought last Xmas, these 24 advent calendars to make come mighty close.

TGIF, folks. Have a good one! ; )