Tiffany & Co Challenge: Update #5

They have arrived! I chose silver heart earrings from the Tiffany & Co as my reward to myself for Cosmo Bride agreeing to publish my article.


My Tiffany package sat at Fedex for an agonising week, as I wasn't home to sign for it. Now, the wait is over. Here's me wearing them (please ignore pile of neglected ironing in the background)...

Love, love, love them! You may notice they differ from the ones in my poll. I decided ones without the Tiffany stamp are more discreet chic. What do ya reckon?

I now have a week off to catch up on household chores, wedding planning, dance classes, blogging, crash repairs to my car (yep, that's right, some putz hit my beloved vehicle), random acts of fun and fabulousness, query letters to magazines, finishing my book proposal and hanging out with my Mr Big.

Oh, and Sex and the City 2 is in cinemas in mere days. Joy!

Tiffany & Co Challenge: Update #4

With my magazine article slated to hit newsagency shelves in August (touch wood), I've now been paid for my first official job as a writer... and it's Tiffany time!

My Tiffany jewellery has been ordered and should reach me soon. I ended up choosing a classic design I can wear on my wedding day. So excited -- pictures coming soon.

What's next? I've been emailing back and forth with my writing "workout buddy". She did the same online course from Sydney Writers' Centre earlier this year and we've stayed in touch to keep each other motivated. I sent a query letter to a fitness magazine recently, but unfortunately no cigar. My next pitch will be to a bridal magazine. I have two ideas for them, so I'm keen to have at least one accepted.

And then there's a TV appearance this week...

Tiffany & Co Challenge: Update #3

Happy Easter everyone! I'm one happy bunny, as the mystery magazine has accepted my article!!


Both my editor and her boss have given my article the okay, with some minor revisions. I've cobbled together an invoice and signed a tax declaration form. This is all new to me and slightly scary. That is, until my tax-savvy friend pointed out I will be able to claim buying my beloved magazines as a deduction. Happy days indeed!

So, I've won the Tiffany & Co Challenge, with an article I wrote soon to be published in a ridgy-didge magazine. My payment for the article ($500) will cover my Tiffany shopping expenses with a tidy amount left over (handbag?). It's now the time we've (at least, I've) been waiting for: choosing the prize...

Your votes please!

Heart earrings $165 (Aus)

Cupcake charm $250 (Aus)

Heart key pendant $250 (Aus)

The Waiting Game

The waiting game is marginally better than The Crying Game, as it involves fewer genital-related surprises. Yet, I kinda suck at it and it is all kinds of icky. To ease my troubled mind, I've been shopping...


My email housing my draft on spec article has zoomed away. God speed, little doodle. I am now waiting for the verdict and because I don't handle these situations well, shopping up a tornado. Purchases: pink pyjamas with icecream pattern, black velour biker jacket, vintage bower bird blue dress and bolero, grey knitted puffer cardigan and shoes that look like the spoils from mugging a dominatrix. I appear to have gone a bit mental.

It's kinda fitting we had an election here today. I feel like an anxious candidate hoping her electorate has responded to her campaign.

Vote 1: Becks for the Magazine Writing Party!


(Advertisement written and spoken by Rebecca Doyle for the MWP, Adelaide.)

Tiffany & Co Challenge: Update #2

I'm one step closer to winning the Tiffany Challenge, with a magazine asking me to write an article on spec...

"On spec" is short for "on a speculative basis" and means you need to write the article without the publication guaranteeing it will be published. I almost feel like a fully-fledged writer, using the lingo like that! It's common for beginner writers to do this before they've proven themselves.

While I'm not going to jinx myself by naming the publication just yet, I can tell you it's a well-known magazine and I'm very excited! It's come at an opportune time too, having just finished the modules on the Online Feature Writing course yesterday. I'm eager to put what I've learned into practice.

Stay tuned for the next exciting episode, folks!

Tiffany & Co Challenge: Update #1

In the Tiffany & Co Challenge, I set myself two tasks -- finding an agent or publisher for my non-fiction book proposal, and convincing a magazine to publish an article I've written...

I've been procrastinating very efficiently in recent weeks by wedding planning, interviewing freelancers for BECKS AND THE CITY and reading magazines instead of actually writing to them. Oops.

However. I have spared a few seconds amidst my busy schedule of procrastination to focus on writing for magazines by:

• Enrolling in the Sydney Writers' Centre's 5-week "Online Feature Writing" course commencing on 1 February
• Applying to be a bride blogger for Bride.com.au and Real Weddings magazine's web site (which is currently being revamped)...

Actually sending off a few more magazine query letters wouldn't go astray...

2010: The Year of Getting Published

Happy New Year!

2010 Resolutions:

• *Insert empty vow to lose weight here*
• See Sex and the City 2 movie
• Win Tiffany Challenge by getting an article or my non-fiction book published
• Marry my own Mr Big in August with equal parts joy and style
• Travel to fabulous, exotic locations, preferably New York, Paris, London or Tokyo
• Win as many freebies as possible
• Spread happiness, peace and love in the world... and all that jazz

That is all.

The Tiffany & Co Challenge

Currently I have two writing aims:
1. A recognisable magazine publishing a feature article I wrote.
2. An agent or publisher saying "yes" to my non-fiction book proposal, I Love Winning.

When my friend recently won a Pandora bracelet for stellar Avon sales (over $2,500 in a week!), I decided jewellery inspiration could help me too.

So, I'm dangling a glittering participle (word nerd joke there) in front of my nose from the Tiffany & Co. online store. If I achieve one of my aims, I'm treating myself to one of the pretty shiny things below, but which one?

Your votes please!

Heart earrings $165 (Aus)

Cupcake charm $250 (Aus)

Heart key pendant $250 (Aus)