*singing* " ... C.C. Writer/Just see what you have done

[Cyndy Hardy]

Hi, everyone.

News writing is my forte, but I'm trying to learn the ropes in this Internet freelance world. It's a totally different animal and until recently I felt like a fish out of water. How's that for mixed metaphors?

Then I found CC. Thank God - or whoever you please - for real editors!

Since several have shared their rejection stories, I'd like to share mine.

My second article was rejected for having single-sentence paragraphs; which are perfectly acceptable in print media like newspapers. For all I know, it's different for Internet style.

Scratching my head, I looked at my first article. Yep. Single-sentence paragraphs. I looked through the submission guidelines that I'd already read 3 or 4 times. Nothing to explain the rejection.

But, I know a little something about editors. This applies to any editor, not just on CC.

First, they are flesh and blood. They have good days, bad days, busy days, yada-yada. Second, they usually get to be editors because they know more and/or have more experience than the writer. At the very least, they know the in-house standards we must follow if we want to be published in that house.

I also know that rejections aren't rejections. If you don't get that, you have a lot to learn about professional writing. Not a bad thing, if you can admit it.

So, I made some adjustments and clipped a few phrases to maintain the context. No big deal. It was accepted.

You have no idea how refreshing it is to see some writing standards and to see them enforced. I'm not going to split hairs about who edited the article or why it wasn't consistent with the guidelines or other articles. Whoever kicked it back was at least looking out for CC's standards, if not trying to help me improve the story.

To me, knowing there is quality control helps justify CC's cut of my fee. Now, I'm going to end this happy rant and search the forums for insight into what CC does to keep a steady flow of quality buyers.

[Ed]

Wow! You made my day. Thank you so much for that.

Hope you find CC continues to live up to your expectations.

Ed

[Cyndy Hardy]

My pleasure, Ed. Now if I can sell that first story!

[Celeste Stewart]

Welcome Cyndy! You will love the CC editor, Ed, who's always looking out for CC and truly wants to help us writers here succeed if we're willing to listen. Sounds like you are.

On the marketing end, I'm pleased at whatever it is that CC is doing to bring buyers to the site. They have brought us some major customers as well as some smaller ones who are steady and loyal. End result: many of us here have a steady workload and there's always room for newbies. I don't begrudge the 35% fee in the least. It means that I don't have to go out there and hustle new jobs (at least not very often).

[Cyndy Hardy]

Thanks, Celeste.

As a nosy reporter I guess I'm curious about CC's ways and means. It's part of my learning curve of the 'net marketplace and discovery of where I fit into it.