When I was eight years old, I announced to my parents that I wanted to be a writer. Okay, I was actually aiming for some sort of writer/ballerina/lion-tamer hybrid, but I was pretty sure that I wanted the written word to be part of my future. And over the last few years I've edited my university's literary journal, interned at a newspaper, did my time at an ad agency writing press releases for Michael Bolton concerts (yes. really.) and now I blather daily on the interwebz.However.
I've never engaged in real, true freelance writing. Pitches and connections and angles, oh my! I just want to wander into my editor's office and be all "So. Half page on cheap summer fun, eh? Cool."
When I chose this goal for part of my 31 before 31 list, I was rather intimidated. Truly, I registered for a stripper-size class months before I started looking up editors' email addresses.
But then! Like a fairy godmother dressed in Gucci and Prada, Danai Christoloulou appeared on my horizon. In addition to being adorable and painfully talented, Danai is a senior editor at the Greek edition of Glamour magazine. We've been twitter buddies for nearly a year now, retweeting each other and swooning over cat photos. So I couldn't have been more thrilled when Danai asked if I'd condense my post on surviving a breakup for translation in the March issue.
What?! Yes please! All the glory with none of the gore!
But then! Like a fairy godmother dressed in Gucci and Prada, Danai Christoloulou appeared on my horizon. In addition to being adorable and painfully talented, Danai is a senior editor at the Greek edition of Glamour magazine. We've been twitter buddies for nearly a year now, retweeting each other and swooning over cat photos. So I couldn't have been more thrilled when Danai asked if I'd condense my post on surviving a breakup for translation in the March issue.
What?! Yes please! All the glory with none of the gore!
(p.s. not wearing any makeup in that photo. mistake?)And so it was with baited breath and sweaty little hands that I ripped open my copy yesterday and saw my article tucked amongst those glossy pages. I literally whooped and promptly made several color copies for my grandmas. Of course, I can't actually read said article, as it's all Greek to me (oh hush, you knew that pun was coming). But I couldn't be more thankful for such a fantastic opportunity.
Now, if I can just work up the nerve to send a pitch to an editor of the American edition of Glamour ...
I know many of you are writers! Please - share your tips/secrets/stories!
61 comments:
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
Congratulations a million times! I honestly can not fathom how exciting that must be - amazing! :)
Right now I just dream of becoming a writer - and really, I haven't even really said to people, "I want to be a writer!" I'm still having middle-school insecurity problems, lol.
Plus, by the looks of it, I'll be asking you how you did it :D
Congratulations again :)
All my best always,
Carolina
Congrats! I'm Greek (and can read Greek) and it is kinda bizarre and awesome to see your stuff in a different language!
Your very wellcome, hon! :-)
Congratulations on achieving a dream! I recently got signed to an illustration agency after years of drawing for fun and was most recently commissioned by Women's Weekly AUS. My illustration appeared in the Obama isssue so I was over the moon. All I can say is that if you do what you love and share it - opportunities will arise! :-)
Helena: That's so crazy! I'm glad that a few of my blog readers can appreciate the article :)
Deciphertheday: That's huge! Congrats!
that is so awesome! congratulations!
Congrats! That's amazing. How did you go about pitching it? I'm also trying to work up the nerve to pitch to American Glamour. I have some truly brilliant ideas for pieces & want to present them in a way that will make Glamour hire me forever and ever on the spot.
Or something like that. any tips?
Wow, what a cool and yet bizarre experience to have your first published article be in a foreign language! I don't think many writers can make that claim. It sounds like you're in a great position to pitch American Glamour right now - just do it, be confident, and make sure they know about this clip!
Congrats! Great news. I recommend The Urban Muse - a blog about freelancing. Lots of tips and tactics.
I'd love to be a proper published writer! Congratulations :D
Congratulations!! The writing in your posts is wonderful- I can only imagine it in print :)
Whoop it up indeed! :D Congrats Sarah!
congratulations!!It must be strange to see your first published article in greek, I am greek but I understand how strange it seems to other people. I'm going to buy the magazine, your advice is always great, I hope we will see more of it published!!:)
Congratulations!
Being a freelance writer is certainly one of my major life goals! May have to do a 30 things before 30... you've inspired me!
Congratulations Sarah.
That is sososososo freaking cool Sarah!! Congratulations! xo
Congrats! I've never done freelance work but wanted to be a journalist since I was about 7 years old. In college I had a couple of internships, then when I graduated took on a full-time reporter role. After a year I realized it wasn't for me, haha, and now I'm in marketing. Rock on, though!
That's so RAD! I've always wanted to write by The Fear has kept me scribbling poems underground. Congrats, this is inspiring!
Congrats!
Recently, I got an internship with a local-ish magazine and they decided to publish one of my writing samples as online content. I was really excited, but if that wasn't enough, when I picked up a copy of the magazine, my article was listed in a section about the online content and my NAME was listed under "writers"-- I was really pumped and did a little dance, I will admit.
Woo hoo! That's awesome, doll. Congrats!
Congratulations. And how strange to have your first article published in Greek! It will make a great story when you become famous :D
Congrats, congrats!
If you believe it, you can do it! I'm so excited for you!!!!!
Congats!! you rock!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
And I bet if you informed the US's Glamour Magazine that you've got something in the Greek edition, they'll be even more eager to put you in! I also just read your "how to get over a breakup" post and it was wonderful. SO wonderful.
xoxox
don't forget my first ever giveaway over at my blog!
Congratulations! That's amazing. I think it's even more awesome that your article is in a different language. You writing is cross-cultural! How cool is that!
I'm giving you a standing ovation--your talent is unmistakeable! Congratulations! More to come, I have no doubt!
P.S. The picture of you at the top is adorable!
Congratulations Sarah! Having your work published in Greek certainly makes the goal a little more interesting when looking over your list!
Congratulations! the Greek pun was perfect.
Congratulations! I am not surprised at all! I knew someone would snatch you up! I look forward to each piece of yours!
Many congratulations, dear! And I know you can keep it up. American Glamour just doesn't know what they're missing yet! <3
yay this is amazing!
confgratulations!!!
:)
Congratu-friggin'-lations, lady!
Congratulations!!!! That is so amazing!! I would make several more color copies and frame those bad boys all over the house!
Congrats, doll! This is exciting news, and like many of the other commenters, I'm jealous and pumped by your ability to do this!
Oh, my gosh, that's so exciting! Congratulations!! This is certainly well-deserved-- Your blog is awesome, and your 'how tos' are very insightful (maybe you could convince them to let you have your own "how to" column like Kate Hudson's character on "How to Lose a Guy"?? Is it sad that I'm referencing that movie right now?). Congrats again!
Congratulations! Freelance writing is a dream of mine, too.
Congratulations, Sarah! You are truly an international writer now!
I think I would send your post, along with the Greek clip from Glamour to the US editor. If it's good enough to publish in Greece, why not here? Heck, send it to Glamour world-wide!
Well isn't that a treat to see yourself published!! Good for you!! =)
Thanks for stopping by my blog too!!! =)
Congratulations!!
There was an article I read in one of the recent magazines (don't remember which)(American magazine of course so not this one) that was written by someone named Sarah Von and I wondered if it was you (but decided it wasn't, obviously).
Wow Congratulations!!! SO exciting!!
Congratulations! That's one of my goals for this year as well. It's inspiring to see that it's really possible!
Also, I've never commented before, but I just wanted to tell you how much I love your blog and your calendar. Your positive outlook and adventurous spirit always seems to inspire me in the mornings! Keep up the good work!
Awesome! I've loved your blog for a while - so inspiring. My dream is to become a writer... Maybe you can post some tips? :)
Congratulations girl! Being published in a mainstream magazine is onmy list as well!
That is SO cool!! Well done you. You must immediately start pitching your ideas to American mags so that you can not only see your work printed but actually read it to!!
You go girl - you can do it!!
http://sothisisthesecret.blogspot.com/
no tips, but congratulations!!
I can't even begin to tell you how happy I am for you. As a fellow writer, I can only imagine how freaking good that feels.
You're sort of my hero.
congratulations! you've inspired me!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
That's awesome!
I've wanted to be a writer since I was a kid. I've never had the nerve to submit my writing even though I keep a current edition of Writers Market here on my desk.
Congratulations! That is SO awesome!! I hope you're published a million times over!
What a happy and inspiring post to all of us writers!
Congratulations, Sarah! I'm sure all the other Glamour editors will soon be catching wind of your awesomeness.
I'm a little late to the party, but yay congratulations, that's really brilliant! :D
just when i though nothing could beat crossing something off your list, youve gone and done this! congratulations!
oh my gosh, congratulations! this is exciting, i bet it feels so good to see your writing on the pages of a magazine. :)
awesome!!!
Yay! Congrats that is incredibly exciting!
GREAT WORK!
You can write for me anytime.
www.highplainsobserver.com
I live in the UK, so your words travel far! The power of the InterWeb eh?!
I stumbled across your blog as a 'recommended' and I'm so glad I did follow it up. This particular post is really inspiring and I will definitely be recommending that you be read!
Congratulations!
Super rad, yo!! I just saw this post. If you ever want to talk writing, you know the girl to call. This one!
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