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Craft of Writing

Suzan L. Wiener

Ten Ways To Get Your Fillers Noticed By Editors

Writing fillers is a fun way to get published. Here are ten ways I found that increase my chances of getting acceptances, and they should help you too. They are great for those times you can't seem to do longer pieces, yet still keep your name out there and your work too. Also, the editors will get to know you. Should you have an article or story, they will read yours first since they know your name.

1. Type all fillers, double-spaced, on an 8 ½ by 11 inch sheet of paper or on a postcard, depending on what the market asks for. If they ask for a certain word count, don't go over it as that will automatically be rejected. Of course, if it is only a few words over, then that will usually be alright.

2. Try doing all types of fillers, not just the ones you feel comfortable with. There are many, so don't limit yourself to one. The more fillers you do, the better you'll become. You can do jokes, anecdotes, puns, 4-line poems, etc. The more you send in, the more the editors will have a need for your submissions.

3. Mail out at least 10 to 15 fillers a week, so you will always have a number of them in circulation. This way, you increase your odds of getting published. Don't send the same submissions to different publications. This is not a good idea as the same one could be accepted. Then you will have to tell one publication you have to withdraw it, and the editor won't take kindly to that.

4. Save money on postage by not enclosing SASEs with your submissions. Mark on the outside of the envelopes, "No Need to Return." Many editors appreciate this because it saves time and effort. It is important to remember to mark that on the outside; otherwise the editor may feel obligated to return it and may spend money on postage for that return.

5. Address the fillers to the appropriate section, not to the editor of the magazine. A filler sent to the editor may not get to the right person. It could also annoy him or her which is something you don't want to do.

6. Don't send a rejected filler to the same market again. Instead, if you feel it's good, send it to another one. Don't give up on it. I have sent rejected fillers to other magazines and it has found a home. Keep trying is the key.

7. Feel free to send a filler to another market if there is no word after four or five months. Most editors don't take longer than that to let you know if it's been accepted. They will understand if you have chosen to move on with it and send it elsewhere. Send them a postcard if you want to let them know you have done that.

8. Read your fillers to family and friends and see if they enjoy them. What they like, the editors may also. I find this idea very helpful. Editors want to print work that appeals to the average public.

9. Don't rule out sending fillers to magazines that only pay copies. At least you will get to see your byline. This is especially true if you are beginner and you want to build your clips. This is a good way to do that.

10. Send only to those publications that use fillers now. It's a waste of time to send them to ones you hope might use them in the future. Remember, research your markets to make sure that your target publication takes fillers. Otherwise, it's a waste of time.