Getting Published in a Magazine Can Take Time

Another chapter in my series "Book Marketing on a Shoestring"

In May of 2023, about four months before Honeymoon at Sea came out, I emailed the editor of Latitude 38, a popular free magazine for boaters on the West Coast. I told him the story of our first sailboat—we’d been mentioned a couple of times in the magazine by that point—and our original trip to Baja in 1989 and asked if he’d like to publish something about the book and our cruising story.

As so often happens to freelance writers, the editor came back with an assignment instead. His reply was: “It would be fun to have a cruising story from you in our upcoming issue and we could include mention of your new book. Since it’s summer and you’ve spent a couple of years in the Delta would you be interested in doing something about cruising the Delta for our July issue? Something like 1500 -1800 words and 4-6 hi-res photos?”

Latitude 38 doesn’t pay its writers anything, but everyone who races or cruises on a sailboat or power boat along the coast of the Golden State reads it. Even people who no longer cruise or race read it, to keep up with the travels of those they know who are still “out there.” They also ran the “Baja Ha-ha” which is a big group sailing adventure from SF to Baja California that takes place each year, and is perfectly timed to remind readers about beautiful Baja each summer.

So of course, I agreed and wrote the Delta sailing piece and it came out in July, which was perfect, as most people in the SF Bay area go boating at that time of the year. I’ll show you a couple screenshots of it below, as it lives in their online archives now.

Almost a year later, in April of 2024, I sent the editor another email: “I did a story for Latitude last year about cruising the Sacramento Delta on our 35 foot Coronado. I’ve written a 2500-word piece about the first sailing trip Russel and I took, as newlyweds, on our 26 foot Columbia sloop, from San Diego to the Sea of Cortez, where we stayed a year before going south to Panama, through the Canal, then on to Florida.”

I heard nothing back, so I sent him the email again in May. He replied: “Jennifer - always enjoy and opportunity to look at a story. We love boats like the Columbia 26 which makes sailing affordable and accessible to many. What year did you sail the boat to Baja?” I answered in an email to which was attached the 2500 word piece, along with a sample photo, a favorite one which has been reprinted many times now.

He replied: “Jennifer—Thanks for sending. We'll have a look as soon as we can.” After that email I heard nothing from him for three weeks. On May 30th I sent a quick email: “My book was just reviewed by Pat Rains in the Log in SoCal...and she recommended it! Thought you’d like to know.” I received no reply.

From June to October I heard nothing, despite two cheery follow up emails. I looked the guy up, and he was still listed as the editor. I called and left a message. No answer.

In November, I emailed him this: “It’s been over six months so I am guessing you are passing on this sailing to Baja story submitted to you back in May. I thought you might be considering it for Ha-Ha season. Let me know.” Nothing.

So, after thinking about sending it elsewhere, and thinking about rewriting it for another publication, I did what any good freelance writer does when they get ghosted by their chosen publication—I gave up on it, and went on to another project altogether. And I basically forgot about the snub, though it still rankled.

Yesterday, I got an email from the new editor at Latitude 38, a woman who wrote: “I’m circling back to your story ‘Honeymoon at Sea.’ We're interested in including it in an upcoming issue.” She specified the number of photos and added that, as registrations for the Ha-ha were opening early, “your story would fit just about anytime over the coming summer.” Naturally, I said yes.

The magazine with my story in it, the one that I originally pitched to the magazine’s editor in April of 2023, will be out sometime in the summer of 2026. What perfect timing, that piece coming out just as we prepare to head south once more.

And after all, every new piece I publish is an opportunity for a new reader to hear about me and “Honeymoon,” and a chance for them to click through and take a look at it, maybe download the sample to read, or even buy a copy.

So, take heart, my writer friends, and keep sending out those stories and essays and pitches and queries. Your acceptance letter could be in the mail to you right now, or it might just appear in your inbox tomorrow—or in a year or two or three.

hasta pronto!