….Deer Baby and Very Bored in Catalunya.
These two ladies and blogging buddies were instrumental in getting me off my behind to actually submit an article to a newspaper and, bugger me, it was published this weekend.
A few months ago Deer Baby complimented me on my blog posts and thought I should consider taking it further, maybe sign up for a workshop designed for travel writers. This planted the seed in my head but, in truth, I didn’t take it any further at that stage. Then a few weeks ago Wendy at Very Bored in Catalunya sent me an email suggesting I submit something to the Sunday supplements; she specified the Confessions of a Tourist slot in the Sunday Times travel section as worth a go.
So I had a go. I looked at the confessions from previous weeks and, knowing the main theme of the articles is a description of a holiday sexual encounter, considered telling the tale of my steamy romp in Tenerife. I emailed it to the travel department of the paper and thought no more about it.
A few days later I received an email from the Sunday Times saying they liked my confession and they would pay me for it. I thought falling off a chair from surprise was just a phrase.
A few emails back and forth: would I like a pseudonym? Nah, publish and be damned. Contract to be read, bank details provided. I sat back and waited, thinking they would let me know when it might be published.
Sunday morning, Dougie popped out for the papers and, leafing through the travel section, discovered my article under the headline “The Doctor will see you now, Miss…..all of you, in fact”.
I can’t tell you how excited I was. I don’t mind that people will be reading of my sexual exploits as it was all done in the best possible taste, darling!
Of course if you want to read my confession you’ll have to empty your recycling bin and find those Sunday papers or go online, pay £1 for 24 hour access or 30-day trial subscription and have a read.
In the aftermath, Dougie was rather embarrassed at his love life being disclosed to the nation too (it was he, dear reader, who was my partner in the story). He dreaded facing the Monday morning patients at the surgery. However I kept reminding him of the money in the bank and, being a true Scotsman, that cheered him up immensely.
Big BIG congratulations! What fabulous news!
What section is it in, I'm still wading through the mags
Steve – thank you. I am quite a bit chuffed!
goonerjamie – the travel supplement – page 9
Ignore me. Found it. Well done you
Huge congrats. Not sure if we had a paper this week but I'm off to track it down… Brilliant, so well done! x
Yay, I feel very proud, like a mummy duck. xx
Pants with names: Thank you. Even if I never get anything else published, I can say I've been in the Sunday Times!
Very bored – Quack! Thank you Mummy x
I meant to say on Sunday that I'd found it and enjoyed it immensely… a new career awaits! Eat yer heart out Bill Bryson…
Really funny that Dougie was embarrassed – until he remembered the money!
I only gave you the tiniest of nudges. Half of getting published – apart from the writing of course which is all down to you and only you – is knowing where to pitch it to so Wendy is really the one to thank. To be able to see where something might go is the knack. I wonder if The Observer still run their 'My Crap Holiday' column in their travel section. I'm sure you must have something to go in there!!
Really well done.
The Dotterel – thanks Tim, glad you hunted it out. Quite like the idea of being Mrs Bryson (not literally, of course)
Deer Baby – once he got used to the idea I think he realised he didn't come out of the story too badly: stud that he is!
I will check the Observer for that column: I would have plenty of material. I did send a couple of articles to the Just Back column in the Saturday Telegraph but no joy. As you say, it's finding the right niche. I'm still grateful that you took the time out to give me the nudge in the first place.
It might be The Guardian – shows how well I know my papers. But there is a Travel Writing competition in the Guardian – it was in there on Saturday just gone.
Deer Baby – it looks like the Crap Holiday column may be finished as I can't see any online since January. But I did spot the competition while I was nosing about so may think about that. Thank you!
That is utterly utterly awesome! I love that column (although we're woolly left Guardian readers, so I only get to see it when at my parents). Will have to get them to dig it out! So delighted for you!
Planb – I read it every week too and think, heavens how can people write about their naughty encounters abroad. Then I thought, well why not!
Trish – that's fantastic news! You should definitely go for the others too! I subscribe to Times online, so am off to take a look. Am so pleased for you! x
Back again – just read it, excellent, love the part about your mum being skittish at the thought of a doctor in the family!
So, how did your dad feel about doing the initial chat up on behalf of his daughter?!
FK – thank you! Mum has giggled reading the article as it was a very accurate description of her: telephone voice and all. Dad has always enjoyed being the instigator of the conversation-I'm sure he mentioned it in his speech at our wedding.
Well done you! I'm glad it was Dougie who the steamy confession was about. I remember Tenerife a long time ago. Or was it Lanzarote….!
CJ xx
How fabulous! well done….and this could be the start of something big!!
CJ – Dougie's my only steamy confession! Glad it was a good one. So what about yours? Spill the beans…
Libby – well you never know, but I'm enjoying the nice feeling it's given me while it lasts.
First time on your blog – wish I had been on here few days earlier – would have loved to have read that article!! Good for you!
Hey Trish that's such fab news!! Well done – I will try and fish our paper out of the log basket to read it, but I'm delighted for you. you have a good niche market there with the travel link…go for it!
L – I thought I'd better not publish it on the blog as The Times have some rights over it now. I'm probably being ridiculoulsy cautious. It's still online with the paper if you want to pay a quid for 24 hour access???
Diney – you see, I'm yesterday's news – chip wrapper and log basket – I know my place!