BellaOnline Forums Career Nonfiction Writing editor comment / what do you think?

Hi! I'm new to this forum & am quite new to the whole freelance writing field, too. Anyway, last week I emailed a query, and I got a response today. This is all it said:
"Thanks for your query. I will consider it as I put together the editorial schedule for the coming year."

Anyway, does that basically mean "no thanks"? Should I go ahead & send this editor some of my other ideas, or wait until the new editorial schedule is ready? Also, since this editor didn't say either "yes" or "no"...can I send the idea to other publications? I've heard that "multiple submissions" are a no-no.

Anyway, you can tell I'm totally new at trying to understand editors & the submission process. Any pointers would be much appreciated!
Thank you!!

Kristy

This isn't a "No!" but it isn't a "Yes" either. Some publishers have a publishing agenda for the year. If your piece fits their agenda and/or they have room in the schedule after they fill it in with the bigger names, then they might include you.

This isn't an offer of publication, so I'd feel fairly comfortable in submitting elsewhere.

I received a similar response to a travel article that I wrote. The writer's guidelines said that they only respond to pieces that they want to publish, but I didn't get any commitment of publication, just a "we are keeping this in our files" type of response.

Personally, I think your only obligation--if you have one at all--would be to notify the first publisher if indeed your article/item was picked up elsewhere.

Hi again everyone! Thanks for your comments. I just had to write to share my good news. I decided to take a chance & send a few more ideas to this editor, rather than politely wait around for the new calendar, and I got offered an assignment!! Whooo-hooo!

For me, the biggest thing holding me back as a writer is the feeling that I don't know the "freelance" rules. Any books you'd suggest for learning the ropes? I've been reading one by Kelly James-Enger called Six Figure Freelancing. It's pretty motivational. One of her best tips is to force yourself to write back to an editor within 24 hours of a rejection, to offer a new idea. So I did, and it worked.
I'd love to hear of any other resources you'd recommend. (Sorry if this topic is already in the forum someplace else...I didn't think to check until just now.)

Happy Holidays!
Kristy

And definitely request a copy of the editorial calendar once they've finalised it - that way you can pitch articles related to their upcoming issues and know when their deadlines are.

The most important "rules" for you to know right now are the guidelines for that particular publication.

Good luck!

There is a great book by Linda Formachelli and Diana Burrell called "The Renegade Writer". It's a fun look at the "rules" and what writing/publishing rules are meant to be broken! It sits on my desk bookshelf offering inspiration when I suffer from a moment of self-doubt. Check it out, simultaneous submissions is in there!