Because it's the column, I'll probably keep at ti, just not as frequently. Maybe go to a bi-weekly or monthly column. It's not as if it takes much effort or as if they paid enough to actually rely on the income. It's alwasy been more about re-using some of the info leftover from my real articles, or being able to write about something even if I couldn't get an editor to assign an article on it. But the new rule will be in place: I'll send in one column, and write the next, but if the first has to be paid before I'll start a third.

About darn time indeed, Gabriella! Next month is already looking similar. I hope you're noticing the same (sounds like it). Amen. Alleluia! Congrats on pleasing that new client! Sounds super.

EP, it does come in waves. July was as dry as the Mohave. August was more of a rain forest during monsoon season. Just put on the wellies and learn to doggie paddle. 🙂

Don't you love when you can write off a portion (or all) of a trip, Jake? Fantastic! Congrats on the new gig and the happy editor.

I hope you enjoyed the hockey and the rum. 🙂

I had a good stretch this month, which got a whole lot better this morning: a 400-word piece accepted at a sailing magazine about our July trip in the Fla Keys. (It was so short I wrote on spec, not query.) Decent pay, great tax write-off, plus a new relationship with a managing editor. Me happy!

I'm playing street hockey with some local media/ad guys this afternoon…and…mmmm…envisioning a fine bottle of rum for the evening cocktail.

Congrats on the great month! It's about darn time, no?

I'm in the same boat. August has been much better than my previous months, and September is fully booked.

I have no idea why people are coming out of the woodwork, but I've had to ask potential assignees for more time just to accept assignments (they all agreed there was wiggle room in their deadlines).

No queries went out this month, and I read the online job postings and didn't respond to any. Why do I even read them?

And I think I mentioned last month that the potential monthly project finally came through. So this month I began it, and the client is very happy. Yay!

Looks like things are back in the busy mode.

I sent four queries (two of which were batches of ideas) and four LOIs. Two of the four LOIS had immediate replies. One mentioned specific needs for her December and February issues, the other said he was open to ideas. I already have a long list of things to pitch the first editor, and am looking for ideas for the second.

Replied to zero job postings, but I had looked at a few during the great August lull of 2011.

Only turned in two articles and one blog post. The column is on hold until they pay up. (Called their accountant this week and she said, "Oh, the checks were written months ago, but I'm holding them until more funds clear." Please – the grand total of two of those checks is probably less than the publisher spends when he's schmoozing an advertiser over lunch.)

I dropped notes to three or four long-time clients to see if there was anything I could help them with. One replied saying things were slow, another said he'd be in touch when anything came up.

Today I'm finishing up a small-but-intensive editing project for a sort of new client. In April I edited two executive profiles for them, working through their graphic designer. This time the designer's not working on the project. Today's mission is to find anything I missed, and to make sure there's some logical consistency for committee names. On the original copy, half were capitalized, half weren't.

Bottom line: Earnings were about $500 less than my modest monthly goal, but would have been closer to the goal had an invoice to my Favorite Editor not been lost. She's since rectified the matter and I should have the check any day now.

Congrats on the yearlong tomorrow! I've been eagerly awaiting news on this one. Your energy is inspirational.

Great question, Kim. I wait three weeks for email queries, six weeks for mailed ones. After that, I send them one follow-up. If I hear nothing in one week (email) or two weeks (mailed), I'm moving on. They may come to me after that and give the assignment, but I'm not going to wait for that. And so far, it's only happened a few times (and it didn't sell elsewhere, as well).

I'm curious, Lori – what do you consider to be the average waiting time when awaiting responses from editors for the queries you send?