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Are you running out of ideas for short stories, articles or even ideas for novels and thought you would stop writing? Well, you don't
have to do that. Do you still want to be in the writing field, but write something that only takes a short time and is fun to do? Well,
fillers may fill the bill for you. What is a filler, you may ask.
A filler is a short piece an editor uses on a page that has a blank space in it and needs to be filled. A number of writers have started
their writing career with published fillers. A filler can be anything from an anecdote, joke, recipe, 4-line poem, or a short article,
usually between 200-300 words. The amount paid for them can be anywhere from $5 to the high-end of Reader's Digest $300 for an anecdote
in "Life in these United States." Sometimes an anecdote will come to you just by hearing a conversation in a supermarket or from a
youngster saying something clever.
For instance, my anecdote that appeared in Grandparent's Brag Board in April '99 read:
"One day my eight-year-old granddaughter Elizabeth told her mother that she was sick and could not go to school. Her mother felt her
forehead and said she felt cool.
Elizabeth replied shrewdly, "Mommy, that's only on the outside!"
Even my husband, a former journalist, decided to get in on the act, and he had his anecdote published in "Fifty Something" Magazine,
which was.
"When my 8-year-old granddaughter, Elizabeth, gave a piano recital, she did quite well and the audience encouraged an encore.
Afterwards, we admired her performance, but she frowned, "I thought I did fine," she said, "But the audience made me play it again!"
You can gain much-needed cash with little effort. You will find writing fillers are a fun way to get published. And since they don't
take a lot of time to write, even the busiest of us can write them in our spare time. Try my own tried and true way of getting filler
acceptances below:
- Address fillers to the appropriate section, not to the editor of the magazine, unless they request that. You will usually find this
information at the end of the feature you want to send it to. A filler sent to the editor may not get to the right person.
- Mail out at least ten to 15 fillers a week, so that you will always have a number of them in circulation. This way, you increase
your odds of getting published. This works well because then you don't worry about one filler alone. Of course, it's not just the
quantity that you send out, but also the quality of them that will make a winner. Always write your best and examine the markets you
intend to submit to for a greater understanding of what they publish.
- Use your computer (or typewriter) to type all fillers, double-spaced on an 8 l/2 x ll paper or postcard, depending on what the
market asks for (remember to always read guidelines). Looking at the women's publications will boost your chances of finding magazines
that want fillers. Publications such as Woman's World or Woman's Day always have a need for fillers. (See "markets for fillers" at the
end for address details).
- Try your hand at a variety of fillers, not just the ones you feel familiar with. There are many, so don't limit yourself to one
type. The more fillers you do, the better you will become.
- Don't rule out sending fillers to magazine that pay in copies only. This way you will get to see your byline and get great exposure
for your work. Sometimes, another editor will see it and ask to buy your filler. If you own all rights, you can do that.
- Feel free to send a filler to another market if there is no word after four or five months. Also, there is no need to mention that
you have sent it to another magazine. It isn't necessary to send a certified letter that you are withdrawing that filler either.
- Oftentimes, you don't have to send fillers via snail mail. You can send them via email, which will save you money on postage. When
you check the magazines writer's guidelines, you will see whether they take emails.
- Save money on postage by not enclosing an SASE with your submissions. Mark on the outside of the envelope "No Need to Return." Many
editors appreciate this because it saves time and effort. If you do want your work returned, most editors will oblige you, but only if
you supply the SASE with proper postage.
- Don't send a rejected filler to the same market again immediately. Instead, if you feel it's good, send it to another one. Don't
give up on it. Read it to others to see if they like it and can make any suggestions on how to improve it. It's always good to ask
your writer friends to help you. They will give you a more in-depth critique.
- 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. You will see them returned very quickly (or tossed into the garbage and never seen again).
- It is always smart to hold your fillers for a few days and then read them aloud. See if it's exactly the way you want it to be. You
might find typographical errors or something that should be at the beginning instead of in the middle.
After you write a filler, put it away for a couple of days and then go back to it for a reread. This will give you a fresh pair of eyes
on your work. You may be able to find things such has typographical errors or clumsy speech that you wouldn't have noticed before.
- Most importantly, don't give up. Even if you don't get an acceptance within six months, just keep sending them out. Make sure they
are polished and your best work. Sooner or later, if you persevere you will, no doubt, get that acceptance letter.
- Markets for fillers and payments:
- Last Laugh! - Woman's World
270 Sylvan Ave., Englewood Cliffs, NJ 07632
They use anecdotes involving children and pay $50. They also accept funny signs, which garner $100.
- Tip Talk - Woman's Day
1633 Broadway , New York, NY l00l6
Best Reader Tips - $50
Best Reader Recipes - $50
Family Circle - readerrecipes@familycircle.com or readerstips@familycircle.com
- Family Circle
P.O. Box 5028, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163
Filler Editor, Catholic Digest
Catholic Digest Publications, 1 Montauk Ave., New London, CT 06320
The editor takes jokes and anecdotes. Also "Sign of the Times," which pays $4. Payment varies. In this instance, “Filler Editor” is okay. That is what they prefer.
- Cracker Barrel or Grandparents’ Brag Board
Mature Living, 127 Ninth Av. N., Nashville, TN 37234
Cracker Barrel only uses 4-line poems now. Pay is $15.
You can also send anecdotes of your grandkids to: Grandparents’ Brag Board, at the above address, pays $15 also.
- Mature Years
201 8th Ave. S., Nashville, TN 37202
Merry-Go-Round Department
The editor wants senior jokes (clean), 4-line poems and one-liners.
- Fifty Something Magazine
1165 Clearview Dr., Willoughby, Ohio 44094
Ms. Linda L. Lindeham DeCarlo, President
Wants anecdotes
Following the above should help get you that most welcomed acceptance letter and check.
The next time you have writer's block, try your hand at writing funny fillers.
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About The Author:
Suzan L. Wiener has had numerous articles on writing, short stories, poetry and shorter pieces published in major
publications such as Mature Living, Canadian Writer's Journal, Verses, Impetus, MetroSeven, The Writer's Ezine, etc. She
also has poetry chapbooks, both rhymed and unrhymed.
* This article is available for your publication, for a F-E-E.
This article may NOT be reprinted without monetary compensation and written permission from the author.
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