[Allison Posts: 134 Status: Offline WWW]

Has anyone gotten published in Shine Brightly or Gem Girls? What is your experience with the magazines?

[Ev Posts: 4,391 Status: Offline Making learning fun! WWW]

I've had them request to save several of my puzzle submissions for a final decision later, but I've never been published with them.

[Cindyb Posts: 393 Status: Offline]

I had a story published back in Sept. 06. Currently, they are holding a poem for Sparkle. One previous hold turned into a rejection.

[JodyJS Posts: 1,388 Status: Offline IT'S A FIELD TRIP, BUSY BUS! Preorder now! WWW]

Bumping this thread to say that guidelines/themes for both Shine Brightly and Sparkle are up for 2014.

http://www.gemsgc.org/main/shine_guidelines.html

[Bobi Martin Posts: 313 Status: Offline Writers open the world to readers. WWW]

Thanks for the link. Always good to see newly updated guidelines!

[Stacy Posts: 59 Status: Offline]

Thanks for the link, Jody! I think one of my works in progress might be a good fit for one of the themes. Off to edit...

[JodyJS Posts: 1,388 Status: Offline IT'S A FIELD TRIP, BUSY BUS! Preorder now! WWW]

Good luck, Stacy!

[Allison Posts: 134 Status: Offline WWW]

After subscribing to Shine Brightly for a year, I have crossed them off my list of possible places to get published. Everything seems to be written in-house or at the very least by the same few authors. I'm still hopeful about Pockets as an alternative!

[onestepp Posts: 207 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Recently sent a story "Princess who loves baseball" for the honesty theme, and it was rejected.  The e-mail said it isn't exactly what they are looking for. 

Does anyone know exactly what kind of story they are looking for since I'm thinking of submitting another.

[JodyJS Posts: 1,388 Status: Offline IT'S A FIELD TRIP, BUSY BUS! Preorder now! WWW]

Hi Onestepp,

All I know about what they want is what their guidelines say. They're holding something of mine now...it's about a girl and her grandma and finding common ground.

Recheck their guidelines and try again! And in the meantime, see if your Princess story is right for Highlights or Hopscotch or Jack and Jill or Cricket.

Good luck!

Jody

[onestepp Posts: 207 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks for your reply.

[Stacy Posts: 59 Status: Offline]

Onestepp,

I haven't had anything accepted by Sparkle or Shine brightly yet, but they are holding something of mine. I would do like Jody said and review their guidelines and try again.

Also, I wanted to let you know that Hopscotch does have a sports-themed issue scheduled for June 2015. I'm not sure what type of manuscripts they still need for the issue, but that might be an option for your princess baseball story. Here's the link: http://funforkidzmagazines.com/writers

 

[onestepp Posts: 207 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Thanks Stacy.  I'll look at those guidelines.   :

[Bobi Martin Posts: 313 Status: Offline Writers open the world to readers. WWW]

Be sure to read a couple issues of the magazine you want to write for. It may help you fine tune your query.

[Stacy Posts: 59 Status: Offline]

I haven't had anything accepted by Sparkle or Shine brightly yet, but they are holding something of mine.

The story I subbed in February was accepted for the October 2013 issue of SHINE brightly. This is my first acceptance from them. 

[Cindyb Posts: 393 Status: Offline]

Congrats, Stacy! Always exciting to break into a new market!

[JodyJS Posts: 1,388 Status: Offline IT'S A FIELD TRIP, BUSY BUS! Preorder now! WWW]

Woot, Stacy!

[onestepp Posts: 207 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Congratulations Stacy!  Acceptances do make you feel like you're on cloud nine.
                                               

[Ev Posts: 4,391 Status: Offline Making learning fun! WWW]

Hooray, Stacy!! That's great news!

[Sara Posts: 338 Status: Offline WWW]

Congrats, Stacy!

[Audrey Posts: 52 Status: Offline I love to read and write!]

Congratulations Stacy...I'm not jealous at all...I'm not jealous at all...I'm not jealous at all...(I'll just keep repeating this until I can say it without crying)

[Stacy Posts: 59 Status: Offline]

Thanks for celebrating with me!

And, Audrey, I know exactly how you feel, but please don't cry. Just keep writing and submitting, and we'll be celebrating with you before you know it.   

[Audrey Posts: 52 Status: Offline I love to read and write!]

Thanks Stacy...I appreciate the encouragement!

[Cindyb Posts: 393 Status: Offline]

After 3 years of subbing poems to Sparkle, I've finally had one accepted! Persistence pays off!

[Ev Posts: 4,391 Status: Offline Making learning fun! WWW]

Hooray, Cindy!!    Yay for persistence and Yay for acceptances!

[onestepp Posts: 207 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

Congratualtions on your poem!  I've looked at their guidelines to send something, and I'd like to know what your poem was about since it might give me an idea of the kind of things they are looking for.   

[Cindyb Posts: 393 Status: Offline]

Onestepp,  the poem is for their November issue. In their guidelines the topic wanted was sheep, so my poem was about a sheep and cold November weather.

[awful waffles Posts: 97 Status: Offline A Nana who loves to write, and finally has time! WWW]

   Hurray for Stacy and CindyB!  Congratulations!

[Stacy Posts: 59 Status: Offline]

Congrats, Cindyb!