What's smarter? To do what you're told or to take a risk?

Okay, this may have been really gutsy, or really smart, or both. I'm not sure. I couldn't exactly find any professional advice on this at the moment. I just went against protocol; instead of sending an article query to the editor listed as the person to send things to, I sent it to the editor who replied back to me on a previous occasion. I've certainly read that a writer should always utilize any positive interactions with editors to try to get published again, so I'm hoping that trumps the other things I've read: do what a magazine asks.

I won't name the magazine, but it's known as one of the glossies in Christian publishing, and though I was not in fact published by them yet, an editor who read my pitch last summer wrote back within  a day or two, saying it made her cry and she wanted to know more. She took my query to a staff meeting, and unfortunately, not everyone agreed to go with my story. What I didn't know then was that the magazine really is one I really had no business trying yet--most of its writers are authors of books or on the speaking circuit. I am amazed the strength of my story alone got me, a starting freelance writer with little credit to my name, the time of day.

So yes, trying them again, and to that editor I impacted before directly, may be pushing it. But maybe it will lead somewhere good. And I just couldn't shake the feeling that my article fits directly what they want to publish on the topic and I haven't yet figure out another magazine that might be interested...

So only time can tell (up to 8 weeks, the magazine says) if that was a wise strategy or I just annoyed the editor.


Articles I've published:
Because I've been writing for over a year now, here are some links to some of my stuff published last March:
Is Lyme Disease Lurking in Your Unexplained Symptoms?

Baby Food: Save money by Making Your Own

Potty Training: Cloth Diapers vs. Disposables

Cloth Diapers Versus Disposables: Switching Systems

Treating Depression with Natural or Alternative Medicine