Yep, I had to add my own name to my spellcheck dictionary. Infuriating, but as ita points out, satisfying.

edit: says my agent, "these are geat! I'll get them off to Ruth as a package and follow up next week, to make sure she got them."

(deep breath)

Dude. The ball, she be rolling.

Wish me writing~ma.

I found out about a new website devoted to history-related travel in England (planning to expand to include Scotland and Wales later in the year). They pay, not a lot, but enough to make me willing to try. They already had someone working on a write-up on Bath, so I fired off an email to the editor asking if she'd like mini-features on Avebury, Glastonbury, and/or Wells. She replied, saying someone else was working on Avebury, but she'd love a piece on Glastonbury, and to check back in a few months with a more detailed proposal on Wells, since she thinks it'd be a good choice for one of the longer features she's already well-inventoried in for now.

So now I need to jog my memory WRT Glastonbury and what I thought of it, come up with the right evocative words, and send it off in the next few days. It's a small thing, but I'd really like it to work out--selling on my first query of 2005 would feel like a good omen after my drought in 2004. And if she likes it, I'll be in good shape to sell her the feature about Wells later on, not to mention pieces on places I've traveled in Wales and Scotland once the site expands.

Susan, that's awesome! Let's hope it's something that can become a regular source of income. If anything, it's more to add to your resume (or whatever you call a body of written works, my brain, she be dead this morning.)

um, that's a clipfile. Or some people say "portfolio".

Ah, thank you, erika. Somehow, I thought of portfolio as just for graphic artists (my aunt is a painter.) I am too literal upon occassion and must needs put things into very small and rigid definitions.

Most people say "clipfile" Published articles are clips. As in "Erika found it much easier to sell her work once she had recent clips."

Or as in, "Kristin bemoaned the fact that she never managed to submit her work and so was completely clipless."

Or clueless. Your pick.

Most people say "clipfile"

Neat. I'm really getting more of an education hanging out here. Thanks!

Kristin, never admit to being clipless. It's Not Done. When you want to sell your work, explain in your query the oodles of experience you have teaching English and why that makes you the perfect choice. For instance.

Oh don't worry. I admit nothing. I'm just being sardonic about myself.

ETA: And I guess it isn't entirely true; I have been published, just not in years and not in anywhere particularily exciting.