I think an important aspect is also knowing the publication. Do they run first-person accounts? If not, they're probably not going to be receptive to yours. Today we had someone hint about some editorial that doesn't really go with our mix. I'd even bet that they're not a regular reader. Know the publication, whether it's us, the New Yorker or a local paper.
As far the backlog, there is one, kind of. We plan out the editorial a year in advance. It helps keep things even and makes it easier to do promotions, sell ads, schedule test days, etc. That doesn't mean that we don't fudge things, but it does mean that we're not in a panic to fill pages inside the feature well.
Rejection: That's part of writing. In fact, the first time I approached Tim, I was told that they had things handled. Guess what? I still submitted some photos and got a few published. And look where that went. Also, I admit that I have gotten better at telling people no. Someone recently asked if they could do a tech story for us. It was a bit narrow in scope and required calling in some favors. As we had zero track record with the guy (and didn't even know if he could write), I had to decline.
I always tell prospective writers to follow the Carl Heideman Approach. Several years ago Carl called out of the blue. He said that he was a regular reader and wanted to submit some stories. We hung up, and a few minutes later I got his submission via e-mail. The editorial perfect fit our mix and was well written. Add to that the fact that Carl was polite and didn't ramble on about stuff.
When it comes to basic skills, experience pays off. I don't want to see your published clips. That just tells me how well it was edited. I want to see the raw copy. That tells a lot. And like most anything else, practice pays off. Write and write often. If you enjoy writing, it will show.
