Do you wanna hear good news? I have some! Or you can share some...
By Amber
@AmbiePam (94045)
United States
March 8, 2010 4:48pm CST
Some of my friends might remember a couple of months ago I started a discussion about whether you tell your good news right away, or wait until it is a sure thing. Well, I've waited. But now I can tell you guys! I submitted an "anecdote" to Reader's Digest, and it was accepted! I received a 100 dollar check from Reader's Digest on Saturday. It was one of those "Life in These United States" submissions. A person can submit several things to that magazine, and the pay range varies, but I'm thrilled with the 100 dollars. I am going back to the dentist tomorrow, and they are doing something temporary to one of my teeth (although they said the temp work would last 2 years, so I can put off having the permanent work on it done - which is good because otherwise I couldn't afford it). With that hundred dollars, and 40 bucks I got from two of my aunts for my birthday, I'll have it paid for. This is a huge relief for me.
I'm sure some of you have probably submitted things to Reader's Digest too and had it published. What I sent it was something that had happened to my sister and her husband. Just so you know, I did offer her half of the money (although my dad told me not to), but she declined.
Any good news you want to share? Today is a day where I sorely need some good news. Do share! 
11 people like this
27 responses
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
8 Mar 10
That is wonderful. I have never submitted anything to a magazine before. I think it is cool that you got yours published and that you got $100 for it.
Good new huh? Well, I totally forgot that I had money sitting in an IRA that rolled over when I left a job a few years ago. I knew it was in there, but I kept forgetting about it. It is only around $1950. I decided to take it out since it is not invested in anything and I could really use the money about now since my son's father has not been paying child support AGAIN. Both my kids are growing out of everything they own and then there are bills and such. I called them today and they said after I mail in a few papers I can have my money in 5-7 days. That is good news for me. Less stress about where money is coming from and I don't have to pay the taxes on it till next year.
3 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
8 Mar 10
That's a nice little sum.
Send me a few hundred?
As always.....
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
As always.....
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
8 Mar 10
That is great news!! I love hearing stuff like that.
The first time I submitted an article to a professional publication, and it was printed, I was so excited. It is like winning a mini-lottery.
Congratulations, now how will you spend it?
3 people like this
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
9 Mar 10
True the dentist isn't glamorous AmbiePam, BUT it is definitely going to good use!
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
8 Mar 10
WTG!
Way back when I was a teenager I had a few poems published in Scholastic Scope magazine. I still have the hand written drafts
of many poems I wrote way back then. Good news I have to share?
Well I am yet another day sober by the grace of God.
And nearly 19 years sober. 4-6-91 is my sober birthday.
As always.....
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
9 Mar 10
yes, kind of.
I have 2 very close friends in the A.A. program that rely on me at times to keep their sobriety. They call me their sponsor but I look at it as more of a friends type relationship.
As always.....
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
9 Mar 10
Congratulations Grandpa Bob! Way to go!
2 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Mar 10
Oh congrats Ambie I am so excited for you..I love reading the digest but we don't always buy it, so when it comes out with your artical in it, please,please, please tell me which month becuase i will make sure to buy it..:)
@AmbiePam (94045)
• United States
8 Mar 10
It's such a small bit I would hate for you to buy it. Maybe I could buy it and send it to you. I'd feel guilty if anyone bought it just to see that. lol I'm not sure which month it will be in, so I guess that means I'm going to have to start buying Reader's Digest until I get to the month where it is! I wish they had told me which month.
3 people like this
@carmelanirel (20942)
• United States
8 Mar 10
It isn't that small that they are paying you 100.00..Besides like I said, I love reading it and we do buy it occasionally and I'm sure if you inquire, maybe they'll tell you when it will be published. Maybe you should e-mail me the month since I might miss it if you post it, though I will try to view each of your postings from now until I see which month it is.
3 people like this
@AmbiePam (94045)
• United States
8 Mar 10
If I find out, I'll let you know. But I had asked several weeks ago which month it would be in the magazine if they accepted it. They never got back to me. Truth be told, I had forgotten I submitted it. I submitted it 4 months before anyone contacted me. But I'll let you know as soon as I do. : )
3 people like this
@coffeegurl (1467)
• United States
8 Mar 10
You look pretty in your pic. Very nice hair. I have curly hair like you. Kudos to you on getting your work published. This could go nicely on your resume'. I have also had to pay a lot in dental care myself. I feel your pain.
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
9 Mar 10
I tried a long time ago, but RD did not like what I sent evidently. I wish you did not have to spend the extra money on a bill, though. Wish you could go treat yourself to something. I had some temporary work once that I did not realize it was temporary. It lasted five years. Maybe that can be good news for you as well.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (94045)
• United States
9 Mar 10
I don't want anyone to mistake what I got published as anything big. I mean it's going to take up only a couple of lines. No way could I get a full fledged article in there.
I was bummed when I realized that I would have to spend that money on dental work. It's like when I had Christmas money and had to spend it on another medical bill. But I told my dad yesterday (when he commented that my Christmas money, birthday money, and now the check from the magazine all had to be spent on unexpected medical bills), that I may not get what I want, but I sure do get what I need. And I think I should be happy with that. Because as long as my needs are being met, who am I to commplain? : )
@AmbiePam (94045)
• United States
20 Mar 10
I just thought I'd let you know that my little excerpt is in April's issue of Reader's Digest. It is near the back, under Life, with all the other funny things people submitted. My grandma gets a subscription to RD, and my sister saw it and told me. The cover of this issue is something about vitamins.
1 person likes this
@grecychunny26 (9483)
• Philippines
9 Mar 10
What a good news you have AmbiePam! I am happy for you. Good news, I can list this one as a good news for me. Early next week the operation of my business will start. It is a food business and I am happy that I can be able to move into rat race in a near time. I am happy because I have proven to myself that I can do it if I really want to have change in my life. My friend will be helping me on this and we promise that through thick and thin we will survive and learn by taking a risk this year.
@GardenGerty (160996)
• United States
21 Mar 10
I will look for April Reader's Digest at the Library. It will be fun.It is awesome when people earn "unexpected" money, or achieve their dreams.
@PurpleTeddyBear (6685)
• Canada
9 Mar 10
Hi Hun! I don't have any good news at the moment, but I have a ton of bad unfortunately!
BUT congratulations on both getting the hundred bucks and published by Reader's Digest! That's awesome!
I'm very happy for and proud of you! That's also awesome that you will get your tooth fixed! You deserve to be happy, congrats again!
BUT congratulations on both getting the hundred bucks and published by Reader's Digest! That's awesome!I'm very happy for and proud of you! That's also awesome that you will get your tooth fixed! You deserve to be happy, congrats again!1 person likes this
@pastorkayte (2255)
• United States
9 Mar 10
The Good news is that I did not get any bad news today. Usually as a Christian Pastor I hear Good and Bad News, today I got a few births, a wedding anouncement and a person who won a little money in a cooking contest, other than that no bad news and that is Good News. Another piece of Good News, Jesus Saves!
1 person likes this
@jerzgirl (9327)
• United States
8 Mar 10
Congratulations!! That's great news! I have wanted to submit something to them, if I could think of something to share with them. Lots of stories in someone's life yet to try to think of one isn't nearly as easy as you might think! But, that's really great that your submission was accepted. I'm very happy to hear that.
How long did it take from submission to acceptance and from that to payment?
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (94045)
• United States
8 Mar 10
I had forgotten I had even sent it in. It was about four months after I sent it in (I submitted it through their website) that I got an e-mail from an employee. They asked if it was true, and when had it occurred. One month after that (I wasn't 100% sure they were going to use it because I wait for confirmation of a done deal), I got the check - Saturday. They didn't tell me what issue it would be in though. I did ask through e-mail, but I doubt I'll get a response. I think they want me to buy each issue until mine shows up. lol
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
10 Mar 10
I've read the reader's digest before, who knows if they put it on their website I may read what you had written. Hmm, I'm sorry I can't think of any good news that will make you smile, but here's a hug instead 
.
.1 person likes this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
10 Mar 10
Congratulations! That is good news! I appreciate how you feel because I felt the same when I had an article published and I was paid; it is such a satisfying feeling to see your work in print and to receive a cheque! I spent my last earnings on two pairs of prescription glasses because I’m short sighted and I had not been able to afford nice new trendy glasses for ages; it was a great feeling to buy some with money I earned doing what I love. Good on you Pam, keep up the great work, I bet you will be publishing your work on a regular basis soon!
1 person likes this
@ronaldinu (12422)
• Malta
9 Mar 10
I am glad that your article was accepted on reader's digest. Every little helps and a $100 would certainly be welcome and good news. I have received an email an hour ago and I was asked to do some supervision duties on Saturday morning. Practically is easy money as I have to supervise students doing practical tests on computers. Therefore earning about 60/70Euros for a few hours work, though it is not great money it is still welcome.
1 person likes this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
9 Mar 10
What great news! Lol maybe I should try my luck with Reader's Digest, right? Shame you have to spend the money though for the dentist rather than splurging on yourself. Well about two years ago I did an article for Medhunters about the Hipaa Privacy Laws and got paid $150 for it, then last year I did a feature story for Fate magazine and got paid $50...which reminds me, I could stand to hunt around for other magazines (hopefully on-line ones) and submit something--I mainly do articles for Associated Content but frankly they are getting real sucky in their rate of pay
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (94045)
• United States
9 Mar 10
This was the third funny thing I sent in to them (real life funny things - I'm not good at making jokes up). But this is the only one they took. I don't try to write articles, I don't have that kind of talent. : )
Yes, I was kind of bummed I couldn't spend it on something like clothes, but if I have to have the dental work done, at least I can afford it. : )
@BlueAngelRS (2899)
• Canada
9 Mar 10
Congrats AmbiePam that is ausome so happy for you....Well my good news was actually back in December I find that a tough month for me with Xmas and find myself catching up even a few months later....I had 3 bucks left so I thought why not will try a scratch car I like to play the word puzzles once in awhile....I scratched and I won wooo hooo tho I thought it was only 20 bucks I counted the words wrong because when the lady checked it at the store it said 50 I was like WOW.....That was my good news or good luck I guess at the time....
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
10 Mar 10
goodness dear, it sounds like you have some wonderful good news. i'll never forget how nice it felt just to get a little peice posted into National examiner 30 yrs ago. it was like a little thing that happened with the neighbors kid saying something very funny. i only got 5 bucks for it but wow
you would have thought id published a novel. then i got a poem published 12 yrs ago in a small poetry contest. no money, just praise and a free subscription. and very good reviews from my literature teacher a year later from a short story that i still have unpublished. this could be the start of a great career for you. 
@bystander (2292)
• Philippines
11 Mar 10
that's good news, ambiepam. for other good news, and it's about the philippines, try dropping by at http://pinoygnews.multiply.com/ thanks...
1 person likes this
