How to Write for Magazines
Consumers, Trade and Web
Published on 1. March 2002
Book
Paperback/Softback
192 pages
978-0-205-31743-1 (ISBN)
Description
This book serves as a guide to the basic tools of magazine article writing: knowing the marketplace, brainstorming, researching, querying editors, and writing to get published.
Using a nuts-and-bolts approach, this text presents a step-by-step methodology to writing for magazines that includes significant coverage of trade, professional, and Web magazines. Students learn to master the basics of magazine article writing through hands-on exercises and commentary from current and successful magazine writers and editors.
Using a nuts-and-bolts approach, this text presents a step-by-step methodology to writing for magazines that includes significant coverage of trade, professional, and Web magazines. Students learn to master the basics of magazine article writing through hands-on exercises and commentary from current and successful magazine writers and editors.
More details
Content
Each Chapter contains "For Example" and "Hands On."
Preface.
1. Know the Marketplace: Consumer Magazines.
Specialty Magazines Multiply.
Matching Contents to Readers.
Putting Demographics to Work.
Going Online.
Sizing Up E-Zines.
Go Figure Formulas.
Know Your Audience.
2. Know the Marketplace: Trade Magazines & Professional Journals.
Overview of Trade Magazines and Professional Journals.
Publishing in Both Worlds.
Publishing Online.
Does Your Doctor Need a Writer?
Know Your Audience.
3. Brainstorming Ideas.
Testing Ideas.
Determining What's New.
A Hook to Build an Idea on.
Narrowing Down.
Finding Ideas You Like.
Passing Through the Gates.
Do You Have Time for Research?
4. Researching Thoroughly.
What Editors Say.
How Research Begins.
Steps to a Profitable Interview.
5. Choosing a Title and Writing a Lead.
Titles Come in Categories.
Leading With Your Right Hook.
6. Writing the Query Letter.
What Editors Say.
Querying Online.
An Important Postscript.
7. Writing to Be Read.
Active v. Passive Voice.
Verbs v. Adjectives.
Steer Clear of Cliches.
Avoid Syntax Sinkholes.
Vague is Never in Vogue.
8. Writing the Article.
Imitate Good Writing.
Rely More on a Personal Conversational Voice and Tone.
Rely More on Direct Quotations.
Combining Direct Quotations and Narration.
Rely More on Anecdotes.
Case Studies Are Also Helpful.
Rely More on Development.
9. Rewriting and Editing.
Regard Rewrite as Part of the Writing Process.
Filling in Holes.
Danger, Out of Order.
Remember What Mark Twain Said (About Word Choice).
Rewrite/Editing Checklist.
Proofreading Your Article Draft.
When One Pass is not Enough.
10. Becoming a Freelance Writer.
Improve Your Odds.
Working with Editors.
Illustrating Your Articles.
Writing for Online Publications.
11. Joining a Magazine's Staff.
Getting Started.
Becoming a Staff Writer.
Moving Up.
Pleasing Advertisers.
Appendix A. Glossary of Terms.
Appendix B. Resources.
Appendix C. Optional Classroom Activities.
Preface.
1. Know the Marketplace: Consumer Magazines.
Specialty Magazines Multiply.
Matching Contents to Readers.
Putting Demographics to Work.
Going Online.
Sizing Up E-Zines.
Go Figure Formulas.
Know Your Audience.
2. Know the Marketplace: Trade Magazines & Professional Journals.
Overview of Trade Magazines and Professional Journals.
Publishing in Both Worlds.
Publishing Online.
Does Your Doctor Need a Writer?
Know Your Audience.
3. Brainstorming Ideas.
Testing Ideas.
Determining What's New.
A Hook to Build an Idea on.
Narrowing Down.
Finding Ideas You Like.
Passing Through the Gates.
Do You Have Time for Research?
4. Researching Thoroughly.
What Editors Say.
How Research Begins.
Steps to a Profitable Interview.
5. Choosing a Title and Writing a Lead.
Titles Come in Categories.
Leading With Your Right Hook.
6. Writing the Query Letter.
What Editors Say.
Querying Online.
An Important Postscript.
7. Writing to Be Read.
Active v. Passive Voice.
Verbs v. Adjectives.
Steer Clear of Cliches.
Avoid Syntax Sinkholes.
Vague is Never in Vogue.
8. Writing the Article.
Imitate Good Writing.
Rely More on a Personal Conversational Voice and Tone.
Rely More on Direct Quotations.
Combining Direct Quotations and Narration.
Rely More on Anecdotes.
Case Studies Are Also Helpful.
Rely More on Development.
9. Rewriting and Editing.
Regard Rewrite as Part of the Writing Process.
Filling in Holes.
Danger, Out of Order.
Remember What Mark Twain Said (About Word Choice).
Rewrite/Editing Checklist.
Proofreading Your Article Draft.
When One Pass is not Enough.
10. Becoming a Freelance Writer.
Improve Your Odds.
Working with Editors.
Illustrating Your Articles.
Writing for Online Publications.
11. Joining a Magazine's Staff.
Getting Started.
Becoming a Staff Writer.
Moving Up.
Pleasing Advertisers.
Appendix A. Glossary of Terms.
Appendix B. Resources.
Appendix C. Optional Classroom Activities.