Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with writing and magazine

Rolling Stone: Yay or Nay?

the NATURAL — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:04:18 -0800

Subscription to Rolling Stone: worth it? The main issue isn't the music/movies/pop culture coverage, which I could get timelier and probably more unadulterated in EW -- I'm attracted to magazine writing (Esquire and the NY'er are two of my favorites) and I'm curious if Rolling Stone still runs upper-echelon pieces -- scrolling through the Amazon reviews, people seem to take issue with apparent declining quality in the magazine's writing. Obviously, I could just buy issues for a while, but saving money is always a good thing -- and none of my friends subscribe.

The current issue, featuring an evaluation of the Obama presidency including input from Paul Krugman, looked promising -- and after watching Generation Kill and reading the book, I went back and read Evan Wright's original piece on the RS site, and it was amazing. If I had been subscribing at the time, and had received that in the mail, it would've been like Christmas. Can I expect this on a semi-regular basis, or are these pieces just rare exceptions to the norm?

If it's something in between, would it be worth $20 to just take the plunge for a year and go along for the ride?

Thanks, MeFites.

Who are the best feature writers out there?

reenum — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 09:21:10 -0800

Who are the best magazine and newspaper feature writers, past and present? I've been on a magazine and newspaper kick lately. I've gotten tons of articles by Michael Lewis, William Langewiesche and Jack Hitt. For sports, I love Gary Smith. I also like to read the in-depth articles put out by ProPublica.

Could you suggest others who write deep, delving pieces about a subject? The subject itself doesn't matter; I care more that the writer have the ability to engage a reader and explain a situation or subject in an interesting way.

Thanks!

How do I get a magazine to publish my article?

monkeyman82 — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 11:03:19 -0800

I want to write a story in a nationally syndicated magazine about a friend to draw attention to childhood cancer. Where do I start? I have a friend whose son went through Burkitt's lymphoma. He (the son) is in remission and doing fine- no small feat for a 16 year old! Over the past couple of years, the father has kept a blog documenting the whole journey, and describing other patients that suffer from childhood cancer. To raise money, he (the father) trained for and completed a marathon.

As I was reading Men's Health last month, I realized that his story would make an incredible article and would draw a lot of attention to- and potentially raise awareness of- Burkitt's lymphoma.

I was thinking about writing an article about it, but short of actually writing the thing, I don't know where to start. Does anyone have any experience with writing and submitting magazine articles for publication?

How to break into science writing for magazines?

Wolfster — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:10:53 -0800

How to break into science writing for magazines? What are the strengths/weaknesses of using a traditional vs non-mainstream approach (eg, a blog). Sorry for the length/but I'd like to find a way to do this, if extraneous info helps provide a solution...

I asked a similar question a few years ago, and received great suggestions. After implementing those tips, I did break into medical education communication agencies and worked at such agencies for 2 years. A month from now I will go freelance but will will have very targeted products and clients (journal articles for medical journals in the area of oncology for investigators, pharma companies, and/or med ed agencies).

However, I am still enamored by the idea of writing for the popular press. More specifically, I used to teach a "Biology of Social Issues" course to non-science major college undergraduates and had a blast -- everything from stem cells, genetic engineering, to whatever seemed interesting to me or my students. I would use a story as a "hook" and teach a bit of science. Ultimately, I would like to write similar information and use a graphic providing a variety of "what is possible" pictures to pull the reader in followed by science information and explanations.

I know how to try to get published in mainstream magazines (eg, write a pitch letter, send off and wait a few months, get a response or no response, rinse and repeat). This process, however, takes months. Moreover, when I was given the chance to write something, I was required to write something that fit the newsletter , I wrote something that was just...boring (so the clip I have for consumers is boring and I don't want to write something like that). Also, when I study the model -- use sample A to get an opportunity to publish in a better magazine, it would take years to finally get into an interesting magazine.

For now I do not and probably cannot get access to the pre-embargo Euraka alerts. If my goal is to get good clips that I can later use to write for magazines of my choice, would these other approaches work? Why or why not and what would be unintended negatives?

Basically, if my goal is to write an interesting article about some of the new oncology drugs for Scienfic American, for example, which of these approaches would be better or more likely to succeed?

1. Doing the traditional "build clips", and build those to get into better magazines, etc.

2. A blog - publish the equivalent of a kids magazine for science on a blog. I would submit the blog in addition to journal articles for my "clips." I could write something like this in a matter of weeks (although there may not be many readers).

3. Just wrting an article and sending it off to Scientific Amercan with a letter asking if they are interested in the article? If they say no, send it off to another publication that is similar.

4. There is another model that I am sure would work and I will probably do this on the side -- contact university PR offices with science news paper type publications and offer to write something. Some of these publications do seem to hire people with my background so I am assuming they will let me write an article or 2, even if they are for free. I would have more to gain from the sample, however. But I wonder if a blog could help me get to that point faster or give me more options?

Tips, suggestions, or real life examples would be great. Thanks

I want to write for interesting online magazines

0bvious — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:16:42 -0800

I am looking for online magazines to submit art/literature/experimental/fun articles to. I think 'The Believer' magazine is a good example of the type I crave. UK based would be best, but not completely necessary. Any ideas?

Looking for an alternative to Nerve Magazine

haasim — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 20:56:24 -0800

I am looking for a magazine that would be interested in a story I've written about being in love without sexual attraction. Nerve is the only magazine that I can think of, but from the looks of things, I doubt they accept anything from writers outside of sunny California. My story isn't sexual explicit, but I don't think a mainstream/family-friendly publication would be interested in this. Does anyone have any suggestions for a Nerve-esque magazine (or zine) that accepts non-fiction that isn't supposed to make you horny?

Which magazines might be interested in my writing?

The Deej — Sun, 14 Oct 2007 11:52:53 -0800

I'd like to get published. What are some good business motivational magazines to submit my work to? I enjoy writing, and want to do more. I submitted a story during a writing seminar, and the instructors insisted I try to get it published. It's a short piece about following through on your goals and dreams, and that anything is possible if you dedicate yourself to it. I figure it's time to follow my own advice and dedicate myself to getting published.

I think it would be best suited for publications about business, specifically freelancers or others who need to keep themselves motivated. Large circulation and high payment are not a priority, but obviously I want to aim as high as I can. Any input is welcome! Thanks!

fastest rejections in short literature

shownomercy — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:00:48 -0800

What magazines have the best slush turnaround times? This is a question for submitters and editorial assistants alike about average response times for unsolicited works. I editorial-assist and often get queries along the lines of "why are you taking so long" a month or so after a submission. This has me wondering, where are these people submitting that 6 months+ isn't the norm, where the response time isn't 2-4x as long as stated in the submission guidelines?

Alternatively, there could be a resource online that tracks this sort of thing IRT but if I can't find it, it must be somewhat hidden.

I can only think of one magazine so far: Shimmer (got back to me in about a week [!!])

Should I become a magazine / new media journalist? [UK based]

dcbarker — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 04:22:38 -0800

CareerFilter: Should I become a magazine / new media journalist? [UK based] - LONG POST WARNING! Dear AskMeFi,

First let me say hi - this is my first question / post on MeFi (though I have been commenting recently). I'm sorry in advance for the long post but it might help provide a little context.

I'm a 20 year old student in my final semester of my BSc (Hons) Computer Network Management and Design course. I spent much last year in a work placement with a large multinational energy company. I worked in the Information Security and Telecoms departments on a healthy mix of large projects and self-led work. After completing my placement I started to question if this was what I wanted to do every day. I was good at the job and I learned a lot. I impressed the bosses so much that I took charge of a number of smaller projects. However I found myself wondering if I was really enjoying myself.

I've gone through a thousand jobs in my head and can't find anything that I think I would love doing every day. At the same time, on the side, I've been toying with ideas for blogs. Nothing that would make me any money but it would give my a creative outlet I have been desperately seeking. Thinking about it recently I have been drawn to magazine or new media journalism. It would be the creative outlet I need. It would be something I think I'd love doing. It would even let me exercise my tech savvy (it would be in the computing / IT / gadgets domain). My degree and passion for everything IT would not go to waste.

I am not looking to get rich - at the moment I want to pay off my mounting student debt. I do have a lot of drive and can see myself competing for Editor in Chief one day, but for now I just want to make enough money to get by and repay my debt. I am currently looking for a job (probably some flexible retail job while I complete my thesis for the next 3 months) so ideally I'd like to start soon or start slowly, working around my next job. I've bought a few books on writing and plan to hone my skills.

My question is - for anyone who knows anything about journalism - am I suited to this type of job?
If so, how do I get into it? (I'm in the UK). How much money would I expect to make? I have this preconception that creative or journalistic work is somewhat unstable unless you are really accomplished - is this true?

Please, any advice you could offer would be greatly appreciated! And again, I'm sorry for such a long post - I wanted to be sure you had enough context to help if you can.

Thanks MeFi!

Dave, UK

Writing Nonfiction and Children's Literature: Do you know of any good literature ABOUT these subjects?

0bvious — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 11:11:50 -0800

I am looking for well regarded books/scholarly papers about writing. Most specifically in the areas of Nonfiction (the essay style of article writing) and Children's Fiction (for a young adult audience). Any tips? Go as far and broad as you can. I'll be off to the British library tomorrow, so the sky is the limit. I am currently undertaking a Masters Degree in Creative and Professional Writing.

Having written an essay on 'The Problem of Dogma and the Power of Myth', I would now like to assess my article/essay style against writing theory.

As part of my course, I have also written an excerpt from a Young Adult Novel, and would dearly like to read up on some of the literature surrounding the genre.

Thanks in advance...

What is your personal narrative?

loiseau — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 07:13:33 -0800

Do you have any recommendations for solid creative non-fiction magazine columns or the like? I'm a writer and I really enjoy both reading and writing personal narratives like the NYT's "Modern Love" column or the Nerve "Personal Essays" section... the kind of thing which is sometimes called "creative non-fiction".

With a view to both finding new regular reads and finding new markets for my own writing, I'm looking for recommendations for this style of magazine writing, or anything you think is related and worth exploring. I'd prefer stuff I can read online for free, but I'm not particularly excited for Joe or Jane Blogger, unless they're professional and write in a more thoughtful memoir style, rather than this-is-what-my-kid-did-today.

Thank ye!

The stress alone is worth billions.

changeling — Thu, 19 Oct 2006 22:45:07 -0800

Will I win my small claims lawsuit against this deadbeat publisher? I wrote a total of five feature articles for a new business magazine, which apparently went under before its launch. My contract said I would be paid 45 days after my final invoice (I believe that was May 2nd). 90% of my emails have been ignored, and I have never received a real explanation (although I'm pretty certain funding was withdrawn, something like that). The magazine never came out, and because it was a summer launch, the topics of the articles were timely and have now expired.

After weeks and weeks of being brushed aside, I send the publisher a version of this letter. Then he tried to put me on a guilt trip for threatening his "tiny little publishing company".

He's also said "We have not published your work or benefited from it in anyway and you have retained your IPR's to the fullest extent." Even if that were so, the summer's long over, and my articles are worthless. The letter I sent gave him ten days to pay or I would have to take legal action. Well, it's been two months. I've printed out the small claims documents and am ready to mail. The reason I hesitated: he sent me an email about three weeks ago claiming he put together a packet for all outstanding vendors, and I should receive it swiftly. Well, it never came. And what could it possibly say, anyway?

My questions for you: Will I win this case, even though it's true, he didn't benefit from my articles? The contract doesn't say payment upon publication--it says payment upon final invoice. Has anyone else had experience suing a deadbeat publisher/employer? I know that even if I win, I might not get paid for ages. But this is a lot of money to me (we're talking several thousand), and I also want to do win this on principle alone. He's been terrible to deal with. I have immaculate copies (hooray gmail!) of all our correspondence--though most of it during the happy writing days in April was through a middleman, the editor (also a bastard), who had severed himself from the company.

I hate this.

Which Freelancers are Getting the Fancy Contributor Photos?

clairezulkey — Thu, 05 Oct 2006 13:03:29 -0800

How does one become a top tier magazine contributor? I know a lot of experienced freelance writers who make a lot of money doing what they do. However, I've never seen any of them when I open up an InStyle, or Vanity Fair, or Town & Country and look at the contributors page. I know it's virtually impossible to break in as a freelancer at some of those publications, and at best, you can do little anonymous FOB pieces.

So who ARE the people who are getting the glamour contributor shots and how did they get there? Have they been grandfathered in somehow? Or are they the nieces and nephews of the publishers?

I'm not trying to get in myself (for the moment) but wondering how the people who have, have.

Free rags?

paxton — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 07:45:34 -0800

What are some of the better free weekly rags where you live? Being from MA we have a pretty wide variety of free weekly and bi-weekly publications available. But I'm curious to see what works elsewhere that might be a little different from what I'm used to seeing. Bonus points for rags from college towns/cities. Any extra insight into how ad supported papers in your area do from a business perspective would also be of interest.