Writer's Digest Handbook Of Magazine Article Writing

by Ruberg, Michelle

• ISBN13: 9781582973340
• ISBN10: 1582973342
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-12-26
• Publisher: Writers Digest Books

Summary

This highly anticipated update of the Writer's Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing builds off the excellent reputation the first edition enjoys with more of the great information readers have come to expect.With original material as well as articles taken from the pages of Writer's Digest, the leading authority in the field, this book is the only resource readers need for all of their questions on how to:* Brainstorm creative article ideas magazine editors will find irresistible* Find the right magazine for their work* Compose a professional, sophisticated query letter that catches the editor's eye* Keep editors coming back for more (get repeat assignments from magazines)This book is the writer's treasure map to the lucrative field of magazine writing!

Table of Contents

FOREWORD BY KRISTIN GODSEY	vii
INTRODUCTION BY BEN YAGODA	1	(5)
CHAPTER ONE: FINDING IDEAS	6	(16)
Great Ways to Generate Ideas	6	(4)
Idea Matrix	10	(2)
The Art of Anniversaries	12	(2)
Evergreen Topics	14	(1)
Look for Ideas in New Ways	15	(3)
Editors and Ideas	18	(4)
CHAPTER TWO: QUERYING	22	(22)
Know the Magazine	23	(3)
Writing Effective Query Letters	26	(3)
Other Query Considerations	29	(2)
E-Querying	31	(4)
Final E-Query Suggestions	35	(1)
Take Cover	36	(4)
Follow-Up Queries	40	(4)
CHAPTER THREE: SELLING REPRINTS AND REWRITES	44	(12)
Reprints	44	(1)
Finding Markets for Your Reprints	45	(2)
Sending Your Original Article	47	(1)
Writing a Reprint Cover Letter	47	(3)
Making Changes to Your Original	50	(1)
Rewrites	50	(2)
Looking From the Rights Perspective	52	(1)
How to Set Yourself Up for a Reprint	53	(3)
CHAPTER FOUR: FINDING MARKETS	56	(31)
Magazines Most Open to New Writers	56	(2)
A Growing Market	58	(3)
Writing for Local vs. National Publications	61	(2)
Markets to Consider	63	(1)
Women's Magazines	63	(3)
Trade Journals	66	(2)
Travel Writing	68	(4)
Custom Publications	72	(1)
History Magazines	73	(2)
Health Magazines	75	(1)
Home and Garden Magazines	76	(2)
In-Flight Magazines	78	(1)
Ethnic Magazines	79	(1)
Children's Magazines	80	(4)
E-Publishing	84	(3)
CHAPTER FIVE: RESEARCHING	87	(10)
Tackling Any Topic	87	(2)
Finding Experts	89	(5)
Making Your Research Go the Distance	94	(1)
Organizing Information	94	(3)
CHAPTER SIX: INTERVIEWING	97	(18)
Interviewing Strategy	97	(1)
Scheduling Interviews	98	(2)
Conducting the Interview	100	(4)
Handling Difficult Interviews	104	(5)
E-Interviews	109	(5)
Putting It All Together	114	(1)
CHAPTER SEVEN: AVOIDING PROBLEMS	115	(11)
Foolproofing Your Process	115	(3)
Avoiding Plagiarism	118	(2)
Libel	120	(1)
Rules for Quoting	121	(2)
A Final Check	123	(3)
CHAPTER EIGHT: WRITING TECHNIQUES AND REVISION	126	(32)
The Overview	126	(1)
Focus and Structure-In Depth	127	(3)
How to Craft a Successful Lead	130	(5)
Write to Grab Readers' Attention	135	(2)
Using Anecdotes	137	(5)
Ending Your Article	142	(5)
Revising Before Submitting	147	(4)
Rewriting Your Article	151	(4)
Writing for Digital Media	155	(3)
CHAPTER NINE: HOW TO WRITE COMMON ARTICLES	158	(35)
Writing Profiles	158	(4)
Writing the Roundup Article	162	(5)
Writing Templates	167	(4)
How to Write How-To Articles	171	(4)
Service Journalism	175	(3)
Shorts, Sidebars, and Quizzes	178	(5)
Art-of-Living Articles	183	(5)
Crafting Pieces for Children's Magazines	188	(5)
CHAPTER TEN: WORKING WITH AN EDITOR	193	(16)
You and Your Editor	194	(3)
Keeping Your Editor	197	(2)
Damage Control	199	(1)
Problem Editors	200	(4)
Writers Editors Hate	204	(5)
CHAPTER ELEVEN: BUSINESS AND RIGHTS-RELATED ISSUES	209	(27)
Make Money Writing	209	(5)
Getting Paid on Time	214	(2)
Finances and Taxes	216	(1)
Tax-Deductible Expenses	217	(3)
Getting Professional Help	220	(1)
Rights and the Writer	220	(3)
Contract Negotiations	223	(5)
Copyright	228	(2)
Fair Use	230	(1)
The Public Domain	231	(4)
A Final Word	235	(1)
CONTRIBUTORS	236	(8)
INDEX	244