Feature and Magazine Writing Chapter 3 The Magazine article and article idea

Similar: Magazine & Newspaper Gripping leads Gripping leads Carefully organized with facts and ideas Carefully organized with facts and ideas End strongly End strongly Based on solid reporting Based on solid reporting Commonly use quotations and descriptions Commonly use quotations and descriptions Range in length from a few hundred to several thousand words * (newspaper breaks if >5000) Range in length from a few hundred to several thousand words * (newspaper breaks if >5000)

Different: Magazine /Newspaper Magazine has: Magazine has: Leisurely approach to subject material, more research Leisurely approach to subject material, more research Writers often take a subjective stand on what they are writing Writers often take a subjective stand on what they are writing More opinion than newspapers More opinion than newspapers Longer leads (anecdotal: words) Longer leads (anecdotal: words) More teasing leads More teasing leads Use vivid graphic devices Use vivid graphic devices

Staff writer versus freelancer Most newspaper features are generated, assigned, and written by staff members; magazines rely heavily on freelance writers Most newspaper features are generated, assigned, and written by staff members; magazines rely heavily on freelance writers Staff writers have editors and peers to help them, whereas freelancers learn at their own pace, usually alone Staff writers have editors and peers to help them, whereas freelancers learn at their own pace, usually alone Freelancers: Article checked for accuracy (simple or exhaustive checking) Freelancers: Article checked for accuracy (simple or exhaustive checking)

Three necessary skills to master Come up with good story ideas Come up with good story ideas Know the magazines and what they want Know the magazines and what they want Must be able to write a cogent, well-organized article Must be able to write a cogent, well-organized article

Stalking the elusive article idea Some seek idea first, then look for a suitable market Some seek idea first, then look for a suitable market Some seek markets that interest them, and then think about suitable ideas to offer the markets Some seek markets that interest them, and then think about suitable ideas to offer the markets Some work with clip files; develop ideas slowly over a period of time Some work with clip files; develop ideas slowly over a period of time

Matching ideas to markets Magazine writer must narrow story to a workable focus, just like newspaper writer. Magazine writer must narrow story to a workable focus, just like newspaper writer. Difference: Newspaper writer is working for one publication, with same audience, style, and interests. Focus is easier. Magazine writer has several magazines, each with its own audience, writing style, special interests. Difference: Newspaper writer is working for one publication, with same audience, style, and interests. Focus is easier. Magazine writer has several magazines, each with its own audience, writing style, special interests. Many approaches to same material, focus on which market/ audience Many approaches to same material, focus on which market/ audience

Finding your market Writer’s Market, a 1,000-page annual publication that lists thousands of magazines interested in buying freelance articles Writer’s Market, a 1,000-page annual publication that lists thousands of magazines interested in buying freelance articles Standard Rate & Data Service directories Standard Rate & Data Service directories Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media Annual Bacon publications Annual Bacon publications

Study magazine to know market Subject requirements, treatment, length of articles, paragraphs Subject requirements, treatment, length of articles, paragraphs Use of anecdotes? Direct quotes? Third-person with direct address to involve the reader? First- person use? Light/ serious tone of writing? Use of anecdotes? Direct quotes? Third-person with direct address to involve the reader? First- person use? Light/ serious tone of writing? Analyze structure, check length, count anecdotes, look for transitional devices, Analyze structure, check length, count anecdotes, look for transitional devices, Check writers’ names to scout freelance opps. Check writers’ names to scout freelance opps.

Checking for duplication Check that your target magazine hasn’t recently published an article too similar. You can’t afford to buy every magazine, so conduct a library search Check that your target magazine hasn’t recently published an article too similar. You can’t afford to buy every magazine, so conduct a library search Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature indexes only articles appearing in popular consumer magazines Reader’s Guide to Periodical Literature indexes only articles appearing in popular consumer magazines Too many articles on same idea suggests you’re to late with your idea. No articles can mean you’re ahead of the trend, or that few people are interested Too many articles on same idea suggests you’re to late with your idea. No articles can mean you’re ahead of the trend, or that few people are interested

Getting ready to query Contact magazines for specific writer’s guidelines to help formulate query letter Contact magazines for specific writer’s guidelines to help formulate query letter Information about readers, appropriate subject matter, article lengths, treatments, photographic needs, payments for articles/photos (some info in Writer’s Market) Information about readers, appropriate subject matter, article lengths, treatments, photographic needs, payments for articles/photos (some info in Writer’s Market) Editor knows readers better, probably spent money on demographic studies for ads Editor knows readers better, probably spent money on demographic studies for ads Will accept material with which readers agree Will accept material with which readers agree

Reading/ analyzing Technique and structure Technique and structure Form and technique Form and technique