People with Magazine Writing Experience help!?

Question

I want to get into the Magazine businesss and I need to first learn how to write in the correct stlye and other things... Where can I find samples of writing that magazines would want and the different styles? Thanks

Answer 1

The best way to learn how to write for a magazine is to:

1. Major in Journalism or English in college.

2. Read books that teaches how to write news features.

3. Understand all you can about AP and Chicago Manual of Style. If you don't know what those are, then you're not ready to write for magazines.

As crazy as this sounds, you need to get a copy of The Chicago Manual of Style.

Then you have to decide what KIND of magazine you want to write for. Women's mags use more a feature-style writing. While men mags use more of what is known as Service Journalism. An ideal writer knows how to write them both. There are numerous kinds of magazines out there and each use a different kind of writing style.

Read and STUDY some of your favorite magazines. Learn AP. Learn CMOS. Read more than magazines. Read. Read. Read. Ask any writer and they will tell you this is the key to becoming a better writer, regardless of the medium. Don't copy. When it comes to writing, imitation is not the best form of flattery. Learn from writers you admire and ADD your own voice.

I am always inspired after reading Vanity Fair, Esquire or Details. Each feature essays/articles by top-notch and world-renowned writers. I am also a huge fan of humor and Details has a great humor essay feature.

Look to your favorite novelists. I love Toni Morrison and Langston Hughes. They are my inspiration. I also adore Erica Jong.

You can find tons of writing books in your local library. Read them. If you can, get some experience on the local level: local weekly papers or college newspaper (if you are in college). The CMOS is available at most libraries. You should be able to buy a copy of the AP Guidelines in most bookstores.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

there's a very specific style of writing. Most magazine writing is straight-forward and to the point. (Interviews are similar, but a little different) Depending on your magazine audience, it may vary. The best advice I can give you is to read other magazines in the genre that you want to write in, or the closest you can find. But I wouldn't cut myself off from all the other styles either. You can learn a lot from just reading. And if it helps you could diagram the sentence, like first word-noun, second-verb, etc. If you haven't, you might want to sign up for a journalism class or workshop in your area.

Hope that helps, good luck on your mag!

Answer 3

Since your search in in the infantile stage, a fantastic find for you would be getting the 2006 Writer's Market catalog. It appears to be daunting, but is truly a wealth of knowledge. Good Luck!!!

Answer 4

Keep it temporary, to the factor! Briefly spotlight what you consider is your force discipline (bypass the vulnerable discipline!), and, your expectation (be optimistic!), and provide the touch main points safely!