Your Essential Reference for Writing for Magazines!
In The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing , accomplished freelance writer, author, and instructor Kerrie Flanagan demystifies the idea that writing for magazines is a difficult process meant only for those with journalism degrees. Drawing from her 20 years as a freelance writer and instructor, Flanagan takes you step-by-step through the entire process, sharing her knowledge and experiences in a friendly, conversational way.
With more than a dozen sample articles, expert advice from magazine editors and successful freelance writers, practical tips on researching potential publications and instructions on crafting compelling query letters, you'll find the tools needed to write and publish magazine articles.
In this book you'll learn how
• Find and target ideas for the right magazine. • Develop effective query letters to catch the attention of editors and land more assignments. • Organize your writing life using the checklists and tools throughout the book. • Understand and negotiate contracts. • Write and sell personal essays to consumer, niche and trade magazines.
Whether your goal is to get your first byline or make the switch from part-time freelancer to full-time writer, The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is your go-to resource for writing success.
Kerrie Flanagan is an accomplished freelance writer with over 20 years of experience, writing instructor and author. She is the author of the Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing in addition to 14 other books. She also writes with a coauthor under the pen names, C.G. Harris (Sci-Fi/Fantasy) and C.K. Wiles (Romance) In addition to her own work, she guides writers to reach their full potential through individual consultations, presenting at writers conferences around the country and teaching workshops.
When she is not writing you will find her hanging out with friends & family, enjoying the Colorado outdoors, sipping on good wine and eating potato chips.
I’m giving this book 5 ultra-shiny stars and consider it a favorite among my writing-resource shelves.
Each chapter serves as a sequential checklist for success…from generating ideas with a fresh slant…to querying…to incorporating strategies to improve one’s writing-craft…to setting goals and sustaining productivity. It’s all included with an engaging flow that’s easy to follow!
What I also loved was that each chapter included advice and insights from other professionals! Fantastic! Equally impressive was that the article-examples (showcased throughout the book) had dual purpose: they illustrated strong article-writing AND advanced my knowledge of writing for magazines. I appreciated this very much, as there was so much more SHOWING than telling (just the way I like my writing guides)!
As a novelist, there is PLENTY about this book that transfers over to fiction writing, such as how to find your story’s angle. The author reminds us that most ideas are not “new.” She writes: “So if there are no new ideas, what are you supposed to do? The key is to find a new slant, a new way to say the same thing.” Fiction writers have similar challenges, and I appreciated the author’s advice on finding freshness.
I enjoyed the author’s upbeat style-and-tone throughout, especially regarding rejections! What a great way to approach them :)
I was thrilled to receive an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for a fair and honest review and am pleased to highly recommend this 5-star expert guide to magazine writing.
Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is a good entry to content writing and is full of tips and suggestions on tackling getting published. It feels like real-life advice and not uppity at all, which I really appreciated. It shows how and where to find ideas in the first place and what to write about. Further contents are queries, contracts, and payments.
I can recommend this to anybody who is interested in writing and getting published.
This is an excellent book for writers wanting to get into magazine article writing and freelance writing. Novelists can benefit too as having published articles helps build your platform and sometimes leads to a contract.
I found the information helpful and enjoyable. Definitely recommend!
Good read on magazine writing for a beginner. The focus is on popular magazines and less on literary/journalistic types of writing but it is applicable to both.
When I saw The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing on NetGalley, I decided to request it because I was considering article writing as a new income stream. After reading, I don't see myself going that way; however, the book was still useful as it gave me a few thoughts and tips for improving my blog posts, particular in crafting posts relating to my fiction writing, to draw attention to my stories in a way that isn't just about plugging the blurb etc. With great examples and a nicely laid out, easy-reading format, The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is a valuable resource for anyone interested in breaking into that kind of employment.
I received this book as a free eBook ARC via NetGalley.
Book #15: “Writers Digest Guide To Magazine Article Writing ” by Kerrie Flanagan. Was recommended to me by Tom Keer. I’m dipping more into magazine writing for outdoor stuff, so it’s come in handy for my writing journey. A lot of basics and knowledge I was aware of, but learned some new kernels of wisdom and tips for successful writing. Bonus: my friend Debbie Hanson was also featured in this book! You will learn a lot about the tricks and tips of the writing trade.
If you’re looking to polish your writing skills, get this book and also supplement it with The Elements of Style by Shrunk & White .
If you've ever wanted to write for magazines, this book is a must-have item in your writer's toolbox. It's a comprehensive guide comprised of detailed advice, information, and lots of relevant examples to show you just how easy it is to have a freelance career. I've written for magazines in the past and this book has renewed my enthusiasm and provided lots of inspiration to focus more on freelancing. Highly recommend.
A very useful guide for every aspiring writer, focusing mainly on magazine articles and covering a wide range of dimensions on the subject. The writer uses simple, but not simplistic, language, the book is easy to follow and can be read by everyone. Kerrie Flanagan is honestly trying to help the beginners in writing and her intentions are reflected clearly in the text. I want to thank NetGalley and the publishers for providing a free ARC of this great reference ebook.
Finally! A straightforward guide for all of us who would like to write nonfiction articles. After reading this book, I understand how to find appropriate magazines for my ideas and pitch to nonfiction magazine editors. I've already landed a contract!
If your writing goal is to sell articles to magazines, this is the single guide that you need in order to do so. In clear, engaging prose, Flanagan takes you from the germ of an idea all the way through final product. Her discussion about how to research the market is pure gold--you will understand publications inside and out and know exactly what you need to do in order to satisfy their specific requirements. The sections on article idea generation and management are like none I have ever read before; she shares different methodologies for creating ideas that are intelligent, actionable, and immediately applicable -- and somehow makes it fascinating fun. Ultimately, the book is thorough, upbeat and encouraging, packed with information and expertise, examples and stories from those in the business. Flanagan is generous, clear and forthright about what it takes to succeed and offers the information and tools that will help the newbie writer succeed. I particularly appreciated Flanagan's candor about the industry, the pitfalls and the glories of playing in this aspect of writing. My copy is marked up, highlighted, and well-loved, particularly the sections about ideas and managing submissions in a professional, motivating way. Ultimately, this guide to magazine writing goes way above and beyond what one would expect in such a guide -- it is applicable for all kinds of writing...a guide to vision through implementation with support, encouragement, and step-by-step approaches.
The author offered many tips about writing for magazines. Some of the information I already knew but found helpful to review it. And then the other tips I didn't know I were interesting.
This is a perfect guide for those who want to brush up their writing skills and learn how to write magazine articles properly. It is also makes it clear that all of us are capable of writing an article with the correct help and the right mindset.
It has been a goal of mine for a couple of years to write articles for magazines. I have read many articles on the subject, several books from other authors and I even attended writers’ workshops on the topic.
For years I have heard the industry terms such as “byline”, “lede” and “on spec” thrown around by so called experts with vague explanations of those words as if I was expected to have learned their meaning in pre-school.
After readings Kerrie Flanagan’s book, “Guide to magazine article writing” it all makes sense. Those buzzwords, along with all the others that are the part of a freelance writer’s vocabulary, are no longer racing through my head as if they were a herd of feral cats. Flanagan has helped me tame those cats into one friendly orange feline who lays in my office window and comforts me as I enter this new world of writing.
As I sat in my office reading Flanagan’s book, I did not experience the feeling of an author talking down to me with the arrogance that they are doing me a favor. Instead Flanagan’s words on the pages came across as if we are two equals, sitting at a restaurant, discussing freelance writing while Flanagan sips a glass of wine.
I cannot say that if you skip all the other books on the topic of freelance writing and only read Flanagan’s book, that you will instantly understand everything. I can say that if you read her books first, it will be a good starting point on your journey as a freelance writer.
I've been searching for a book on specifically writing for magazines for quite some time. To my surprise there wasn't a plethora of options. Sure I could find various journalism writing aids, but that's not exactly what magazines are necessarily looking for. When I discovered this novel, I had to explore further.
This book was exactly what I was looking for. It gave me insight into not only the writing process itself, but also contracts and rights, and how to pitch ideas. I particularly enjoyed how this guide not only discussed print media, but also online venues as well. The wealth of insight was absolutely phenomenal and was written in a way that avoided technical jargon presented real-life scenarios and tips for success.
Thank you to NetGalley and F+W Media for granting me access to the e-galley of this well curated book. A great deal of gratitude should also be paid to the author, Kerrie Flanagan, for her marvelous contributions for writers trying to navigate their way in magazine writing.
Comprehensive, interesting. The essay and article examples and editor tips were illuminating. The book was well-organized and fast-moving.
That it took me two months to finish the book tells me I’m not ready to commit to magazine article writing. Committing daily to increasing my skills and body of knowledge reveals whether I value myself and this skill.
The last few chapters inspired and directed me to: • Respect and create a productive work space that “doesn’t irritate, confuse, or overwhelm” • Allow myself “to write badly” in order to get the time in • Work harder at writing since I have the three common characteristics of successful creatives • Try again to write personal essays • Identify my core themes • Welcome rejection because at least it’s a response and tells me to look elsewhere or try something different
I also gleaned several good writing quotes and books from contributors.
I've been searching for a resource like this, and it's just what I needed! Flanagan is incredibly thorough and honest. She covers every aspect of magazine writing, from first wanting to do it, through publication and payment. There were things I'd never considered. Now I feel less intimidated by the idea of freelancing and more prepared for what will be involved. There is a ton of information here, so the straight forward style and examples were helpful. I also appreciate that she includes online publications as well as print and addresses the state of magazines/media in today's age of technology.
Many thanks to NetGalley for an advanced Digital copy of this book.
Hit by writer’s block on your novel? To push that block off your shoulder, try writing magazine articles while also working on your masterwork.
With newspapers closing, “91% of US adults [still] read print magazines.”
This guide is filled with practical advice to write targeted articles that will make some cash and build your brand. From finding ideas, researching markets, staying organized and writing queries, there is much to be done before the article is even written.
I love this Guide to Magazine Article Writing! So useful! So straightforward! 5 stars!
Thanks to Writer’s Digest and NetGalley for an advanced copy.
This book is full of amazing advice, tips, tricks and resources. The author makes it easy for even to most timid writers to query and write for magazines. There are very few books on writing that I feel are as comprehensive as this one. For someone interested in magazine articles, this book lays out everything. From where to get ideas to how to pick the write magazine to write for. It even gives you examples and a handy step by step on how to query magazine editors. Nothing is left out of this one. I can't say enough about how valuable a tool this book as become to me. This roadmap will definitely remain in easy reach as I navigate the magazine writing world.
This is an excellent resource that not only covers the basics of article writing, but contains comprehensive checklists and reminders that will provide a writer with everything they need to know in order to be successful in crafting and selling magazine articles.
Flanagan not only shares details about her own experiences in this profession, but has consulted with an interviewed top editors and publishers in the field to ensure that this book contains insights, wisdom and top notch tips that even the most seasoned and experienced writer can learn from.
What a book of encouraging advice I've been looking for, for quite some time. Thankfully, Kerrie Flanagan came along with Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing just in time!
As a writer for two websites, and always pitching myself based on the information I read or feel encouraged by and still end up getting declined or hear nothing back at all, this book helps you overcome that successfully and realistically. I can't recommend this book enough!
This book has been sorely needed for quite some time. For many years, the go-to book on magazine article writing was Make a Living as a Freelance Writer, by Jenna Glatzer. But it's dated 2004, and the industry has grown, shifted, and morphed. Kerrie Flanagan wrote a phenomenal replacement. You will find tools, directions, examples, anecdotes, and even how to use freelance writing to advance your career as a novelist. The book isn't massive, but it's packed solid. You cannot skip a page for fear of missing out on some nugget of wisdom that could make a significant change in how you master freelancing. Big kudos to Kerrie. I'll be recommending this one to my readers, peers, and fans.
The logical, step by step approach of this book is great for new and aspiring writers. Lots of great advice, if you want to write for magazines, this is a must-read!
I also recently finished 'The Essential Guide to Freelance Writing' by Zachary Petit, and overall it was worthwhile to read both books. On most points the two authors agreed, however there were some interesting divergences (Flanagan says not to query for front/back of book articles and send them in wholesale; Petit suggested not to submit to magazines that pay on publication instead of acceptance). I liked Petit's humorous style 'a bit' better (better never to hedge, says Flanagan quoting Zinsser but the world is not so black & white). Both books were encouraging: it might be possible to write and get paid for freelance articles! I needed the encouragement and the thorough explanations. I feel like I am kindling this little idea within me and it is burning bright but on leaves and paper and it could still be so easily extinguished. Can I do this thing? I was also encouraged by the fact that Flanagan's own articles were... okay. They were fine! A couple of times I spotted what seemed to be some rough phrasing in their construction, but they were published and paid for and certainly I can write as well. So it's off to the races!
The section on style in writing was too short to be useful to anyone who doesn't know writing basics and, well, basic enough to be extremely boring for the rest of us. I could stand to never see Strunk & White lauded as the be-all-end-all of writing advice ever again, and there's an(other) irritating quote from William Zinsser as well: "Good writing is lean and confident."
This reminds me of a quote from a (satirical) Ursula Le Guin essay introducing herself (as a man), "I am shaped wrong. People are supposed to be lean. You can't be too thin, everybody says so, especially anorexics. People are supposed to be lean and taut, because that's how men generally are, lean and taut, or anyhow that's how a lot of men start out and some of them even stay that way. And men are people, people are men, that has been well established, and so people, real people, the right kind of people, are lean. But I'm really lousy at being people, because I'm not lean at all but sort of podgy, with actual fat places. I am untaut..."
and more Le Guin, later in the same essay (on, I guess, why she isn't a man), "... I don't really have a real beard that amounts to anything. And I don't have a gun and I don't even have one wife and my sentences tend to go on and on, with all this syntax in them. Ernest Hemingway would have died rather than have syntax. Or semicolons. I use a whole lot of half-assed semicolons; there was one of them just now; that was a semicolon after 'semicolons,' and another one after 'now'."
OK IDK how Ursula K. Le Guin took over my book review. I did appreciate how this book had some practical advice about setting goals and tracking submissions. But if I had to choose one I'd choose the other.
Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing is a concise and informational primer full of tips for content writers by Kerrie Flanagan. Released in 2018 by Penguin Random House, it's 232 pages and is available in paperback and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. It makes searching for info so much easier with the search function. This is a book where I spent a fair bit of time flipping back and forth to gain context and check information.
The author does a good job of providing information in accessible and logical manner. The very basic info (how to start, what outlets to target, judging the right outlet for each article) is provided before moving on to more specific/specialized areas (improving writing skills, deadlines, and polishing finished writing).
Although slanted at beginners, I found some good info here for improving and polishing my own blog and review posts (finding a formula which works for you can be a *good* thing - and brevity isn't always a good thing).
All in all, this is a good compendium with lots of advice for nonfiction article writing. While much of the information may be somewhat obvious (don't miss deadlines) and can possibly be found elsewhere, the author has gathered everything together in one package, saving the reader the effort of finding it elsewhere and wasting time looking.
Four stars. Well written and useful. This would be a good choice for writers' home libraries, public or school library acquisition, writers' groups, and similar.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Writing is as much of a tradition as it is an art form, and like most traditions, tricks of the trade are passed down from practitioner to apprentices. This book, informed by Flanagan’s 20 years of experience as a writer, introduces readers to the publishing industry.
As the title implies, this work is specifically geared towards writing magazine articles. Flanagan describes how to organize one’s self towards the production of copy for magazines. This book provides a high-level overview of the entire process – from coming up with an idea to studying a topic, from signing legal contracts to setting long-term goals. References are provided for more in-depth exploration of a particular topic.
Flanagan provides examples from her own writing and from others’ writing to illustrate her points and to keep the book light and interesting. The intended audience of this book consists of aspiring writers and writers who have already gained some experience but are desiring more. I recommend it as a helpful resource for those seeking to learn about writing outside of the traditional school environment.