{"id":128,"date":"2008-01-02T07:02:18","date_gmt":"2008-01-02T15:02:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=128"},"modified":"2008-01-02T07:02:18","modified_gmt":"2008-01-02T15:02:18","slug":"speaking-of-article-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/publishingblog\/?p=128","title":{"rendered":"Speaking of Article-Writing"},"content":{"rendered":"

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m deeply enmeshed in preparing 5\u00e2\u20ac\u201dcount-em, FIVE\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhour-long workshops on various aspects of article-writing for the San Diego State University Writers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Conference, January 25-27 in San Diego, California. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a wonderful conference with an overflowing schedule of workshops and numerous agents and publishers running around eager to meet new talent. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re an author or a freelance writer at any stage of the game and if you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be anywhere near the area in late January, please sign up. The event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Mission Valley. To sign up, go to http:\/\/www.ces.sdu.edu\/writers<\/a>. I conduct a lot of workshops at various venues throughout the U.S. and this is one of the best. For more of my perspective on this conference, contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com. <\/p>\n

Speaking of article-writing, have you attempted it, yet? Have you pitched or written one or more articles designed to promote your book, speak your piece, share your perspective, or even to establish a freelance career? As many of you know, I built my writing career through article-writing. It is a familiar and fascinating subject. But, as with book publishing, the magazine industry has changed dramatically over the years. How?<\/p>\n

1: There are fewer lasting magazines. You know how, in your town, you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll see a small business come into being and a few years (or months) later, it is gone? This phenomenon is cursing the magazine business, as well. We\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve even lost some old standbys in recent years. But never fear; there are oodles of new magazines on the horizon. Unfortunately, many of them don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t pay well (or at all). <\/p>\n

2: The competition for space in paying magazines is stiff. There are more writers and more of us are getting our acts together enough to actually establish freelance careers.<\/p>\n

3: There are more flakey magazine publishers\/editors. Or is it that there are more writers who are willing to sell their souls for a byline? Has our lack of professionalism created monsters at the helm? Are we driving editors crazy with our weak and inappropriate submissions? Or is it the fact that there are more inexperienced publishers and editors vying for positioning in the magazine market? Whatever the cause, everyone is experiencing the effect through failing magazines, slow or no pay and shabby treatment from both sides.<\/p>\n

4: Magazine leaders are struggling with (and disagreeing about) how to react to a swiftly changing industry. Most magazines are driven by advertising and advertisers can be fickle with the economic ups and downs and so many mediums to consider. Some publishers are trying to go back to what used to be the core of their existence: the consumer\/the reader. But magazine prices are up because postage, wages, delivery, paper, etc. prices are up and this tends to discourage sales. <\/p>\n

5: It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s frustrating for writers when editors reject our best, most appropriate and meaningful articles in order to publish what we might perceive as shallow drivel. Why are these seemingly inferior, pointless articles chosen? Sometimes it has to do with appeasing and pleasing advertisers. <\/p>\n

What is a hopeful or struggling freelance writer to do?<\/p>\n

\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tStudy the magazine industry as it operates in 2008. Subscribe to http:\/\/www.woodenhorsepub.com<\/a> and always have a current copy of Writer\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Market <\/em>in your library. Join SPAWN and read the monthly SPAWN Market Update<\/em>. http:\/\/www.spawn.org<\/a> (click on \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Join SPAWN Now\u00e2\u20ac\u009d). Visit Mr. Magazine (Samir Husni\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s) site often: http:\/\/www.mrmagazine.com<\/a> He keeps his finger on the pulse of the industry.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tExhibit professionalism when dealing with magazine editors all the time, every time.
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tAttend workshops such as those I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll be leading at the San Diego State University Writers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Conference. (See link above.)
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tWork with an expert. Take my online article-writing course and let me guide you through the process of establishing a freelance article-writing business or learning to promote your book or establish a platform through published articles. http:\/\/www.matilijapress.com\/course_magarticles.htm<\/a>
\n\u00e2\u20ac\u00a2\tKnow the magazine for which you want to write from inside out\u00e2\u20ac\u201din particular the advertisers. What topic, slant or focus could you offer that would gratify this publication\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s largest advertisers?<\/p>\n

While writing is a heart thing\u00e2\u20ac\u201da creative endeavor, publishing, whether it is a book or an article, is commercially-based and must be approached as such. If you have questions about this or any of my other blog topics, contact me at PLFry620@yahoo.com. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m deeply enmeshed in preparing 5\u00e2\u20ac\u201dcount-em, FIVE\u00e2\u20ac\u201dhour-long workshops on various aspects of article-writing for the San Diego State University Writers\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 Conference, January 25-27 in San Diego, California. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a wonderful conference with an overflowing schedule of workshops and numerous agents and publishers running around eager to meet new talent. If you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re an author or a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t