"Have you ever considered writing for magazines but were not quite sure how to go about it?"

Have you ever considered writing for magazines but were not quite sure how to go about it? Perhaps, you have wondered how magazines work? How do you go about selling your articles? What about ideas, where do you find them? These and many more topics are elaborated upon in Greg Daugherty's slim tome, YOU CAN WRITE FOR MAGAZINES. Daugherty is a successful freelance writer and magazine editor for more than 20 years and as he states, "I guess I can qualify as something of an insider in the magazine business now."

The 124 pages of text contain a wealth of detailed information that will invariably prove invaluable to anyone contemplating selling their articles to magazines. The topics are divided as follows: selling, securing ideas, query letters, manuscript mechanics, leads, how-to articles, writing about people, personal experience articles, quiz writing, sidebars, reviews, rejection, business aspects, reference sources and how to speak "magazine."

From the very onset, we are informed that editors are not gods and that New York is not the cradle of civilization. In other words, do not be intimidated by the editors and do not hold onto the belief that it is only New York where you will sell your articles. Once you have overcome this kind of a "stage fright" you are ready to proceed onto the next steps.

Daugherty's familiarity with the subject matter and the fact that he is a seasoned writer adds a great deal of substance to his clear and concise text.

As an example, his dealing with the topic of selling articles is primarily based on the advice "study the magazine." Although the author admits, "this may be the most clichéd advice ever offered to people who want to write for magazines. It may also be the best." This study should entail looking at the cover, table of contents, masthead, departments, articles, advertising, guidelines, and the various types of magazines. In other words, don't leave any stone unturned, you may unexpectedly find a niche.

An added feature is the inclusion in the last chapter of the book of the jargon used by writers and editors. The list, although not complete, can help you "speak magazine like a native." As Daugherty states, if some editor orders you to "kill that widow," you won't end up doing anything you'd regret."

One of the deficiencies of the book, however, is there is an absence of a section dealing with other magazine reference sources and web sites. This would have been helpful. Nonetheless, this compact guide will prove to be a welcome addition to a writer's library.

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Posted September 16, 2002