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Writing a magazine article?

Super Fantasy

Archmage
Im going to be creating a magazine soon.
Although im not sure to make it multi topic or follow a common theme.
 

Genly

Sage
Hm... interesting. Let me know when you have more details.

If you haven't done so already, you might want to have a look at the website Submission Grinder (I know, it's a silly name). It's a way of finding markets for stories and books. You can arrange its database by topic e.g. fantasy, horror, science fiction, poetry and so on. Also, Duotrope serves a similar purpose. It might give you some ideas on finding a niche market for your magazine.
 

Insolent Lad

Archmage
Wrote quite a few when I was younger but they were mostly for fitness and bodybuilding magazines. The world has changed a lot since I was sending typewritten pages to editors.
 

Super Fantasy

Archmage
How about this as the magazine structure?

Cover page:
Magazine cover image

Magazine identity
Title
Logo

Magazine teasers

Magazine image teasers

Table of content:
Page numbers

Featured articles
Science article one
Science article two
Discovering the world article one
Random article one
In depth article one
Image showcase article

Science article one

Science article two

Discovering the world article one

Random article one

In depth article one

Image showcase article
 

Genly

Sage
I think this is a decent structure. This looks like a popular science magazine. Am I right? Having said this, I know next to nothing about marketing or how to edit a science magazine. I just write stuff for them.

For this mag, who is your intended audience and what are they expected to know? This is usually the first question that someone asks themselves before any form of communication to the public.
 

pmmg

Myth Weaver
Creating a Magazine is not my interest, but I am sure there is a lot of work, which is more than just creating the template to drop stories into.

My experience with writing for magazines was mostly meeting their requirements, and topics. Fighting with word counts, and having the editors decide to chop out portions of what I wrote was a part of it. I did not enjoy getting 'abbreviated'...it always looked suspect to me. Hard to make a case when people remove all the framework due to space issues... But...Space matters in a magazine. I understood. (though maybe not an online one).

If I was looking to write for a magazine, I would have to look at their requirements, and requests. I'd also have to either have a spontaneous idea about it, or...I'd have to be writing to get it published, as opposed to writing to say what I want say. I really do not enjoy writing to get it published. But...that's just me. It sucks to write and write, and never get readers, or get paid by anyone.

Why is it always so hard? :bigtears:
 

Super Fantasy

Archmage
I think this is a decent structure. This looks like a popular science magazine. Am I right? Having said this, I know next to nothing about marketing or how to edit a science magazine. I just write stuff for them.

For this mag, who is your intended audience and what are they expected to know? This is usually the first question that someone asks themselves before any form of communication to the public.
What other components can I add to this? Im thinking a "Random science facts" portion or something?
 

Genly

Sage
Yeah, I like "random science facts". There are so many of them...

Maybe a one-paragraph bio (an entertaining one) of famous scientists commemorating their birthdays?

I guess we might be getting a bit off-topic for a fantasy writers' group...
 

Super Fantasy

Archmage
Could I use non copy right images in my articles?
Or can I use copyright images as long as there is a reference?
 

Genly

Sage
I'm not sure how much this writers' group can use this information, but to answer your question: if you are using the images to generate a commercial income, for instance by selling a magazine, you will almost certainly have to pay copyright costs on many images.

The rules vary a lot. Some images will not be able to be used at any cost, and some only can be used in some countries. There are clearing houses that deal with this issue and handle requests for reuse of images: for instance, Plsclear. For images published in scientific journals, sometimes it's more productive to go directly to the web site of the individual journal, where often there will be a link where you can request re-use of published images.

Images taken from Wikipedia will have their rules for use included in their metadata e.g. at the bottom of this image is the tag "CC BY 4.0". If you click on that, it says the image could be used freely for any purpose whatsoever, but you have to cite it appropriately.

You could message me directly if you have further detailed questions.
 
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