Customer Reviews

Effective Magazine Writing: Let Your Words Reach the World (The Writers' Resource Library)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Geared toward the new freelance writer hoping to be published in evangelical periodicals, Roger Palms' "Effective Magazine Writing: Let Your Words Reach the World" can help you learn to write and sell your work.

Palms', whose vast experience includes editing "Decision" magazine, challenges writers to think like an editor, and to meet the needs of the marketplace. Rather than write something and then see who will buy it, he suggests to turn that around. Who is buying what, and can I write it? This kind of critical thinking will produce more focused, stronger writing, and can enable you to sell your work.

As he has been the editor of a magazine read by almost two millions readers each month, he knows what editors want and what makes good writing. He presents this in a very well-organized, succinct text. Covering legal and ethic issues, and how to consider rejections, and what the life of a discplined writer is all about, Palms' book will encourage and push the Christian writer to move forward in a sensible way.

A perfect companion book would be "Christian Writers' Market Guide 2002: The Reference Tool for the Christian Writer (Christian Writers' Market Guide)" by Sally Stuart, an annual directory of Christian publications.

I fully recommend "Effective Magazine Writing: Let Your Words Reach the World" by Roger C. Palms.

Anthony Trendl

I have had the distinct pleasure to hear Mr. Palms speak on several occasions and I can tell you his speaking voice comes through in his writing one. In this book he is professional, approachable and convinces you that if you've the determination to learn the writing craft, it can be done. He provides the means through the book's twelve chapters.

In Effective Magazine Writing, Palms uses a format that is user-friendly, down to reminding you to put fresh batteries in your recorder before an interview. There aren't so many rules in this book as there are suggestive ways to write. He encourages the writer to listen to their voice when crafting an article.

My favorite chapter, page really, is Chapter Seven, God's Word In Your Words. On page 80, Palms reminds the writer by quoting Scripture, Hebrews 4:12, "For the Word of God is living and active." He talks about God's power and His Word not returning void, ending with "we want people to internalize what is true, we want people to think about truth...and to act on that truth."

Powerful words and an excellent reminder of what our writing should be about. As Christian writers we are about the business of God. He lives and breathes through us. It is our mission, no, our command, to honor and glorify Him in each word we write. I also liked the sidebars at the end of each chapter, offering a gentle reminder to make your writing crisp and clean.

This is a book you'll want in your office bookshelf to refer to again and again. It will make you a better writer. Guaranteed.

Palms offers the budding writer loads of helpful advice for how to get started and how to spread good news through articles. Aimed at people who especially want to write about their spiritual experience, Palms's book is a practical help from a man who seems to have loads of experience.

Mr. Palms has really done a wonderful service to the person that is interested in effecting their world for Christ through a larger medium such as magazine writing.

He has laid a solid outline that leads a person through each phase, and consideration needed in order to effectively communicate your ideas to both the reader, and your consumer, the editor.

I no longer feel the process is as complex as brain surgery, and can see how to go about being published with what the Lord is laying on my heart.

I would fully recommend this book to any writer that would like to understand the process and the kind of questions you need to be asking yourself as you write. There are also some great tips on researching your magazines and editors; tips that should save you lots of time and effort, let alone tears from rejection letters. He can't promise you won't get rejection letters, in fact he guarantees it, but he will help you cut down on those rejections and how to learn from them to make you a better writer.

I hope God uses this book to help us change the world, maybe one last time...

I received the book, Effective Magazine Writing, in a timely manner. The book was in excellent condition.