The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write It [Hardcover]

Peter P. Jacobi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0253332656 | ISBN-13: 978-0253332653 | Publication Date: April 1, 1997

"... this is surely one of the more thoughtful books on magazine journalism. Highly recommended." -- Library Journal

"An excellent how-to, guaranteed to satisfy requests from would-be authors." -- Booklist

"... provides writers with hundreds of ideas to help stimulate their creative approach to magazine article writing." -- WRITERS' Journal

"All kinds of writers will want to keep this volume on their handiest reference shelf." -- Arts Indiana

"For any aspiring magazine writer, or even a practiced one, this book is a treasury of inspiration and solid, eye-opening instruction." -- Herald-Times

"More than just another writer's guide to marketing an article, or coming up with salable ideas, [the book] is actually an idea promoter in that it illustrates the basic principles of good magazine article writing, uses examples from well-known publications, and offers strategies for leading into an involving piece." -- The Midwest Book Review

In this indispensable text, veteran journalist Peter Jacobi offers students hundreds of ideas to help them become more creative in their approach to thinking, planning, and writing magazine articles. Packed with useful advice and top-notch examples, this book takes a practical, hands-on approach to help beginning writers turn everyday subjects into compelling features.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Journalism professor Jacobi focuses on article writing as a creative process as opposed to a way of making money. He notes that insight and deep feeling lead to the best writing, quoting poems and other fine work as examples. Articles are excerpted from varied publications to exemplify how such techniques as information gathering, structuring, exposition, and description have led to successful results. A chapter is devoted to close analysis of two articles, one an investigative expose on arson that appeared in Playboy , the other a major story in Restaurants & Institutions on combatting high labor turnover. A chapter also considers such near relatives of the article as the personal essay and the profile. Not concerned with manuscript mechanics or marketing, this is surely one of the more thoughtful books on magazine journalism. Highly recommended.
- William A. Donovan, Chicago P.L.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Peter P. Jacobi is Professor of Journalism at Indiana University. He is a consultant for magazines, a specialist in speech coaching and media training, and author of several books, including Writing with Style: The News Story and the Feature and The Messiah Book: The Life and Times of G. F. Handel's Greatest Hit.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Indiana University Press (April 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0253332656
• ISBN-13: 978-0253332653
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,423,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars What a disappointment!, May 29, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write It (Paperback)

This book was totally the opposite of what I was expecting - namely, practical down-to-earth steps in preparing a magazine article. Instead, it was filled with samples that could be called "motivational" but not the practical tips I seeking. I found the "Writer's Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing" by Jean Frederette to be much more of the nuts and bolts that I was looking for. Perhaps a more experienced writer would appreciate the powerful examples in this book; however, as a novice I need to know more tecnique than theory. My book will be shoved to the back of the bookcase for now.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for the aspiring or established writer, September 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write It (Paperback)

Magazine writing is a breed different from any other journalistic style. Peter Jacobi's book explains and inspires, in plain English, how to captivate readers, remain focused, and appeal to an audience. As important a reference as Elements of Style

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Resource!, May 5, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Magazine Article: How to Think It, Plan It, Write It (Paperback)

This book is probably the most focused, practical book on the market. Full of ways to find writing ideas, organize them, and get them down on paper in a captivating way. For anyone searching for a resource written just for writers, you'll find it here. Great book, Peter!