Writing for Publication [Paperback]

Erik Bean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

The Writing for Publication book is a guide and video transcript designed to accompany The Online Magazine Article Writing Workshop and features interviews with Car and Driver's Editor-in-Chief Csaba Csere, award winning environmental writer and Michigan State University Professor Jim Detjen, and Publisher Len Fulton, who will help guide you through the necessary steps to getting your articles published.

Author Erik Bean will help you search for the writer within, recognize who will purchase your unique brand of writing, help shape it toward its intended audience, and will demonstrate how to submit it for publication, the most rewarding aspect of the entire writing process.

This new book or the VHS video (ISBN 0966516508) can be used independently or in tandem. Neither is part of an expandable educational series. Additional Website articles, writing samples and other writing links are available and you are encouraged to seek them out. On the other hand, if one only relied on reading this book, he or she would obtain enough information to begin and/or maintain a flourishing freelance writing career.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Two hours with Writing for Publication is worth a year in the School of Hard Knocks, but don't try to digest it all in one sitting. Take a break after each segment to let it all soak in." -- Susan Molthop, Writer's Exchange "We mine the Net so you won't have to." [e-mail]

From the Publisher

If you are enthusiastic, like to write, and desire to see your work get published, Writing for Publication demonstrates a concise and proven method to quickly help get your articles in print!

Excerpt on freelance markets from Csaba Csere, editor-in-chief, Car and Driver Magazine:

"Magazines that are written all by freelancers are certainly more fertile ground and magazines like that also cover a wider spectrum of stories. What a freelancer needs to do is come up with a story that perhaps the magazine hasn't heard of. If you come up with something original, most magazines will not just rob your idea and give the story to someone else. We try not to do that because we don't think that's fair. But you must come up with something original."

Most beginners submit material to publications that are not buying or those that are simply too competitive. Writing for Publication will demonstrate which magazines want your writing and how you need to shape and submit it.

Excerpt on interviewing from Jim Detjen, award winning environmental writer:

"I think it's important to realize that people want to be interviewed for a lot of reasons, and you shouldn't assume they're necessarily doing you a favor. In fact, you are often doing them a favor. Politicians want to get their names quoted in publications because they're running for election; people are selling books and videotapes and records and other things. People are trying to enhance their own reputation by getting their names known in various publications. And some people just enjoy, for ego purposes, to be recognized."

Writing for Publication will explain what you need to know in order to succeed at interviewing and gathering the right kind of information for your stories.

Excerpt on submissions from Len Fulton, publisher:

"In the editing business we say, 'We don't have to eat the whole egg to know it's bad.' Most editors can tell in three pages whether you can write or not..."

There is a specific way of targeting your writing to magazines that accept freelance articles. Writing for Publication will show you how to edit your work for their requirements, thus strengthening your writing, making it clear and concise.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 82 pages
• Publisher: Deadline Communications; 2nd Reissu edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966516524
• ISBN-13: 978-0966516524
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,443,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Clear and Concise Road to Publication!, January 10, 2000

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

This review is from: Writing for Publication (Paperback)

Loved it! A simple, clear and concise road to publication. Best of all, unlike traditional static books that can become out-dated, this one provides new information via The Online Magazine Article Writing Workshop web site.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive, practical resource available today!, November 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing for Publication [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Erik Bean has created the most comprehensive, practical resource available today! He provides a clear, step-by-step process for both the novice as well as published author to follow. He takes the "mystique" out of writing for publication. Erik has a straightforward, low-key style that is easy to follow and incredibly believable. The reader/viewer knows that here is an author who speaks from his own experience. In an amazingly competitive business, Erik is a real anomaly: he tells it "all" simply and practically...including how to discover your own subjects, the query letter, photography,attribution, and rejection letters - he covers it all! Every wanna'be author has to own a copy - this will be an investment with top-dollar payoffs! You will have to purchase your own copy - I don't share mine! END

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Viewer Friendly Video Saving Writers Valuable Creative Time, November 16, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Writing for Publication [VHS] (VHS Tape)

"When I was on the board of directors of the Austin Writers' League, we started a conference just to bring in editors from publications to meet with our members. Writers wanted access to these people and wanted to know what the editors wanted from submissions. This video went a long way in answering the questions the editors answered time and time again. It sure would save a lot of people a lot of time and frustration if they would pay attention to what Erik (Workshop Host) says in the video.

One of the most important points the video makes is that "If you don't enter (the market), you can't play." By watching the video people will learn how to play and, more importantly, whom to play with. In between the lessons on how to write a letter and some specifics about common grammar, spelling and style errors, is some good advice -- like don't submit your queries to the largest national publications. Look for niche publications and target them specifically. You're much more likely to be successful. Good advice.

The examples of query letters and response letters were excellent and realistic. You (Erik) could have gone on all day with the section on common style errors, etc. Glad you didn't, but you could have.

Overall, I thought the video was viewer friendly, not too fast-paced and not too slow. And it wasn't one of those videos that bounced around all over the place."

BRADLEY WILSON, Assistant Academic Director, University Interscholastic League, University of Texas-Austin END