Writing for magazines - Awful process

amother

↑ Raspberry ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 3:04 pm

DVOM wrote:

Ahhhhh! I tried so hard to hold back, but I just can't anymore!

Your not using the word 'resonate' correctly. You'd like your writing to resonate with readers. You believe your writing has resonance. But saying 'copywriting is not resonate' and 'my writing is resonate' is not proper English.

Ok! Sorry! Grammer police signing off now!

Note the bolded, Grammar Police!

Sorry, just couldn't hold back LOL

mamaleh ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 3:06 pm

DVOM wrote:

Since you’re policing…you’re not your.

↑ DVOM ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 3:09 pm

Lol!!!!!!

Those who live in glass houses....

I could go back and correct it all, but I think I'd better not, and leave it for the amusement of future readers of this thread!

amother

Skyblue ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 3:49 pm

I’m a photographer. Although I can have a set price, there’s much more money to be made by offering clients the opportunity to pay per image or per package. So I do the actual session and then edit the pictures and then show them to the client, who can choose to buy zero or just one photo. So I could’ve done a ton of work, and afterwards, the client rejects it. Real estate agents and many other salespeople do tons of work and don’t get paid at all, until they make a sale. That’s how some industries work.

If you don’t like how the frum magazine writing submissions process works, find an actual job where you get paid to write a regular column.

And I wouldn’t say dispensable. I would say: not valued, due to the low pay. On the other hand, all art and luxuries can be considered dispensable.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 4:09 pm

DVOM wrote:

And while I'm at it....

Your title. The word 'dispensible' is being used to describe 'writing'. Writing itself is not dispensable. I think what you mean to say is that writers are dispensable, as in, the writers and their talents are being treated like they are disposable.

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry! I don't know what's gotten into me the day! Just....errrrrrr!!!.... improper grammer digs into my brain like a vicious little worm! Such relief to get this off my chest!

I like you! LOL

You're right! I first titled it why is writing so cheap? And that might be not perfect either, but the reason I changed it was because I thought people won't understand what I'm saying. On Imamother it's less about the actual grammar rules and the mechanics of writing, rather for the message to be understood.

But I admit, the technical parts of writing are not my thing. I write well but I definitely need good editing because I just don't know how to get the grammar straight. Especially when I'm writing fast or informally without paying attention to the mechanics.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 4:11 pm

amother Zinnia wrote:

Ya. I'm an excellent writer with a very resonate and funny style. Whenever I write something people always say why don't you write for (insert Jewish magazine)?
I would be a really good columnist. I'm positive of it but it doesn't matter. Breaking into the frum magazine world is impossible for most of us.
My writing is basically wasted talent. Every once in a while I think of writing a book of musings. Pipe dream.

I feel you. I've also been told I'd make a good magazine writer but alas it's too daunting to keep trying.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 4:13 pm

amother Brunette wrote:

My friend writes for one of the magazines. She’s on the staff and is given a few topics to write on each week. They prefer to have people work for them full time and not publish random articles people send in.

So I understand that for feature articles and interviews. But the musings pieces and personal stories are not by staff writers much of the time.

For example, I once wrote a "Words Unspoken" piece for Family First. I put my heart and soul into it and it's not something that transfers over well elsewhere, because it was specifically for that column. They rejected it. Which is absolutely their right. But it would've been so much easier had I first pitched to them, hey, I want to write a words unspoken piece about xyz - is this something that interests you? If yes, they can take a look at a couple of my writings and then I can write it.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 4:15 pm

amother Chestnut wrote:

I work in the frum magazine industry. If you're actually really good, you'll get published. These magazines are desperate for material and good writers.

So perhaps they're not good at seeking out good talent?
I'm not saying this for myself, I'm biased obviously. But I feel like there are so many people that are incredible writers that would be able to be tapped and it's not that they wouldn't want to write. So where's the kink in this process?

amother

↑ OP ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 4:17 pm

amother Skyblue wrote:

You don't take photos and get paid nothing if they take zero photos, right? I haven't seen a photographer do that. They ask for a fee upfront and then in addition per photo you choose.

vintagebknyc ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 4:33 pm

I’m confused. I have been working as a journalist/editor/copywriter for 35 years.

I get an assignment. If they like the work, they pay me. If they don’t like the work, they either ask me to re-do or pay me a kill-fee, as agreed to in my contract.

Who are you doing work for who isn’t paying you?

ectomorph ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 4:45 pm

amother Zinnia wrote:

Please pm me some of your writing!

seeker ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 5:09 pm

Didn't read replies, only the op.

I have written for magazines and I use exactly the format you describe - I submit a pitch for an idea, and samples I've written for other jobs. If they like my samples and accept my pitch then we have a job. I don't write full articles without an audience/ customer unless I wanted to write it for my own self expression anyway.

This might mean that there are things I could be writing and selling that I'm not. But I'm OK with that because I simply don't want to invest the time and energy into a just-in-case.

↑ seeker ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 5:14 pm

amother OP wrote:

Did you try that - asked them if they want a words unspoken piece about xyz before you wrote it (and attached is another sample of my writing to get a flavor)? And they came back and said no, you need to write the whole thing first?

↑ seeker ↓

Thu, Jan 19 2023, 5:17 pm

amother Obsidian wrote:

I beg to differ. I’ve written for all the major magazines numerous times and was offered a position as a staff writer. The pay is pathetic and writers are at the whims of the editorial staff. They keep asking me to write more but won’t budge on the pay. Please excuse me while I actually earn a living wage.

She didn't say if you're good you'll get paid well; she said if you're good you'll get published. Or offers to get published, at least, should you choose to accept what they offer to pay.