An interesting question was posed on a Facebook group recently. How many writers read the magazines they write for?
This was my response: 'Shh... no.'
As you can imagine, it raised a few eyebrows - so I thought that I would write a blog post to clarify my response.
There seemed to be two threads to the question and I shall address each in turn.
Firstly - Should writers buy the magazines to support the publication that buys their work?
Obviously writers will have their own opinions on this but here is my stance: I do buy any magazine I have a story in but this is so that a) I can keep a copy for myself and b) I have one to show my friends without them feeling obliged to buy one themselves. Funnily enough, this has indirectly helped to support The People's Friend (for whom I write regularly) as one of them liked reading it so much that she has now started to buy the magazine herself on occasion.
At the end of the day, writing stories is my only income (apart from my story collections) and if I bought all the weeklies I write for and all the specials, it would make quite a dent in it.
I feel I support the magazines in a different way - by writing good quality stories which I hope the readers will enjoy and which will, in turn, help to sell the magazine. I also give my support by helping to advertise the magazines on Twitter and Facebook and my blog and a few months ago had an article published in Writing Magazine about writing serials for The People's Friend for Writing Magazine and have contributed to a similar one soon to be published in Writer's Forum.
Secondly - should writers buy the magazines to use as research?
Obviously I wouldn't dream of telling writers trying to break into the magazine market that they shouldn't - but on the other hand (I know my People's Friend editor Alan reads my blog so he will have to put his hands over his ears now!) I have never made a secret of the fact that I never have.
To explain this, I need to give a little background to my writing career. While I was doing an online writing course, we wrote short pieces and stories and when the course finished, my lovely tutor suggested I try sending some of my work to magazines. I chose my favourites, and wrote a few more, then after reading the guidelines for each magazine (very important) I sent them out. I'd never bought any of the magazines and I hadn't ever read any of the stories. The reason for this is I love reading novels too much - I have a whole pile by my bed waiting to be read. I was lucky to sell a story quite quickly, first to The People's Friend and then to Take a Break Fiction Feast, followed a little while later by one to Woman's Weekly. What this did was give me a benchmark to work from for the next story.
What if I had read the magazines first? Well, I think that if you study the magazines too hard there is always a danger that you look at a successful writer's work and think, "I'll write a story like that." But what if you do? It's important to remember that the magazine you are studying already has that writer writing those types of stories in that type of style, so why would they need another writer doing the same?
Recently, I attended the RNA writing conference where an editor said that the problem with suggesting your novel was like someone else's was that the agent/publishers were looking for unique voices - not a clone of someone already on their books. I believe the same can be said for magazines. My style is unlikely to be the same as that of x, y or z because I haven't read their stories. My stories are unique to me... and that's how I want it to remain.
When I was a new teacher, working in an open-plan school, there was a teacher in the class next door who I greatly admired. I loved her teaching style and tried to copy it, hoping it might help me with my classroom management. It was a disaster! It wasn't until I had found my own style of teaching that I knew I was becoming a halfway decent teacher. I think I learnt a lesson from that.
I'd love to have my novel published by one of the top publishers (wouldn't we all!) or be represented by a top agent but does that mean I will read all of the books published/represented by them in the hope of emulating them? Of course not! What I will do, when the time comes, is read the biographies of the agents I'm thinking of sending a submission to, to find out what they are looking for and I will read the submission guidelines over and over to make sure I am doing it in the right way. And my novel? Well, I will allow it to speak for itself... in the same way my stories do.
So there you have it - the reason I don't buy magazines! Please feel free to add your own thoughts.
You sum up the dilemma very well, Wendy. We need to support those mags which publish fiction or else they will cease to publish. But there are other ways to offer that support.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, Babs - and thanks for starting such an interesting topic of conversation :)
DeleteYou are a gifted writer, Wendy, but for many of us we need to read and learn, which presumably is why the editors advise us to read the mags before submitting. But we do each need to learn our own voice which is that spark of originality the editors seek. Difficult balance to achieve.
ReplyDeleteThe cynic in me says that of course editors advise us to read their mags, Beatrice. It creates more sales! When I first started submitting short stories I read very few. I think it's possible to lose one's own voice when trying to emulate someone else's. What I did do was study the submission guidelines. This, I think, is essential. Otherwise you could just be wasting your time and that of the editor.
DeleteLike Wendy, I have my own collection of magazines containing my stories. Not as large as Wendy's (whose is!) but precious to me nonetheless.
Thank you, Wendy. Great post.
The submission guidelines are the key, without a doubt, Natalie.
DeleteThe comparison you make between writers and teachers is an apt one, Wendy. When I was training to be a teacher, I was advised to watch other teachers and copy them - and, like you, I found it simply didn't work. But once I developed my own style, I was fine - not to mention a lot more comfortable! It's the same with writing. You have to find your own voice.
ReplyDeleteIf you concentrate in writing something you'd enjoy reading yourself, you're halfway there, Susanna.
DeleteI'd say that if what you're doing works (and in your case obviously it does) then keep on like that. But if people aren't selling their stories and don't regularly read the magazines it will probably help them to do that.
ReplyDeleteI've come across quite a few people who've made assumptions about what magazines wat - eg PF has to all be about old people who knit and WW only want straightforward romance and are writing accordingly. Reading a few current copies would soon show them where they're going wrong.
That's a very good point, Patsy - you are absolutely right.
DeleteVery valid points Wendy. I often see books advertised as the 'next ...' (Insert hugely successful author) and always wonder what the author thinks. Being compared to someone is very flattering but like you I think you have to know your own style and be happy with it on your terms, I think ultimately this is what makes you a good writer. We often love to read things that are also vastly different from our own writing. I love edge of the seat thrillers, but I certainly couldn't write one!
ReplyDeleteI love reading psychological suspense but love writing romance!
DeleteA very interesting post and I like the balanced comments in response! It has worked brilliantly for you, Wendy, writing in your own voice from the beginning and that's what makes your stories unique. You also started writing by doing an online course first which probably helped focus your writing. But I do agree with Patsy that many writers need to be aware of the kind of stories magazines are publishing - especially for one like Ireland's Own for instance.
ReplyDeleteSo the moral is, check and double check the guidelines, read a couple of the latest issues to get a feel for the magazine then write something you would like to read yourself.
DeleteI can see your point now, esp when you said about magazines wanting a unique voice. They won't get that if you are basing your stories on someone else's. I am now trying to write stories based on my own experiences, which will be unique to me.
ReplyDeleteWishing you every success, Julie.
DeleteThis is a really interesting post, Wendy. I subscribe to TAB Fiction Feast (in fact, the latest issue has just popped through the letter box and my story's the first one in it!) and I always buy the WW Fiction Special, partly because I want to see what else they're publishing but also because I actually enjoy reading most of the stories. There's a little part of me too, that feels I should be supporting the magazines I'm submitting to. After all, if there are no readers, there soon won't be any magazines...
ReplyDeleteI think it's different if you enjoy reading magazine stories, as you do, Helen. I love writing them and reading novels!
DeleteI never thought of it this way but you're right. And if it's absolutely necessary to read an issue of a magazine it's usually possible to get one at the library or even online.
ReplyDeleteIt would be sad to think that the only magazine buyers were the writers who aspired to be in them! (Luckily I I know this isn't the case).
DeleteI do the same as blogaboutwriting although my copy hasn't arrived yet. I sold the first story I sent out to WW & thought 'this is easy'. It isn't and I agree you should write in your own voice.
ReplyDeleteNo, it certainly isn't easy, Tricia.
DeleteGreat post, Wendy. I think when you're starting out as a writer you have to read/buy the mags just to understand the type of story they print. But I agree with your approach now. Nobody would expect an artist to go out and buy up as much art as they can - they just create new pieces. It's actually a bit sad that you have to buy a copy of a mag when it contains one of your stories.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think Woman's Weekly are one of the last to send a contributor's copy. My husband laughs at the fact I buy every copy I'm in - I'm not sure why I do (maybe it's because I still can't really believe I'm in them!)
DeleteYou've made some good and reasoned points, Wendy.
ReplyDeleteWhile I'm not submitting short stories at the moment, I do buy the Fiction Special that Woman's Weekly produce. I enjoy reading the stories of writer friends when they appear in the magazine. :-)
Thank you, Caro,l and I'm glad you enjoy the stories.
DeleteI did a double-take when you said you'd never read the mags but, reading the explanation, I see your point. I could never have written for them without reading a few first but I'm not a natural writer (I'm an engineer really). I approach my writing as I would a technical project, by studying the requirements and coming up with the desired product.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit though - a few times I've been told by PF that my stories are too typical.
You've had some interesting comments here, Wendy. Good post.
I love the way you tackle your story as an engineer would, Keith. I know my husband would be the same.(That''s why he makes a good proofreader too.)
DeleteA really interesting post, Wendy. All the advice seems to be to read the magazines to get a flavour of the stories they publish but as you say, it's so important to write in your own voice. Writing to a formula would never work, would it?
ReplyDeleteBetween us all I think we have come up with the perfect recipe, Jan!
DeleteA really interesting post and I totally agree that you don't need to keep buying the magazine once you know what they are looking for - and you certainly seem to have that sussed.
ReplyDeleteI suppose, at the end if the day, we all do it our own way, Maggie.
DeleteJust wanted to say thankyou for replying to everyone so diligently. It is much appreciated.
DeleteYou are very welcome, Maggie (she says diligently!)
DeleteThis comment is from writer Kate Hardstaff:
ReplyDeleteAs I said on F/B, my approach has always been the opposite, though obviously this works for you! I always read the magazines or I couldn't write for them. They change all the time, and reading all the other articles often gives me ideas as it tells me what the readers are interested in - the magazines have market research to help! I'm having to take an enforced break from writing just now but my subscriptions keep me in touch and promise me I will come back when life allows... But whatever works for you - really interesting post!!
Kate Hardstaff
Hi, Wendy. Some really interesting points being made here. I respect everyone’s views and can see where you’re coming from about finding your own voice. I’d like to add a couple of thoughts in to the mix, though.
ReplyDeleteOne is that magazines don’t stay the same. They constantly evolve, so reading them at least occasionally keeps the writer up to date with that evolution. Different styles, genres, topics, themes may start to appear, and the non-reading writer can miss that shift in perspective – and thus the opportunity to try some different ideas of their own if they’re stuck thinking, ‘Oh, the Friend wouldn’t want a story like that.’ Sometimes these shifts are more subtle than can be spelled out in the guidelines.
Reading a magazine also gives the writer the chance to spot the gaps, stories that would still fit the magazine’s style and guidelines but that no one has thought of writing recently. - Shirley, People's Friend
Thank you so much for giving your view, Shirley. Changes of style, genres and topics within a magazine is something that you and others have highlighted and I absolutely agree that it's something both old and new writers need to be aware of. Because I write regularly for The Friend, I have seen the changes over the last few years but of course it's not something everyone would realise unless they read a few recent copies of the mag. If my post has brought this to the fore, then I'm happy to have helped :)
DeleteI write regularly for PF and WW too and I still read them both regularly, partly for research but mainly because I enjoy reading their fiction so much! I think absorbing myself in their fiction has made it easy to write for them. Getting the style and feel right comes so much more naturally. Yes I still get rejections but not many. When I write for a mag, especially PF, I seem to instinctively know when I have it right. And Shirley is so right about spotting the gaps. Viv ( Hampshire)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Viv. It's great to hear so many interesting views from other magazine writers.
DeleteI haven't had as many acceptances as I'd like and need to keep reading the successful stories to find out how I can improve. On that tack, I'm thinking of applying for a place on TPF's writing workshop in York. The coupon is in this week's issue and it's so refreshing to find something like this being held in my area.
ReplyDeleteIf you go, I'm sure you'll find it very useful, Maggie.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI don't doubt it, Wendy, and it will be good to see Shirley again. (We met briefly at Swanwick.)
DeleteI've always enjoyed the fiction mags, but lately I have more books to read. I'll still buy a mag if I like the look of it though. The serials are a favourite of mine. As for writing, I'm still to please the womag editors, but I write stories I like to read, and will always keep trying.
ReplyDeleteMy second People's Fruend starts in early September, Susan. I hope you enjoy it.
DeleteHi guys, can I come in here too as I feel very strongly about this.
ReplyDeleteMagazines change constantly in line with what the readers want - so if you haven't read one for a while you need to revisit it. Gaynor Davies still complains that people think Woman's Weekly is pink and blue and about knitting and this is so far from the truth that it's laughable.
It's one of my biggest fears that magazines will cease to exist. There were 80 plus woman's magazines that took fiction when I started writing in 1987. In 2000 when I went full time there were 21. Now there are far fewer - 7 I think that are open to anyone to submit. This is a direct result of loss of readers.
It would be a tragedy if magazines disappeared due to lack of support. I feel so strongly about this. We must buy them. I have subscriptions to two both fiction and I buy the others on an ad hoc but very regular basis. I only support magazines that carry fiction. They are my livelihood and I am theirs - it's a reciprocal arrangement, like all business. Publishing and writing are businesses that are totally reliant on each other.
If we stop buying magazines that carry fiction they will stop carrying fiction. Yes, I know there are other markets that pay for stories but can anyone tell me of one that actually pays rates that are more than £1.00 an hour or so? Magazines still pay the best rates in the market place as far as I can see anyway. Phew! Rant over!
Thank you for your comment, Della - it's been fascinating to read everyone's views. I agree it is very sad that there are so few magazines selling short stories now. I came into magazine writing when there were only a few to submit to, and I know I have been very lucky in selling to these. Of course I would be very sad (and a lot poorer) if they disappeared altogether but, as I said in my post, I think there are many ways to support the magazines - not least by advertising their existence, supporting them on our blogs (I have links to many of them in the side bar) and other social media and, most importantly, by writing the best stories we can. Also, I am pleased to say that I've had people say they have started buying fiction magazines after having read my two story collections.
DeleteI would never submit anything to a magazine I hadn't read at least one issue of, but that doesn't mean I have to buy them. I beg and borrow from friends, lurk in waiting rooms and, most importantly (and seriously), I look online where publishers often give a sneak preview of their latest issues and list the contents. For non-fiction, there is often a index of previously covered topics.
ReplyDeleteI am now trying to picture you lurking in a waiting room, Julia!
DeleteHear, hear, Della! (Is that how you spell this kind of "hear, hear"?) Also, I honestly think you absorb the atmosphere of a mag almost by osmosis when you read it - something that cannot happen by reading guidelines. Everyone is different but reading the mags I write for helps me monitor their shifts and moods. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you've hit the nail on the head there, Lydia 'Everyone is different' and we all have our own ways of working. What works for one person won't necessarily work for another. My post is entirely my own view and certainly not what I am suggesting to others.
DeleteI think that's the right Hear hear - always foxes me too!
DeleteI agree with you, Della - and I'm glad someone (apart from me!) has finally said that we need to support the magazines. I don't buy PF very often (sorry Shirley) but that's because I don't submit to them but I read the others religiously. They don't cost much, after all.
ReplyDeleteI think 'supporting' and 'buying' the magazines are different things, Helen. If I worked for Next, would I necessarily feel I had to buy all my clothes from there even if they didn't suit me? If I was happy in my job, I would tell everyone what a great place it was to work, what lovely people I worked with and encourage as many people as I could to shop there by telling them about the quality of the merchandise.
DeleteI must admit I read magazine fiction as a reader, for pleasure these days (it's so good!) but it also helps me stay in touch with what's being published. In the early days of writing for them, I read them to get me in 'short-story writing mode' and it was invaluable :)
DeleteI think that's what a lot of people do. Thanks for your comment, Karen.
Deletefabulous work. Law Essay
ReplyDeleteI have always read magazines with fiction in them - that was what inspired me to write for them, so that I could try to be in the same magazines as those wonderful writers whose stories I read every week - Debbie Santangelli, Gabrielle Mullarkey, Teresa Ashby and others. I always saved the latest Take a Break and Woman's Weekly Fiction Specials to take on holiday with me and wouldn't allow myself to read them before I went. Books came too of course but the story magazines were great for all those short gaps you get while travelling. Once I started writing for them (joy!) there was no reason why would I want to stop reading for them. It has always been a pleasure to me, though there isn't enough time to read every issue of every magazine.
ReplyDeleteOf course you don't have to read the magazines if you prefer to read something else. But personally I wouldn't enjoy writing things I wouldn't want to read for pleasure. And for most writers I can't help but think knowing what the magazines like would be helpful. It doesn't mean you are going to copy style, voice or content - just that you know where the current heart of the magazine is, what kind of experience they want to offer their readership. I certainly don't feel that my stories are any less mine or any less original because I have read other people's for so long.
Everyone is different, of course, and having had such early success gave you a different kind of insight into what works for which magazine, but most people won't have had that.