Writing Magazines

Arisa81 · Apr 12, 2007

I posted this question on my blog too, but I thought adding it here might get more responses. I am looking to finally subscribe to a writing magazine.
What magazine would you suggest for someone who writes non-fiction?

Thanks!

Siddow · Apr 13, 2007

The Writer usually has articles specific to non-fiction and freelance writers. But really, I would suggest subscribing to the magazines you want to submit to.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 13, 2007

Nonfiction

Arisa81 said:
I posted this question on my blog too, but I thought adding it here might get more responses. I am looking to finally subscribe to a writing magazine.
What magazine would you suggest for someone who writes non-fiction?

Thanks!

The same ones as for fiction. Writers Digest and The Writer both have many articles on writing nonfiction.

Pat~ · Apr 13, 2007

I also like Writers' Journal because they have a regular poetry feature.

Arisa81 · Apr 13, 2007

Thanks, guys! I think I am going to go with WD first.

Carmy · Apr 13, 2007

WD has just added to their on-line newsletters.

Linda Adams · Apr 14, 2007

You can certainly get a couple of issues from the bookstore before you subscribe. Writer's Digest just underwent a major editorial revision--thankfully. I had almost unsubscribed because they it seemed like there was an article on "Five things you can do to improve your writing" (i.e. delete adverbs and adjectives) in every issue last year.

Jamesaritchie · Apr 14, 2007

WD

WD has also gone to six issues per year, rather than twelve. I actually liked WD as it was, but also as it is.

There will never be an issue where everything helps every writer, and there will likely be several issues where nothing helps, so it's not a good idea to judge by reading only a couple of issues. One good article per year far more than pays for the price of a subscription. One good bit of market news per year far more than pays the price of a subscription. One good column per year by a writer such as Nancy Kress far more than pays the price of a subscription.

And the cost is a write off come tax time.

Writing magazines are cheap, and one sale derived from one article in any one of them will pay for a subscription for all of them.

Maryn · Apr 14, 2007

I haven't seen the new version of Writer's Digest magazine, but when I allowed my subscription to lapse, virtually all its advertising revenue seemed to be from pay-to-publish companies.

While this may be the right path for some writers in some genres, it so clearly opposes Yog's Law that to me it cut the legs out from under every improve-your-writing article. ("If I'm writing so well, now that I've followed all this advice, why do I still have to pay hundreds of dollars to be published?")

Maryn, crusty and disagreeable

Cathy C · Apr 14, 2007

I agree they need to revamp their classified section in the back. When I saw all those subsidy publishers and scams, I found myself distrusting the integrity of the articles. It's why I stopped my subscription.

Will Lavender · Apr 14, 2007

Poets and Writers is a very fine magazine.

The best feature they run is the "Contests & Deadlines" feature in the back. You go back there and see so many authors winning contests and fellowships and the like, and it's bound to get you motivated.

Maryn · Apr 14, 2007

Cathy C said:
I agree they need to revamp their classified section in the back. When I saw all those subsidy publishers and scams, I found myself distrusting the integrity of the articles. It's why I stopped my subscription.

It's not just the want ads, last issue I got, although they're bad enough. But several of the bigger PODs had whole, half- and quarter-page ads throughout the magazine. They accounted for more than half of the ad space. This says plenty to me, none of it good.

Maryn, not getting any writing magazines these days

Arisa81 · Apr 14, 2007

Thanks for all the thoughts everyone. Really appreciated.
I find so many magazines these days to be running so many ads, a lot of which seem to go against what the magazine promotes. That's getting quite annoying.

Since I have never actually subscribed to a writing magazine before, I'll check out any I see around the mall tomorrow (I find writing magazines to be non-existant except for a bookstore like Chapters). I'll probably try out WD first. After that, might try something new. I always like change anyway, so I can shop around.

Thanks guys!

Kudra · Apr 15, 2007

I was about to get a subscription to some of these magazines a few years ago, but then a friend sent me samples copies to look at before I did. I found that if I was trying to find the answer to a question, or if I was looking for information on say, travel writing, there wasn't really more than an article or two to help me out.

Instead, I started relying heavily on websites for writers such as www.absolutewrite.com and www.writing-world.com. I'm also a huge fan of www.poynter.org (there's more information on there than several hundred issues of these writing mags combined).

calamity · Apr 15, 2007

Creative Nonfiction Magazine

Fourth Genre

Writing Magazines

Arisa81

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

Jamesaritchie

Pat~

Luftmensch Emeritus, A.D.D.

Arisa81

Carmy

Linda Adams

Soldier, Storyteller

Jamesaritchie

Maryn

I Tried

Cathy C

Ooo! Shiny new cover!

Will Lavender

Everything is what it seems.

Maryn

I Tried

Arisa81

Kudra

Back and on track

calamity