English 350-01

Wed 9:30-12:20

English 350-02

MR 9:30-10:50

BL 145

Magazine Writing

Prof. Kim Pearson

217 Bliss Hall

x 2692

Resource Pages for Journalism Students

Syllabus Pages

Projects Pages

Useful websites 

This course will help you understand the art, business and craft of writing, editing and selling magazine features. With regard to writing and selling,
means: 

1.You will create a package of articles (totaling 4000 words) targeted to specific publications, and accompanied by query letters; 
2.These articles will be critiqued by your peers, and by me, in workshop sessions, 
3.You will revise those articles and queries for submission to the specified publications, as well as
for a grade. At least one article will be for unbound, our online newsmagazine. The others will be
for print or online magazines of your choosing. 

With regard to editing, this means: 

Many of you will have some responsibility to assist in the editing and production of Issue 12 of unbound.
Some of you will have formal editorial and production positions, with some concomitant adjustments in your article-generating requirements. All of you can expect to be ask to assist with
task such as finding links or fact-checking. Through this effort, you will gain an appreciation for the way in which magazines are targeted to specific audiences, the relationship between publication design, advertising and editorial content, and the changing shape of the magazine industry. 

We will also discuss the business of being a non-fiction writer. You will learn about the structure of the magazine industry, and the ways in
which non-fiction writers build their careers. You will study the variety of reporting and writing styles that are the tools of contemporary non-fiction
writers. You will learn about communicating with editors, agents and publishers. We will also touch upon taxes and other business issues which
confront free-lance writers. 

Major Class assignments

Assignment 1: Due January 30 or 31
1. Select 3 magazines which you read and for
which you might want to write. If print,
select and describe typical front, middle, and
back of book stories. If online, select 3 stories
from 3 regular sections. If both print
and online, are both sets of stories in both
versions? 

2. Do a self-inventory. How do your skills,
strengths, weaknesses, potential, experiences,
and inclinations fit?

3. What can you do in this class that might
help you land an internship,
freelance work or a staff job in with one of
these magazines in the next
year?

4. Based on all of the foregoing, list 3
measurable learning goals for this
class. Arrange a conference time with me to
discuss them. Bring clips and a resume. You will do a self-assessment at mid-semester. 

Assignment 2: DUE FEBRUARY 27 or 28
Interview a magazine writer-- freelance or
full-time. This must be someone who is a paid
professional writer or editor -- not a student.
1.How do you generate story ideas? 
2.What are your reporting methods? 
3.Interviewing tips? 
4.What other kinds of writing do you do?
How are they similar to or different from your
magazine work? 
5.Do you have any advice for beginning
writers? 

Biggest mistakes?
One thing a beginner should know? 

Class schedule and assigned readings. 

Note: After the first class, you should be prepared to discuss the assigned reading on the day it is listed. "The Keyboard" exercise is due the following class, and should be e-mailed to me.

January theme: An Introduction to Magazines and Literary Journalism

February: Story Ideas and reporting