Advice For Writing a Magazine Article
by Dave & Jaja Martin

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During the past seven years Jaja and I have written forty-six articles for sailing magazines. Thirty-two of them were accepted; the rest came back with rejection slips. A question we are often asked is: "How can I increase the odds my article will be accepted for publication?"

Here are some things we've learned over the years that might help.

Sailing magazines receive hundreds of articles each month. Unfortunately, only a few will make it into each issue. That's a tough ratio to dominate. So, how can your article rise above all the others and be "heard"?

It is paramount to have a strong "voice" when writing. Know who your audience is. It took us years to learn that trying to "impress" fellow sailors was a moot point; the people we wanted to "impress" were the magazine's editors. They have seen it all a hundred times before. Failing to grip the editor's interest in the opening paragraphs may result in a rejection slip.

There are two basic types of articles which sailing magazines print: "How-to" articles and "Adventure Narrative" articles. When writing a "how-to" piece remember to focus, focus, focus. Pick a specific topic, then tie it up in knots. For example: If you wish to discourse on the many types of windlasses available, try to avoid wandering off to the subject of anchors--unless the information is key.

Adventure narratives are fun to write because it is exciting to tell a "good" yarn. Unfortunately, every one has a good story to tell and adventure narratives pile up on an editor's desk like guano on a high-tide rock.

Fact: A well-organized "how-to" article will be more marketable than a well-written adventure narrative.

However, when writing a narrative article, it is still important to remain focused. Pick a theme and stick to it. All references and allusions should support the theme.

Warning: Be meticulously accurate if you include brand names, island and town names, latitude and longitude, etc. Most sailing magazine editors have years of offshore sailing experience. Discrepancies, or blatant misinformation, will damage your credibility and your piece will surely get passed over.

Avoid preaching. No one likes to be told what to do. A reader wants information that can be mulled over, and applied to his own, or her own, circumstances. An easy way to escape sounding like a know-all is to avoid using "you" and "you should" in a sentence. There is usually a way to engineer a paragraph that skirts the usage of "you". Also, a paragraph that is not littered with "you's" is generally more concise, and therefore easier to comprehend.

Sailing magazine editors are not only on the lookout for discrepancies, they are also keeping a weather eye for credibility. One way to make an "incredible" story "credible" is to bring the reader aboard and let him become part of your decision-making process. Since we all have lapses in judgment from time to time, it is important to be honest when describing a perilous situation. Most readers will be able to relate to the mistakes that lead up to a crisis. If they can't relate, they may actually learn something. Using silliness, or corny humor to gloss over inexperience and mistakes, will usually just make you look stupid. Anyway, when an author is not being honest, it is easy to tell. Credibility is lost.

Years ago, Jaja and I were advised by an editor to skip sappy cliches, which are usually the first things to come to my mind when describing something. (For example: "the dance of the dolphins" and "wine in the moonlight".) Inventing a new way to say the same-old-thing can be amusing for everyone. Get the editor laughing, or make him thoughtful, and he will become an ally. Even if the article has a few shaky spots, a magazine will gladly take the time to finesse a piece that contains substance and originality.

Great photos (though not necessarily a good camera) often help to sell a piece. Remember to get people in the shots; a smiling face or a thoughtful expression can bring an otherwise mundane photo to life. Don't be afraid to send many shots. The magazine's art department may see different things in the photos, or they may use a portion of an image. (For years, most magazines preferred slides. Now, magazines use digital images, or they scan photos. When in doubt, call or email the magazine you wish to submit to.)

Resist submitting your article when it is fresh out of the printer. Writing is like distilling alcohol. It takes time. Getting the unwanted impurities out of the text will result in a more highly refined product.

When an article is finished, I try to forget about it for a day or two and let my brain digest the finished product. An author who thinks he has just written the best article in the world is headed for trouble. If I am in love with a piece that I've just written, it means I haven't discovered its faults yet. Almost every article has some faults. Let someone else read it. Find out what they don't like about it, or what confuses them.

Jaja and I like to keep our narrative articles on the short side--under 1500 words. Space constraints are the culprit for major changes to a piece. If a paragraph or two have to be removed, the editor must create new transitions to make the piece flow. If every word tells, however, and the transitions are faultless, the chance that changes will be made will be much less.

Fact: If you don't say it clearly, with as few words as possible, the editor will do it for you.

If an article's "voice" is weak, or too long-winded, an editor will have to tweak sentence structure to make it flow. He may condense paragraphs, or combine them. In extreme cases, a paragraph's true meaning might go right out the window; this could be because the editor may not have understood exactly what you wanted to say. Don't get discouraged. If you see your piece in print and you don't like it, scrutinize why changes were made and try not to make the same mistakes the next time around.

Be patient. After submitting your article, it might take 6 months for a magazine to get back to you. If you sign a contract, it could still take a solid year before the article goes to print. Some articles we've sold have sat around for several years before going to press.

My sincerest advice is after your article has been sent to a magazine, put the whole thing out of your mind. Instead of fretting, or waiting excitedly, write another article. I like to keep my thoughts rolling. The more I write, the easier it gets.

 

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