A Cat’s Point of View: Kitten Magazines

Hi! Let me introduce myself. My name is Humphrey. I’m a cat. I’m also a writer.

What?! Sure! Hey–you’re a writer. What’s there to say I can’t be a writer, too? I wanna get published! I wanna get famous! I wanna earn money to buy extra cans of tuna fish! I wanna write! Just like you.

One of the ways I’m trying to break into the publishing market is by writing for kitten magazines. I collect ‘em. I go to thrift stores and library book sales and garage sales. I buy stacks and stacks of ‘em. I read ‘em lots, too. They help me get familiar with the magazines I want to write for. I study the stories and nonfiction articles and puzzles and recipes. I type ‘em out. I read ‘em again and again. It helps me learn exactly what kind of articles go in each different mag.

Some writers I know organize their magazines alphabetically in neat little pocket folders or file drawers. Not me. I stash mine all over the house. I store Kitten Pockets under my couch. I stuff Kitty Highlights under my kitty bed. Next to the fridge, I stack a pile of Sports for Kittens. I keep ‘em handy!

As I read through them, I write down purrfectly delightful ideas that pop into my feline brain. Some writers I know organize ideas in a pocket folder or write down ideas for different magazines on index cards and file them in a file box according to which magazine the idea would work for. Not me. As I read through the stack of magazines I’m currently targeting, I write my ideas down on the back of catfood labels. I store ‘em in empty tuna fish cans. Not only do these ideas jumpstart my brain when I’m thinking of topics to pitch to an editor–they smell good, too!

When I pick three to five ideas, I paws and think of ways to develop each idea into an article or puzzle to fit the magazine I’m targeting. Some writers I know draw a story web to develop each idea. Not me. I draw a ball of yarn. Then I draw about 8 pieces of yarn sticking out from the ball. In the middle of the ball I write down my idea. On each piece of yarn that sticks out from the ball, I write down details that pop into my head to help me develop my idea.

Then, when I have three to five story yarns prepared, I contact the editor of the magazine I’m targeting. I usually only target magazines where the editors say they accept e-mail queries. Hey, I wanna break into the market and get published–not get lost on the bottom of some mega-kitten magazine’s slush pile!

Here’s a sample of the e-mails I like to send:

Dear Petunia,

I have been studying your magazine, Wee Kittens. I see that you feature a nonfiction article about dogs in every issue.

I got your writer’s guidelines from your website and see that your next theme is on “Dogs are a Cat’s Best Friend.” I was wondering if you might be interested in receiving a nonfiction article to fit into that theme on any of the following ideas:

1. Gifts to make for your Poochy Pal
2. Dog Heroes: Interview Spot, the celebrity dog who donates millions to cat charity
3. Top Ten reasons cats and dogs should be friends

I’m looking forward to hearing from you,
-Humphrey
my address
my phone number
my e-mail
my blog

After I send my e-mail, I wait about two weeks. If I haven’t heard back, I send a second e-mail and simply state that I’m checking to see if the editor received my original e-mail (and paste it at the bottom). If I still don’t hear back in about two weeks, I target a different magazine and start the idea process all over again. I don’t wanna wait around forever. I’ve only got nine lives, you know!

So there you have it: This cat’s point of view about breaking into the market and writing for kitten magazines.

-Contributed by Humphrey, Nancy’s 22-pound writing buddy

Writing a Children’s Magazine Story: A Basic Check List

This checklist has some of the basic elements needed for writing a magazine story for children.

• MAIN CHARACTER: Will your readers LIKE the main character? Is your main character (protagonist) too “perfect” or did you give your protagonist a “wart” or flaw? Is your character believable to children?

• THEME: The theme is the main idea or message developed in your story. It’s what your story is about. Is your theme universal and age appropriate? Is your story too preachy? Does the plot, or what happens in the story, follow the thread of your theme from beginning to end? Did you avoid going off on “rabbit trails” (another theme or two)? It’s important to stick with only ONE theme all the way through or you may confuse the young reader with mixed messages.

• CONFLICT: Is your character’s conflict or challenge age appropriate? Is it resolved by the protagonist without an adult taking over?

• SHOW DON’T TELL: Are you using dialogue when you can to “show” what happens through the actions and reactions of the characters? There are very few illustrations in a magazine story. Your words must create “illustrations” in the readers mind.

• BEGINNING: Is the main character’s conflict or challenge introduced within the first few paragraphs to “hook” the reader?

• MIDDLE: Does the problem intensify and build in a series of several episodes (usually three), each one more difficult than the the last?

• ENDING: Is the problem resolved in a way that will not disappoint the reader? Is the ending satisfying? Has the character grown in some way or had a “come to realize” moment?

• FACT CHECK: Are your facts correct for fiction and non-fiction?

• FINAL MANUSCRIPT: Did you check the spelling and grammar? Is your story presented in proper manuscript format? Did you follow the magazine publisher’s guidelines? Did you stay within the word count? If they accept simultaneous submissions and you’re sending it to several publishers, did you mention that at the end of your cover letter?

Read a stack of your favorite children’s magazines and familiarize yourself with the kinds of stories, rebuses, poems, and non-fiction they like to publish. Hopefully, what you write will be a perfect fit because you studied the magazine and checked off your list! Happy writing!

Copyright 2008 Sheryl Ann Crawford

Study Those Mags!

 

            Many years ago, when I began my writing career, I took classes from two great teachers.  They guided me through my first steps into the publishing world and gave me the following advice, which was the prevailing wisdom at the time.  The best way to get published in magazines, they said, was to write the article or story I had in mind and make it the best I could by critiquing, editing and re-writing. The next step was to write up a list of 10-20 markets and begin sending the manuscript out.  Then, as soon as one rejection came in, cross that publication  off the list and immediately put the manuscript into another envelope and send to the next magazine on the list, until a sale was eventually made.

 

            The first part of that advice is still very true, but the second part, while it may have worked years ago, won’t work at all today!  Back then, I wrote mostly for the adult magazine market (religious, parenting, crafts, etc.) and I had limited success with the above approach.  But when I began focusing on magazines I read every month, such as St. Anthony Messenger, Catholic Digest, Needlepoint Plus, and Growing Child, I found my success rate was much higher.  And, since I had studied exactly what these publications were looking for and the writing style they preferred, then queried them first, my articles often sold the first time out.  The money I saved on postage could then be spent on copies of other magazines that I was unfamiliar with, allowing me to study them for future submissions and sales.

 

            When I began writing almost exclusively for children, I realized that studying children’s magazines was even more important.  There are no “generic” children’s publications.  The magazines published by the various religious denominations each have their own slant and message they want to convey.  Other publications may focus on health, crafts, boys only or girls only.  But even those that seem to be quite similar, such as American Girl and Discovery Girls,  have different audiences, different types of articles and stories they want to see, and unique ways of presenting them.

 

            I have been a “magazine maven” all my life. I enjoy studying magazines, taking them apart and trying to figure out each one’s particular mission and to whom the publisher is trying to appeal to, and then trying to fit my work into their vision.  While copies of some of the bigger magazines may be available in libraries, I usually buy copies of magazines I am targeting.  I consider this a part of the cost of doing business, and it’s tax-deductible!  The time and money spent may not appeal to others the way it does to me, but I believe it’s a necessary step to success in getting published in children’s magazines. 

 

            One humorous incident points up, I think, the true necessity of going through this process.  About 15 years ago, I took a course in writing fiction for children from one of the leading correspondence schools.  For the most part, my teacher was knowledgeable and helpful.  When I wrote YA short story, with teens as the main characters, she strongly encouraged me to send it to Living With Teenagers, published by an arm of the Baptist church.  However, from my research, I had already discovered this magazine and had sold them a short piece about myself and my son.  This magazine was definitely not FOR teen-agers.  The target audience was parents, to help them cope with the challenges of “living with teenagers.”  Someone obviously had not done her homework!

 

            So, study those magazines in whatever way works best for you, follow their submission guidelines, and your rate of acceptance is sure to improve!

             

Contributed by Marjorie Flathers 

Featured Interview: Jennifer Anne Messing

Meet Jennifer Anne Messing
E-mail: Jennifer Anne Messing
Web site: www.JenniferAnneMessing.com

Featured Critique Group:
Oregon Christian Writers
Website: www.oregonchristianwriters.org
Contact: Current Oregon Christian Writers (OCW) president: Mary A. Hake
Email: Oregon Christian Writers
Membership: 350+ members, open to new members. OCW has many aspiring and long-time published authors among its membership. There are professional authors in virtually every genre, such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, drama, newspaper journalism, etc.

General Information:
Oregon Christian Writers (OCW) sponsors three one-day conferences annually to educate, encourage, and promote professionalism among aspiring and published authors. OCW also sponsors a four-day Summer Coaching Conference held at the Canby Grove Conference Center in Canby Grove, Oregon.
Next one-day conference: May 17, 2008 at Northwest Christian College, Eugene, Oregon.

BIO:
JENNIFER ANNE F. MESSING is an author and poet who resides in Oregon with her husband, Michael, and their three children. Her articles, stories, and poems have appeared in over forty magazines and book compilations including: Standard, Evangel, Live, Seek, The Secret Place, Bible Advocate, The Proverbs 31 Woman, More God’s Abundance, Families Can Bounce Back, and Romancing the Soul. Jennifer Anne is also the author of a poetry gift book. Ms. Messing previously served for four years as president of Oregon Christian Writers (OCW), a statewide writers organization with 350+ members. She has a bachelor’s degree in Christian Education and a diploma in Freelance Journalism. Ms. Messing was born in Manila, Philippines.

Interview:
Q. Share one highlight of your writing career.
A. It’s difficult to pinpoint only one highlight, because there have been many in my writing career. But I definitely found it a highlight when I published my first book in 2004, an inspirational book, In the Shadow of His Wings~Prayers, Poems, and Passages to Inspire. (ISBN #1-4137-0737-8, Available for ordering at www.JenniferAnneMessing.com, borders.com, or at barnesandnoble.com.) Another memorable moment was having an author booksigning at a local Borders bookstore in Gresham, Oregon.

Q. What how-to-write books are on your bookshelf?
A. In addition to having annual subscriptions to magazines such as: The Christian Communicator and The Writer, I have found two books very helpful and inspirational:

A Complete Guide to Writing for Publication, Edited by Susan Titus Osborn, ACW Press, 1999
The Writer’s Handbook, Edited by Sylvia K. Burack, 1990 Edition, The Writer, Inc.

I am confident that subsequent editions of The Writer’s Handbook are also very helpful and informative.

Both of the above mentioned books feature chapters by various authors who are specialists in different genres of writing such as fiction, nonfiction, poetry, personal experience articles, etc. I have read and reread these books over the years. They are excellent!

Q. How have you grown as a writer through being a member of a critique group?
A. I was a member of a writers critique group for over five years. We used to meet once a month in person. My involvement with this group was very helpful. First of all, I grew as a writer because I had to grow in my editing skills when I critiqued the work of my fellow writers. I learned to become more objective and better at identifying what made an article or story work or not work. I also learned how to accept the comments and suggestions from others and use them to improve my writing. Instead of becoming defensive or sensitive when others made suggestions, I often discovered that when I made a few editing adjustments based on their input I would end up selling those articles and poems to editors.

Q. Describe specific ways you try to encourage each other in your group.
A. In our critique group, we had specific guidelines. One guideline was to always mention at least one positive thing about a fellow writer’s article or story. We also took time to listen to what each group member had accomplished or published since the previous meeting. We also suggested writing markets to each other.

Reading Between the Lines

 

            When I received my copy of the April issue of Children’s Writer, I thumbed through it the way I usually do. First, I check out headers in the newsletter itself, looking for articles I want to read. Then I turn to the Marketplace section to see if any new opportunities have surfaced.

            The first page was enough to stop me cold. Sports and marine science were the features of the month. Was I interested in sports? Not likely. I was the kid who was always chosen last for the team! Was I interested in marine science? No way. I can’t even get in a row boat without feeling seasick!

            Fortunately, the morning coffee hadn’t finished brewing. As I had a few minutes to kill, I began to read. Listen magazine, I discovered, believes that hobbies are as healthy as sports. It also wants articles on “new ways to be active.” 

            I had already been published in Listen and was familiar with their style. I wondered if they would like to look at a piece on bird watching. It is certainly a hobby, but is bird watching a way to be active? Aha! It is if you walk a couple of miles to find the birds you want to watch.

Would these ideas fit in with Listen’s emphasis on healthy living? You bet they would. What’s healthier than venturing into the great outdoors?

I turned the page. Smack dab in the middle of page 3 was an information sidebar listing magazines wanting articles on sports and health. Wait a minute! Did that say health? I had published over 50 health related articles. But I had never thought of applying my expertise to the field of sports. Why not give it a try?

Marine science was a little more challenging – until I came across a paragraph that talked about narrowing down the topic and finding an angle. Let’s see. Marine science involved oceans. But where there’s an ocean, there are seashores, and sand, and shells . . . Shells! I knew about shells. I’ll bet somebody out there would like to read my article about Jewelry of the Sea.

And all because I read between the lines.

 

Contributed by Marilyn Cram Donahue

 

Start With Non-Fiction

Many beginning writers for children want to start out with those marvelous fiction stories that all kids will love. Of course trying to get editors to pick your selection out of their enormous slush pile is easier said than done, especially since there are countless other children’s writers with the same idea.

 

So how do you make your dream of being published in a children’s magazine a reality? Write non-fiction.

 

My first published children’s article was a non-fiction piece about the Cedars of Lebanon for Learning Through History magazine. There had been a lack of interest for my fiction stories in several markets I had submitted to. When I saw an opportunity to write a creative non-fiction story about these great trees, I jumped at the chance. And it paid off. My article came out in the Summer of 2007.

 

Since then I have written four other magazine pieces: two non-fiction, one historical fiction, and one rebus for Clubhouse Jr. magazine.

 

Don’t let those rejection letters for your fiction stories get you down. Try non-fiction first. It may open the door for some bigger and better projects that will bring you publishing credits, editor contacts, and perhaps some money in your pocket as well.

Contributed by Catherine L. Osornio

A Prayer for the Creative Person

God our Creator,

You placed in every human being

the seed of creativity.

Help us each to nourish this seed

with care,

with wonder,

with playfulness.

 

Shine your face upon our creativity.

Warm it with an abundance of ideas.

Energize it with a rainbow of promise.

Let it break through darkness to become

an inquisitive bud reaching towards you.

 

And when the day is done,

may our hearts be grateful

to have served you in this way.

Grant our minds a joyful silence,

and our bodies and souls a peaceful rest

amidst the beauty of your heavenly garden.

Amen.

Contributed by Veronica Walsh

Writing for Children’s Magazines

One of the best ways to start your writing career is to submit to children’s magazines. Here are a few suggestions. 

1. Make a list of the magazines you want to write for.

When choosing magazines, don’t just try for the “big” ones such as Highlights. They may be difficult to break into. Set your sites on some lesser paying ones. Although not as lucrative, they are a great place to start getting clips. Then, as you build your credits and talent, you may find your work accepted in some of the more well-known magazines.

2. Read the magazines you want to write for.

That may sound strange but some people just randomly send a story they have written to a magazine editor without bothering to know if it fits into the style of the magazine. Many magazines have websites which have back issues. If the magazine you choose is not online, buy a couple of copies or go to the library and read them. Reading through the stories will help you get a feel for the type of stories they want. 

3. Target your story for a better chance of acceptance

Thumb through the magazine. How many stories are fiction? How many nonfiction? If there are more nonfiction stories, start there. If fiction, gear your submission to that. It makes sense that if there are five nonfiction stories and two fiction, a nonfiction story will have a better chance of getting accepted simply on the basis of need.  

3. Read the guidelines.

Never submit to a magazine until you have thoroughly studied their guidelines. Follow the guidelines. Not only does this show you are a professional but it will make your chances of acceptance greater.

4. Try to tell the story with a new twist. 

I read all the time where editors say they get the same stories over and over. Can you find a way to tweak the same old story so that it stands out from all the rest? Do that and your chance of acceptance skyrockets.

5. Realize how much you will impact children’s lives

Not everyone has to write a book to be an author. Many people devote their entire writing career to magazine writing. If you are looking to impact lives, there will probably be many more children who will read your article in a magazine than will read a book you have written. After all, isn’t that what we want to do? 

Try it. You might like it!

Contributed by Gloria McQueen Stockstill