Print. With the uprising of technology and media platforms, some question: Will print media become extinct?
Technology has given us the NOOK, Kindle, and downloadable versions of just about every article, book, or magazine we could ever desire.
But, chances are, you still have some magazines lying around. Why is this?
Personally, I favor the physical time-weathered feel of a novel. I want to touch the glossy pages of a magazine. I want to turn the pages of an article and highlight the most important parts.
Print isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
Which makes me think, have you ever wanted to be published in a magazine? We all have experiences to share, inspirational stories, and ideas. Have you ever thought about sharing them?
I sure have.
I used to walk down the magazine aisle in grocery stores and just dream about having my name printed in one of those magazines.
I'd see magazines like Runner's World, Yoga International, and Outside Magazine, and stand there in the grocery store flipping through the pages. They are filled with color, inspiration, and an organization of thoughts, quotes, and photos that are a physical display of how I see stories in my mind.
{Print} is inspiring!
Sometimes, I'd buy one or five of them.
It's a physical representation of a certain thing, topic, or culture we want to learn more about or celebrate.
Which, brings me to the following question,
Why don't more people submit to editors?
I am now the editor of a magazine based in Central Minnesota called Lake Country Journal. While I spent the past six years writing, re-writing, sending pitches, and wondering if I could get published in many magazines previously.
What are a few things, from the editor's chair, that we want freelance writers to know?
1. Share the idea first.
Have a great idea? A fitting story or article pitch for a magazine you're drooling over? Awesome! Send the editor an idea of the article first; instead of spending so much time writing it in full. This way, it's more malleable. You have a higher chance of getting the article picked up if it's malleable.
2. Step outside of that stupid voice.
Lalalalalalalalalalalalllaal, you're not good enough. Heard that before. Need something better to stop me this time. That should be your response to that stupid, condescending voice, that says you're not good enough to get something publishing in a magazine. Tell it to shush up. Forget about it! Go for it. The greatest things in life exist just beyond fear.
Listen to Elizabeth Gilbert's podcast, Magic Lessons.
3. Editors are not all-knowing.
I know, you'd think they are, right? Like the omniscient third-person narrator, the one that knows all the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of all of the characters in a novel. They don't. They are good at stringing ideas together and planning which articles and stories fit best together but they're not all-knowing.
Pitch your ideas! Maybe your perspective is exactly the one they need. I'm constantly asking my opposites, What would you be interested in? What would you like to read? They have a different perspective from me, and that's what I'm looking for to give the magazine versatility.
4. You know who you are.
Spirit to spirit, I say to you: you know who you are. You know your desires. If you're a writer, photographer, or wannabe potter-- you know it! Stop it. Stop denying your talents and gifts. Breathe life into them! Even if there's a little bit of fear. You know who you are. Spirit to spirit.
Go. Create. Be free to be you.
Let me know what you're working on! Who you're submitting to! I'd love to hear from you. ---> emilee.outtabounds@gmail.com.
Cheers,
Em
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