Writing for Online and Print Magazines
Overview
1. Analyze Genres
- distinguish types of magazines
- distinguish types of writing: profiles, service pieces, issue articles, personal experience features, cultural reviews, short features, long features
2. Research Potential Markets
- research the market for specific topics of potential interest to a specific editor
- review magazines for editorial bias and style
- investigate and examine online magazines
- develop an editorial profile
3. Develop Text as Product
- research audience-specific and genre-specific material
- learn and apply interviewing techniques used in writing feature articles
- produce outlines for various articles
- write a column and a feature profile
4. Work to Schedule and Deadlines
- develop timelines and action plans to meet objectives
- develop prioritizing skills to meet deadlines
- use problem-solving strategies to meet objectives
- use skills necessary to maintain scheduling deadlines
5. Evaluate Product
- develop specific client-centred revision and editing strategies
- undertake rewrites as a way to learn critical self-editing skills
6. Market the Product
- produce general and specific query letters
- develop text for specific editorial markets
- use follow-up strategies
- pursue professional publication of writing produced in this course
7. Learn about Freelance Writing
- learn business and survival strategies for successful freelance writing
- develop an understanding of how writers and editors work together
- learn to use the terminology of the magazine publishing industry
- investigate online publishing possibilities
The course will be conducted in a workshop format to allow for instructor feedback on draft writing. Guest speakers will address specific magazine topics. Some field activities (interviewing, meetings) are required.
Students are expected to be self-motivated and to demonstrate professionalism, which includes active participation, good attendance, punctuality, effective collaboration, ability to meet deadlines, presentation skills, and accurate self-evaluation.
Evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy and will be based on this general format:
| Story ideas | 15% |
| Queries and cover letters | 15% |
| Column | 20% |
| Feature article | 35% |
| Professionalism/participation (as defined above) | 15% |
| 100% |
Students who successfully complete this course will:
- understand the history of magazine writing and how the genre differs from other types of writing
- analyze and discuss sample articles from online and print magazines
- develop a story topic from idea to completion
- actively participate in discussion of draft columns and articles
- develop the skills required for freelance and in-house writing for online and print magazines
- become aware of the related responsibilities and expectations in this field
Texts will include current editions of Canadian Press Stylebook and Caps and Spelling.
Requisites
Prerequisites
Acceptance into the Post-Degree Diploma in Professional Communication
or a minimum of 45 credit hours including a university-transfer course in English, Communications, or Creative Writing with a grade of B or higher
or permission of the Professional Communication program coordinator
Corequisites
No corequisite courses.
Equivalencies
Course Guidelines
Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.
Course Transfers
These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca
| Institution | Transfer details for CMNS 3600 |
|---|---|
| Thompson Rivers University (TRU) | TRU CMNS 3XXX (3) or TRU JOUR 3XXX (3) |
| University of Northern BC (UNBC) | UNBC ENGL 2XX (3) |