4 Magazines about Writing

ByLine.
P.O. Box 130596
Edmond, OK 73013

Every issue features several articles on writing, market information, contests, some poetry, one short story, and a philosophical end piece. ByLine is as much entertaining as enlightening, and even though helping writers sell is a topic, encouraging them to sit down and write is one of the primary messages. ByLine assumes an intelligent and educated reader, willing to do the footworr, willing to do the footwork for an article or story. A big plus: ByLine is subscriber paid and has no advertisements.

Subscription rates: $20/year (11 issues, one double issue; subscription only, no newsstand sales), sample copy $3.50.

Poets & Writers Magazine.

This magazine full of interviews of authors like Amy Tan and John Irving, and includes many articles about creative writing and even teaching creative writing. It's aimed at serious authors, not the "gee, I wanna write" audience that Writer's Digest seems geared towards. There are also copious listings of contests, grants, and workshops in the back half of each issue. And there's even a helpline for subscribers. Yep, call up and get advice on writing/publishing direct from the staff!

Subscription rates: $20/year (six issues), sample copy $3.50.

The Writer.
Writer's Digest.

Most misc.writing contributors find these magazines target people who want to be writers rather than people who write. If you judge a magazine's intended audience by its advertisers, you'll notice that most ads in Writer's Digest promise to edit/read/ghost-write/publish your masterpiece for pay; very h your masterpiece for pay; very few tell you how to invest your enormous royalty income.

Some of the columns in Writer's Digest are quite good; read these in the library.

Note: The annual Writer's Digest magazine poll often contains incorrect information about available markets, what these markets want, and where these markets are. A number of magazine editors have asked WD to not include them in the list of ranked markets. Be aware inclusion or exclusion from the list is not an indication of quality or availability.

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