Magazine Training International is pleased to announce that trainer Dr. Michael Ray Smith has published a new book. 7 Days to a Byline That Pays explains how to tell stories that audiences will read and editors will pay you to write. Delivered in a breezy and compact manner, this book will help you work fast,…

“75% of all revision is eliminating words already written; the remaining 25% is improving the words that remain.” –Theodore Cheney, Getting the Words Right Mr. Cheney is right. Leaving in extra words is like putting rocks in the reader’s backpack. It only slows him down and makes the journey more difficult. Many writers will set…

The current reality is that many of your readers are getting their news on the go and on their mobile devices. Writers, journalists, and publishers must adapt to this trend if they haven’t already. In this course, Timothy Morgan, director of the Journalism Certificate Program at Wheaton College, will equip you to write at a…

Well done! You’ve carefully organized and constructed an article from the introduction to the final point. But now it’s time to wrap up your masterpiece. No matter how tempting it is to introduce a new idea, the conclusion is a paragraph that allows the reader to read in peace, without unanswered questions or ideas that…

When people pick up something they can’t understand, they put it down again. You want your magazine to be read and comprehended. Part of knowing your readers includes knowing what grade level to write at. The general rule of thumb is to write for a 8th-grade reading level when writing for the general population. Many popular…

How do you craft a voice that will be heard by your peers? It’s not easy. When readers are busy, sometimes bored, and cynical about most media, it can be challenging to write an article that will hold their attention. Discover how to tailor your writing for print and for digital in a way that…

Your magazine is a friend to your readers. They like its personality, they know its moods and what to expect. Would you like a friend who looked and acted differently every time you saw her? While readers appreciate freshness, the content inside needs to be consistent with the message and fit your ministry’s purpose. Articles…

In order to help an editorial team come up with article ideas, many editors use an article planning worksheet. It is a great tool to use during team planning meetings. Get started with this article planning worksheet. Adapt the questions to the kind of articles you are looking for, and give this sheet to your…

The Crisis Publishing Initiative ends at after the celebratory banquet on Wednesday night. You’ll probably stay overnight in Sopron on Wednesday anyway. Why not take advantage of one of the bonus workshops on Thursday to polish your professional skills as a writer or photographer? The minimal $35 tuition cost for each day-long workshop includes coffee…

Interviews can be a source of anxiety for the interview subject as well as the interviewer. How do you create an environment to help your subject relax, open up, and share a message to your readers? Learn how to prepare for the interview, conduct yourself during the interview, and how to find the lead and…