Like Whirly, I've a fair track record of writing for assorted magazines - in my case over a little under 20 years, although only 7-8 years for flying magazines. I probably don't have her artistic flair, but a similar track record of getting things published (occasionally, I even use my own name !).
On that basis, I'm going to be arrogant enough to offer a few dos and don'ts if you want to get into the magazine writing game. These aren't in any particular order.
Do
- Read carefully the editors notes for contributors
- Discuss anything with the editor before submitting.
- Check, double-check, triple-check your spelling and grammar.
- Check all your factual detail is correct.
- Make sure that the editor will have access to high quality imagery, if not from you, from somewhere.
- Put your reader "in the cockpit".
- Carefully read several copies of the magazine to get a good feel for "house style". YOU MUST WRITE IN THE MAGAZINE'S STYLE.
Don't
- Exceed the agreed word length without prior agreement from the editor.
- Go to an aircraft owner offering to do a write-up on it for *** magazine without prior agreement from the editor.
- Give the editor any more work to do on your article than is absolutely necessary.
- Send in an overlong and unsolicited piece and expect anything but a rejection slip (and that only if you sent an SAE!).
I should say, that all the best aviation journalists have broken at least one of these rules at some time, but don't as a beginner in the field expect to get away with it.
G