Writing for a magazine

[Junkman]

This. Or car clubs are always crying out for content if you're in one? I wrote for the 2CV club mag for quite a while.

 

That would mean I'd have to write about Rover P6es for Rover P6 owners.

Shock. Horror.

[Timewaster]

That would mean I'd have to write about Rover P6es for Rover P6 owners.

Shock. Horror.

I'd love to see that.

This months topic, rear brakes.

 

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

 

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKKKKKK,

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

 

Etc.etc.

[Junkman]

Open mouth, insert foot.

 

Thanks God they only need brakes when they are running.

[forddeliveryboy]

Thing is I've found owners clubs are pretty conservative things on the whole, one bloody fascinating but slightly controversial (because it challenged the mind) read was deleted pdq a few years ago in one rag and replaced with the ubiquitous "last month we were all surprised but pleased to see old marj and jim turn up at the meeting despite… jim had managed to polish those bolt threads to a new level" sort of recant. 

 

I gave up buying any regular national magazines and simply read this forum and a few other oddnsodds around the net. Do start up a blog BtB, if nothing else writing is cathartic which is always good if a car is giving grief.

[Timewaster]

A lot of one make clubs are so far up themselves that you aren't allowed to acknowledge the existence of other cars and to do a comparison would have you drummed out and replaced by a picture of George and Ethel showing off their new deck chairs at this years agm.

[UltraWomble]

I dont like to blow my own trumpet because it stinks but Ive had letters published in Viz and Practical Classics.

I had the Star Letter in the "Rail Riders Express" once and in Buster comic.

 

Ive also had articles published in Brownmag, Original Tin, Inside Times, Nursing Times, Journal of Advanced Nursing, RCGP- BJGP and with the Royal College of Pharmacists.

 

Some of it purely for fun, some of it serious. None of it made me any money. I'd like to write a chapter in a teaching book but doubt that I have the patience to do whats needed. For all budding authors out there its very rewarding seeing your name in print and thinking "I did that".

[Lacquer Peel]

The Laguna II 1.8 16v Authentique is a bitch and I spanked it.

[chaseracer]

I have written poetry, when the muse is upon me.  The challenge to include the phrase "a dab of oppo" in a future work is ON.

[xtriple]

I have been paid for writing! Usually, it must be said, quite some sodding time after it was written, which annoyed me no end. Had a pretty regular spot in 'Real Classics' (motorcycle mag) and wrote total fiction for 'SuperBike' back in the dim and distant past. The RC gig was a proper laugh as I used to get sent out to ride other peoples cherished classic and then slag them off in print... well, no, never, ever slagged them off even if I wanted to, but it was sometimes fun to make positive words read like it was a pile of poop, if it truly was.

 

After being contacted by 'The Spirit' to have my car on the front cover, it turns out they intend to also run a feature on it and a separate feature on how the pictures were taken. They want me to write about the car (all based on a posting on the club site) and the trials, tribulations and horrendeous costs involved with restoring to 'correct' a Bentley and my mate Mark (the picture taker/editor of various magazines) to do the other side.

 

While I don't mind at all, Mark is a bit less than enthusiastic as he does this for a (very good) living and to then do it for free, goes against the grain a bit.

 

But, in general, it's good fun, but when they suddenly start giving you deadlines and instructions on what to write/write about, the fun element diminishes quite quickly and, to me, it became a chore, then a bit boring then I quit.

[martc]

....I wrote for a mini magazine for a couple of years. It was hardly going to replace my day job but it was extra money...

 

The problem is you have to use a very small typeface, but the extra money would help to correct the inevitable squint you would develop.

 

(I'll get me coat...)

[AMC Rebel]

A lot of one make clubs are so far up themselves that you aren't allowed to acknowledge the existence of other cars and to do a comparison would have you drummed out and replaced by a picture of George and Ethel showing off their new deck chairs at this years agm.

 

Along similar lines, the word "git" is replaced with the text "NAUGHTY WORD NAUGHTY WORD" if you post it in the Rover 75 forum.  Not sure what that is about, or why it has to do it twice. 

[Tamworthbay]

The problem is you have to use a very small typeface, but the extra money would help to correct the inevitable squint you would develop.

 

(I'll get me coat...)

Don't be stupid, you just write it normal size but post it the building next door so its a long way away.

[RRT22R]

I've had a thing for car magazines since I was a wee boy.

 

The awesome LJK Setright and Russell Bulgin were my favourites. They published a book of Bulgin's work which I would love to get hold of, but the last one I saw was £many.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Along similar lines, the word "git" is replaced with the text "NAUGHTY WORD NAUGHTY WORD" if you post it in the Rover 75 forum.  Not sure what that is about, or why it has to do it twice.

 

That forum must hold some sort of world record for the highest number of arbitrary rules,its fuggin ridiculous.

[DaveDorson]

I've fancied this.

 

I considered doing a few long term road tests for the various chod I've owned and neglected over time, but then before I get round to it, I always end up doing something else.

 

The problem I've found about writing down what I plan to do, rather than what I actually do, is that I end up then not doing it. 

 

There are a few exceptions, obviously, but there's a real science based reason for that happening apparently.

 

It's very true to say, that the less I write about what I plan to do, the more I end up actually doing stuff  

[scruff]

I think there's plenty of people on here who would pen a terrific article or two, if their posts are anything to go by. Certainly better than some of the turn out by the larger publishing houses on a weekly basis.

 

I spent 2007-2015 doing it for a living, up to 2012 as "staff", and it was great but I either got writer's block or just ran out of mojo. 

[barefoot]

I write a monthly car page for a rock and roll magazine and have done for several years - I don't get paid for it but its a nice feeling that somebody somewhere reads what I've written.

Brilliant, I write a monthly cookery column for a VW magazine.

[mercrocker]

Brilliant, I write a monthly cookery column for a VW magazine.

 

Maybe we should team up and see how narrow a demographic we can target.....

[robinmasters]

I have written poetry, when the muse is upon me.  The challenge to include the phrase "a dab of oppo" in a future work is ON.

 

Not possible. I've tried, and there's no way to get 'There was a young man from Newcastle' to rhyme with that.

[BavarianRetro]

I've written various bits and pieces over the years for classic car mags, the JLSS, and others, both technical stuff and whimsical stuff on classic cars, law, database management, all sorts.

 

I doubt if, overall, I've covered the costs of the coffee I drank while writing it all.

 

Don't send any of the practical classic car magazines a synopsis for a series of articles. They'll get a staffer to write it and tell you it was an idea they had already considered.

 

I'd also recommend the blogging approach.

 

I write mine for enjoyment - mine, but last month I was approached by a motoring publisher and asked to write a book for them. The commissioning editor had read my blog and apparently liked what he had read, so after a bit of discussion, I wrote them a synopsis and, now, I've a contract, a deadline to meet and I've banked the first advance on royalties.

 

However, it's going to be an awful lot of work and I doubt if it'll earn me enough to pay £5 per hour for the time it'll take to write.

[Shep Shepherd]

I had an article about my mark 3 Fiesta published in Car Mechanics in early 2000 as part of their series about high mileage (100,000 miles plus) cars. I didn't get paid for it, but it was nice that it was published

 

Sadly, I don't think that I'd be able to make an actual living out of writing about cars, unless I was very lucky.

[DodgyBastard]

I did a rust in peace type of thing in Retro Cars Magazine for around a year, I already had a vast selection of photos of the places I'd visited so really just spent an hour each month typing out a backstory to the photos. It was enough to pay rent at my unit each month so I was happy with that. I eventually ran out of photos and places to visit so pretty much called it a day.

All of the articles I had written eventually got transferred onto my wordpress blog.

 

https://retroshite.wordpress.com/2015/07/27/119/

 

It was great getting paid for something I enjoyed doing.

[mercrocker]

I have written poetry, when the muse is upon me.  The challenge to include the phrase "a dab of oppo" in a future work is ON.

 

What about the Sweeney episode Stoppo Driver?   There must be some scope there!

[Alexg]

I started an online blog about old cars a few years ago. After about 6 or 7 articles I realised I had nothing more to say. Also I'd lose half a day proof reading and adjusting entries subsequently read by about 13 people.

[Jon]

I feel like that sums up my spotting thread, Alexg!

 

Actually, I submitted some spots to Dollywobbler for Retro Japanese magazine, then promptly forgot to order one online to see my moment of fame*. Would love to write an article or two, simply as a sideline/hobby, as I reckon I'd lose interest if I had to rely on it as a sole source of income. I work as TV/Film crew, so can only assume that the levels of glamour are pretty similar - i.e. not very.

 

I've said it before Trigger but your writing is humorous and interesting to read. Maybe look to update your spotting thread, if only as a bit of writing practise. That said, I enjoy the freedom of a spotting thread to say any old waffle, so perhaps that's not a great idea.

 

My best grade at GCSE was a B (take that nerds!) in English Language, so if you fancied a go at writing an article, I'd gladly proof read it for you. 

[martc]

Don't be stupid, you just write it normal size but post it the building next door so its a long way away.

 

This magazine is mini, that magazine is far away.

[Tamworthbay]

This magazine is mini, that magazine is far away.

The great Father Ted, it never gets old.

[surprisingskoda]

 

Not possible. I've tried, and there's no way to get 'There was a young man from Newcastle' to rhyme with that.

 

Try harder!

 

There was a young man from Newcastle,

Who went aboot the toon,

Saying, "I've spent all day trying to wrastle

A dab of oppo from me 'loon.

 

I've been trying to make it slide all day

It seems impossible to me."

I asked, "Isn't that a Suzuki Kei?

That's a front wheel drive auto, you pillock."

 

Admittedly, i could try harder too, to be fair.

[Dick Cheeseburger]

Along similar lines, the word "git" is replaced with the text "NAUGHTY WORD NAUGHTY WORD" if you post it in the Rover 75 forum.  Not sure what that is about, or why it has to do it twice.

 

Another, now defunct car forum which I used to frequent had no swear filter in place. That is apart from the Cockney rhyming slang for James Blunt. The swear filter converted it into 'gammon'. Needless to say, the word gammon was regularly used in posts.

[Formula Autos]

Brilliant, I write a monthly cookery column for a VW magazine.

For our amusement, can you start doing recipes with a high pineapple content?