Writing for a magazine

[pilninggas]

  On 30/11/2016 at 21:50, strangeangel said:

My favourite automotive magazine was (and remains) the much-missed Used Motorcycle Guide. Most of the content consisted of articles written by the readership, and they didn't take advertising so the editorial position was refreshingly independent. I always found it far more informative and entertaining than stuff written by professional journalists. On that basis I reckon everyone above who's expressed an interest in writing should get together and do an AS blog - it'd most likely be great!

 

I used to love the UMG, no biased reviews by journos who had to tow a line. Some of the stories made me cry with laughter. The editor was a misery guts, it was sublime. Some of the content is on a blog somewhere.

 

Didn't the mainstream magazines publish the also A5 and similarly formatted/designed 'Used Bike Guide' specifically to steal unwitting purchasers away and close it down? I bought it by mistake once or twice.

[Guest Lord Sward]

  On 01/12/2016 at 15:44, RRT22R said:

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.

 

 

 

I've got the Bulgin book.  Just saying like....

 

Two words spring to mind when looking at writing for money on a regular basis; 1) Deadlines.  2) Liable.  

 

Do it for fun if you're going to do it.  The game isn't known as The Piranha Club for nothing. 

[Richard]

  On 03/12/2016 at 18:52, pilninggas said:

I used to love the UMG, no biased reviews by journos who had to tow a line. Some of the stories made me cry with laughter. The editor was a misery guts, it was sublime. Some of the content is on a blog somewhere.

 

Didn't the mainstream magazines publish the also A5 and similarly formatted/designed 'Used Bike Guide' specifically to steal unwitting purchasers away and close it down? I bought it by mistake once or twice.

 

It was the Used Bike Guide that begat Jalopy. I always felt that UMG took itself more seriously than UBG, but I might be remembering it wrongly.

[strangeangel]

  On 03/12/2016 at 18:52, pilninggas said:

Didn't the mainstream magazines publish the also A5 and similarly formatted/designed 'Used Bike Guide' specifically to steal unwitting purchasers away and close it down?

 

Yes, the UBG was Mortons watered-down version/cash-in on the UMG's success, edited by Frank Westworth (who had at least one article published by the UMG in the early days). It was wank.

 

This editorial by Bill Fowler himself (Where is he now? Motorcycle journalism is in dire need of someone who doesn't simply regurgitate industry press releases) explains what ultimately happened to the UMG.

 

There's been nothing like it before or since - the closest thing I can think of these days is the Rider's Digest.

[Guest Lord Sward]

So many journalists are in reality just churnalists.  They write what they are effectively told to and praise what they're effectively bribed to.  

[Eddie Honda]

I used to pick up my Rider's Digest when I was working on two-wheels. Probably got some very early copies knocking around somewhere.

[Jim Bell]

I used to like Readers Digestive. The magazine for people that liked reading and biscuits.

[dollywobbler]

  On 03/12/2016 at 20:44, Lord Sward said:

So many journalists are in reality just churnalists.  They write what they are effectively told to and praise what they're effectively bribed to.  

 

Much the same with the new wave of bloggers, who've managed to get on the new car launch scene, and daren't actually say anything even slightly negative about a car in case their free pass gets withdrawn.

[Guest Lord Sward]

I couldn't agree more.  At what point does such a hobby/career become simply corruption as opposed to genuine, worthwhile information?  I get collared on average once every couple of months by the nice people who convert my copy into legal and readable articles.  Indeed this month, my hate mail has reached new heights with complaints by telephone to head office.  But theres no way I'd change tack.  I do it because I want to write, not to get freebies.  

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Eh? What is the nature of their complaints?

[scruff]

  On 03/12/2016 at 20:33, strangeangel said:

Yes, the UBG was Mortons watered-down version/cash-in on the UMG's success, edited by Frank Westworth (who had at least one article published by the UMG in the early days). It was wank.

 

This editorial by Bill Fowler himself (Where is he now? Motorcycle journalism is in dire need of someone who doesn't simply regurgitate industry press releases) explains what ultimately happened to the UMG.

 

There's been nothing like it before or since - the closest thing I can think of these days is the Rider's Digest.

That's brilliant, is the large man with the beard Frank Westworth as mentioned above and of Jalopy fame?

[Guest Lord Sward]

  On 04/12/2016 at 12:35, Mr_Bo11ox said:

Eh? What is the nature of their complaints?

 

 

 

Reply removed on legal advice.  Nothing to see here.  

[warninglight]

I do bits and bobs for a couple of Irish titles - used to do a lot for them until I moved to England 3 years ago. I like to keep my eye in when I can and do a few things a year, squeezing in photoshoots on trips home.

 

I had contacted a couple of more 'niche' titles when I moved across here, but never got anywhere with them. Don't know where I'd find the time if I had!