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Magazine Editor: Benevolent Dictator
As a writer, you must be: Wildly creative while following the precise rules of grammar, spelling, and punctuation Assertive with editors while sticking to their exact guidelines And you must be willing to: Keep an editor up to date with your progress without bothering her Work hard on a project with no guarantee of another assignment For seven years, I worked as a freelance writer, toiling under that unspoken job description, and it was tough treading those invisible boundaries with editors. Then, from 1997-2001, I worked as the managing editor of a magazine in Ohio. Those years were extremely rewarding
Eight Weeks in Washington, 1861: Abraham Lincoln and the Hazards of Transition
Eight Weeks in Washington: Book Review Eight Weeks in Washington, 1861: Abraham Lincoln and the Hazards of Transition is an intriguing look by Richard J Tofel at the challenges faced by Lincoln at the beginning of his presidency—including what to do about the handful of US forts located in southern states that had not yet been taken over by the seceded states. The most important one, perhaps, was Fort Sumter, located in Charleston, South Carolina. Options included abandoning the fort to the budding Confederacy or traveling into enemy territory to resupply the men under the command of Major Robert Anderson. To
How to Write a Query Letter to a Magazine Editor
The Query Letter (Today, Likely a Query Email) When you hear a tidbit of intriguing information, do you find yourself wanting to talk to the people involved—to get the story behind the story? Does your definition of happiness include researching? When you stand in line at the grocery store, do you long to see your name as a byline on one of those glossy magazines near the cash register? Perhaps you’ve even gone as far as contacting a magazine editor with an idea, but you either received a rejection letter or never heard back. Well, first of all, you’re not
Football Player: Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson (1947-)
O.J. Simpson Note: I had written this for an encyclopedia and then the project itself got canceled. So, I decided to upload it to my site. Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson initially rose to fame because of his collegiate football performance at the University of Southern California (USC) where he set records for rushing yards gained, was named All-American (1967-68), won the 1968 Heisman Trophy, and played in two Rose Bowl games. He then gained more fame as an outstanding professional running back, known for his speed and dexterity, and then as a sportscaster and for his performances on television and
Film Review: Glory
Glory Encyclopedia Entry Note: I had written this film review for an encyclopedia and then the project itself got canceled. So, I decided to upload it to my site. Glory is a 1989 Civil War film that shares the story of the 54th Massachusetts Voluntary Infantry Regiment, one of the first units comprised of African American soldiers. Directed by Edward Zwick, the screenplay was written by Kevin Jarre, and the film merges historical people and events with fictional characters and subplots. Its ensemble cast shares the story of this unit from its formation to its most prominent place in history:
Film Review: Car Wash
(photo by https://findbyplate.com) Car Wash Encyclopedia Entry Note: I had written this film review for an encyclopedia and then the project itself got canceled. So, I decided to upload it to my site. Car Wash is a 1976 Universal Studios film produced by Art Linson and Gary Stromberg, directed by Michael Schultz, and written by Joel Schumacher. This 97-minute musical comedy contains elements of drama and romance with at least one reviewer calling it reminiscent of 1930s theater. This blaxploitation film, set in the Dee-Luxe Car Wash located in Los Angeles, California, covers just one day of interactions among two