Re: Rob Cardillo and plea to hire us

**"* H* <g*@charter.net>**

Susan Harris wrote:
> On GardenRant today I describe how Rob photographs for OG Mag, and tried 
> to make the case for mainstream publications to hire _actual garden 
> writers_ for their articles about gardening.  Radical notion, I know. 
> Susan
-------------------------------
I've spent most of my garden writing career writing for mainstream 
magazines.  It's not difficult to get the work if you craft your query 
right.

First, know the publication's audience.  Probably, they are novice gardeners 
or wannabees.  Or they may be retired or busy Mom's looking quick solutions. 
Do exhaustive research; read back issues and absorb the style.  Every 
article in the magazine will adhere to that style.

Second, indicate in your query how you will present material.  Bullets, 
boxes and sidebars are what busy editors want.  They make the job of laying 
out pages much easier.  And, the abbreviated format of presenting important 
information is easy for readers to absorb, cut out and put up on the 
refrigerator or bulletin board.  If you write a how-to, include a shopping 
list, too.  Editors love those.

Third, don't talk down to the reader.  Make the text uplifting, trendy, 
breezy and easy to read.  In my seven years with Woman's Day, it was a given 
that we wrote for 8th grade reading skills.

Fourth, provide or source many photographs and diagrams.  Graphics are what 
draw the mainstream reader and sell magazines.

Just my experiences over the last 15 years that work.
Doreen Howard

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