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<p>Preface vii</p> <p>About the Authors x</p> <p><b>Part I: Reading, Writing and Relevance </b><b>1</b></p> <p>1 What Makes a Story Interesting? 3</p> <p>2 How to Find an Original Idea 14</p> <p>3 Strong Angles and Focused Ideas 26</p> <p>4 Digging Deep for Original Stories 39</p> <p>5 Talking Pointers: How to Conduct Great Interviews 55</p> <p><b>Part II: Taking Your Articles to the Freelance Market </b><b>73</b></p> <p>6 To Market, To Market: Shopping Your Words Around 75</p> <p>7 Pitch-Perfect Query Letters 91</p> <p><b>Part III: Adding Action and Anecdotes </b><b>107</b></p> <p>8 Where to Begin: The First 100 Words 109</p> <p>9 Action, Brevity and Style 123</p> <p>10 Anecdotes: Mining for Gold 138</p> <p><b>Part IV: Different Formats, Different Results </b><b>151</b></p> <p>11 Briefs: Shortcuts to Publication 153</p> <p>12 Profiles: Slices of Life 167</p> <p>13 Writing Nonfiction Narratives 186</p> <p>14 Eliminating the Ho-Hum From the How-To 211</p> <p>15 Making a Timely Calendar Connection 225</p> <p>16 Writing About Trends and Issues 237</p> <p><b>Part V: Exploring Digital Opportunities </b><b>253</b></p> <p>17 Building a Story Blog 255</p> <p>18 Long-Form Digital Storytelling 265</p> <p><b>Part VI: Preparing the Final Draft </b><b>277</b></p> <p>19 Advancing Beyond the Slush Pile 279</p> <p>20 Before You Hit the “Send” Button: A Checklist 293</p> <p>21 Careers in Magazine Publishing 299</p> <p>Appendix: Shoptalk: A Glossary of Magazine Lingo 314</p> <p>Index 325</p>

<p>“Summing Up: Recommended. Undergraduate collections.”  (<i>Choice,</i> 1 July 2013)</p> <p>"It doesn’t matter if the student’s chosen medium is daily newsprint, a monthly glossy, or an iPad, Sumner’s and Miller’s approach reinforces the time-tested tenets of feature journalism: make things interesting, well-organized, market-appropriate, and reader-friendly."  (<i>Journal of Magazine & New Media Release</i>, 1 June 2013)  </p> <p>“Highly recommended for any student interested in writing for magazines or the Internet.”  (<i>Cogito Ergo Sum</i>, 20 December 2012)</p>

<p><b>David E. Sumner</b> is a professor of journalism and head of the magazine journalism program at Ball State University, USA. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee and is a former ‘Magazine Educator of the Year’ in recognition of his contribution to journalism teaching. His books include <i>The Magazine Century: American Magazines Since 1900</i> (2010), and <i>Magazines: A Complete Guide to the Industry</i> (2006).</p> <p><b>Holly G. Miller</b> is a working journalist and communications consultant, with bylines in numerous publications including <i>Reader’s Digest</i>, <i>TV Guide</i>, and <i>Indianapolis Monthly</i>. She has degrees from Indiana University and Ball State University, USA, and teaches advanced feature-writing classes across America. In addition to writing, ghost-writing, and co-authoring more than a dozen books, she has won awards from Associated Press, the Society of American Travel Writers, and the Evangelical Press Association</p>

<p>Avowedly practical and concise, instantly engaging and brimming with ideas and expertise, this comprehensive guide to writing – and selling – engaging features in print and for digital platforms is offered in a lively new edition. Fresh material includes new chapters on storytelling for blogs and digital media, as well as updated facts and references throughout.</p> <p>The authors’ pragmatic approach aims to help budding writers hone their skills and launch their careers, with examples and ideas that spell out the ‘ABCs’ of non-fiction storytelling: accuracy, brevity and clarity. Too many articles, they say, are one draft short of an ‘A’ (if the writer is a student) or of acceptance, if the writer is a freelancer. The book maps out the pitfalls standing in the way of success, and provides expert tips on avoiding them. Practicing what they teach, the writing team has ensured this handbook is as entertaining as it is informative and concise as it is comprehensive.</p> <p>Third edition now accompanied by a website with a wealth of resources including PowerPoint presentations, handouts, and Q&As. See <a href="http://www.wiley.com/go/sumnerandmiller">www.wiley.com/go/sumnerandmiller</a>.</p>

<p>“This text provides the cutting-edge insights on writing and publishing needed in today's competitive marketplace. The authors--themselves highly successful authors and editors--teach with wit, pragmatic examples, concise information, and logical explanations.  For developing journalists and freelance writers, this book is the gold standard.”<br /> -  <i>Dennis E. Hensley, Taylor University</i></p> <p>“Holly Miller was my first editor when I wrote for <i>The Saturday Evening Post</i>, and I found her directives to me on a story assignment to be to the point and always helpful.  In this book, she and David Sumner speak to student writers as if they were already professional writers. The advice is lucid. The tips are outstanding. This revision addresses the switch to digital publishing and even a veteran writer of 50 years such as myself can learn from it.”<br /> -  <i>Hank Nuwer, Franklin College</i></p> <p>“Practical, methodical, and poetic, this book wonderfully teaches the art and craft of writing features and magazine stories. And it’s targeted to the digital demands of the 21st century.”<br /> - <i>Berkley Hudson, University of Missouri</i></p>

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