WRITING MARKET ANALYSIS                                                       (HOME)

ENGL 489: Advanced Non-Fiction Writing, section 001
Fall 2003  George Mason University
Scott W. Berg, Instructor


Select a publication you view as a good fit for your work.  Get at least one copy and read it (them) cover to cover.  Write 1-2 concise and detailed pages discussing the writing environment therein in both general and specific terms.  In other words, discuss this publication as a home for writing AND as a home for your writing.  Avoid the first person and avoid narrative.  Use every possible resource to write this analysis, including but not limited to the publication itself, its Writer's Market listing, phone calls and/or e-mails to the publication, Google searching about the publication, etc.

Here's a list of fundamental questions to get you on your way researching:

--Any submission guidelines and/or editorial mission mentioned anywhere?  (Look at the fine print.)  Names?  Contact info?  Do they take queries or finished articles or both?  Time frame?  Other information?

--How many pieces of writing does the magazine usually contain?

--What's the breakdown in terms of length of articles?

--What's the breakdown in terms of genre of articles?

--Is it possible to generalize about subject matter?  If so, do so.  If not, that's important to know.

--What's the general tone/stance of the writing, or isn't there one?

--Based on looking at the masthead, in Writer's Market, and perhaps your own best guess, what's the ratio of staff writing to freelance writing?

--Does the publication seem to be amenable to a wide range of writers, or one specific type?  Does it seem friendly to less experienced writers?  Do some poking around to get information about the writers published there--what are their backgrounds, publications, etc.?

This isn't necessarily all there is to think about (for example, can you detect a regional flavor?) but it will get you a good part of the way in working the assignment.