How to start a magazine
Over the years I have been asked how did I start a
magazine and if I could give tips on the fastest way to
start a magazine today on a shoe string budget what
would I give. I thought about this question for a bit
and decided to crunch down years of experience into 5
tips on How to start a magazine. I did it , anyone can
do it. My experience comes from starting a print
magazine from scratch. See that here
BODacious Magazine
1. Pick a topic - And expand on
it on paper, by this I mean, write down the topic you
wish to start a magazine about and create 5 to 8 sub
topics based on your main subject matter. By doing this,
it allows you the opportunity to create sections in your
magazine. Remember, in each you will have several
regular sections and places for advertisements. Even
when you are starting out you might not have any
advertisers, but you keep the "mental" and physical
space on paper to be filled with say "your own ads". I
myself put together several magazines with my own ads
for products and serves and got more money in those
businesses than I did from selling the magazine.
2. Make a physical prototype of your
magazine. - This will help you when starting a
magazine, because it will allow you to create your
vision of your magazine on paper. Get a three ring
binder and 100 pieces of paper. This will allow you to
keep a page count for your magazine. Now your job is to
fill up your "scrapbook" / prototype with articles,
photos, sections and all that with your content.
3. Get content. However you wish
to make your magazine you will have to create folders
for each section you will have in your magazine. Lets
use five for example. Five folders, five topics. If your
content contains photos, you will have to set up photo
shoots. Or get content that will go into your magazine.
If you are using people, make sure to get release forms.
Even get release forms for the content you get for your
articles. Even if you use guest writers. Always use
guest writers as much as you can in your magazines,
because it gives someone else to build their career
further from your generosity. Once you have all your
content organize them in your physical folders and your
digital folders. Keep track. Its very, VERY important
that you keep mental and physical track of where things
are.
4. Sit down and format your
prototype. With colored pens/pencils sit down and
map out your magazine from the cover, to inside front
cover, to page pages to the end and last page. Page by
page create what and how you see each page . Do so in a
rough draft kind of way. This is done so that when you
give the binder to the graphic artist or art director or
publisher they can see your vision without you talking.
It makes their work and your stress a lot easier to
handle. Trust me I do this every time. Its a time saver
and a money saver too, especially if you are paying by
the hour.
5. Find a publisher or printer.
This is the person who sits with you and takes your
magazine idea and materials and transforms them into the
final product. This will all be determined on how you
wish to see your final product delivered to you, be it
hardcopy to mail to people or put on newsstands or to
make an e-book or PRF online version of it. The choice
at this point is all yours.
So that's it on how to start your own
magazine. If you have any questions please leave a
comment below and I will answer to the best of my
knowledge.
Sharing is Caring,
Zik Ukaeje
Superhero
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