Sprint magazine.
Discussion
A few months ago we had the debate about what was missing in Sprint magazine and how it could be improved etc etc ..
I submitted a couple of articles to Sprint, one of which was printed this month with a blinding piccie of our race Tasmin, all good stuff and much appreciated.
However, no-one at Sprint seems to recognise the importance of correspondence.
There's been no mention of whether the articles were any good, whether it was exactly what they wanted or if they needed more bias in one direction.
No encouragement for me to write any more.
I've submitted another article a few days ago which should form the start of a series of articles abuot how we developed our race car over last season .. not even an auto-reply to say they'd received it.
In light of this I think one was Sprint could improve would be to encourage contributions from subscribers, and actually acknowledge the time and effort put in to writing something for the magazine .. something that doesn't come easy to a techie spanner man with no journalist training for instance etc etc.
If Sprint magazine treats all its contributors in this way there's no wonder so few people are prepared to send anything in.
Come on Sprint, get your collective fingers out and get pro-active on the contribution front.
If you don't want any more reports say so, but if you do then please let us all know. You have one of the largest memberships of any one-make car club, for goodness sake use them and look after them!
I submitted a couple of articles to Sprint, one of which was printed this month with a blinding piccie of our race Tasmin, all good stuff and much appreciated.
However, no-one at Sprint seems to recognise the importance of correspondence.
There's been no mention of whether the articles were any good, whether it was exactly what they wanted or if they needed more bias in one direction.
No encouragement for me to write any more.
I've submitted another article a few days ago which should form the start of a series of articles abuot how we developed our race car over last season .. not even an auto-reply to say they'd received it.
In light of this I think one was Sprint could improve would be to encourage contributions from subscribers, and actually acknowledge the time and effort put in to writing something for the magazine .. something that doesn't come easy to a techie spanner man with no journalist training for instance etc etc.
If Sprint magazine treats all its contributors in this way there's no wonder so few people are prepared to send anything in.
Come on Sprint, get your collective fingers out and get pro-active on the contribution front.
If you don't want any more reports say so, but if you do then please let us all know. You have one of the largest memberships of any one-make car club, for goodness sake use them and look after them!
I know the feeling.
I was very annoyed at the way my article was edited (Griff Growl and TVR Gathering, January 2005).
I can fully understand why changes may be required for editorial reasons but in that case, firstly the author should be consulted and secondly the changes should at least be grammatically correct.
I spent a long time writing my article, making sure it flowed well, was generally interesting and above all was grammatically correct. The article that was printed was a long way from that.
I for one will not bother again.
Simon
I was very annoyed at the way my article was edited (Griff Growl and TVR Gathering, January 2005).
I can fully understand why changes may be required for editorial reasons but in that case, firstly the author should be consulted and secondly the changes should at least be grammatically correct.
I spent a long time writing my article, making sure it flowed well, was generally interesting and above all was grammatically correct. The article that was printed was a long way from that.
I for one will not bother again.
Simon
I'm sure they will be gutted to read this Joolz,IMO your contributions are just what they need and definately improves the mag, lets hope it's just an oversight, i have always had good communication with previous editors when doing articles over the years.
P.S look forward to more articles from Joolz .
Tim
P.S look forward to more articles from Joolz .
Tim
Have to agree with Joolz. Since they shyed away from the techy stuff (on the basis that they thought there was a legal risk) the magazine has been a bit lacking in meaty articles.
Don't get me wrong I love Sprint. It is professional and the envy of many other clubs, but it just lacks the techy stuff. I for one thought Steve Heath's (All pray to the TVR Lord !!) was really good and I liked Joolz's article, but sorry thought the photo could have been a bit smaller and the editorial a bit longer.
R
Don't get me wrong I love Sprint. It is professional and the envy of many other clubs, but it just lacks the techy stuff. I for one thought Steve Heath's (All pray to the TVR Lord !!) was really good and I liked Joolz's article, but sorry thought the photo could have been a bit smaller and the editorial a bit longer.
R
I always thought it would be great if Sprint did do 'semi-technical' stuff, like, for example, upgrading the stereo and speakers, or re-trimming bits of worn carpet. I do get tired of reading article after article of someones jolley across Europe; don't get me wrong, I don't mind reading these every now and again, but there seems to be loads of these in the mag month after month. I did really enjoy the Running Reports, what happened to those??
I've written articles for magazines for years, I had my first article published in a commercial magazine in 1981. I've had articles published in Autosport and other quality mags and I've also gone a bit downmarket. I've had articles published in international magazines and have made good friends through feedback from readers.
I have never had feedback from an editor on the quality of my submissions. It is accepted that if it gets published it is good enough. I've had guidelines but that is only with commissioned work, all the rest has been left up to me.
The reason is, I've been told, that to be prescriptive is to limit a writer. It's best to let them run. It will then reflect their personality rather than the editors'. If an editor says, "It would be better if you . . . " then any writer, certainly including me, would do it that way from then on. Writers are pathetic. Including me.
It is commonly accepted that editors are failed writers, the joke being they are failed editors as well. It is also an unfortunate fact that most writers are failed writers as well so, if it gets published, it's got to be in the top 10%.
I've just followed what my experience of professional editors has been. Also, you should bear in mind that I've got a life to lead as well. I get so many emails each day that it would by physically impossible for me to reply to them all and service the magazine as well.
If you want to know if I have recieved an email, put an auto reply on it. That is what I do as most people do not acknowledge emails. Do you acknowledge all the letters that you receive? I actually would prefer auto reply on submissions as emails do go amiss, and more often than you would think.
The workload of the magazine is greater than I anticipated (not a moan, just an observation) and, when my wife retires in the summer, she has promised to be my secretary. Up 'til then, it's a rush for me. Remember, it's all voluntary.
Last week I got 17 items of surface mail in two days, and I get much more through the internet. I just haven't got time to give feedback regarding submissions I'm happy with.
As regards editing submitted copy, that's what an editor does. I have to fit it to the available space, I have to chop 200 words in 10 minutes. With my own copy it is easy as I salt it with paragraphs that can be cut without loss of continuity. It's not so easy with submitted copy and mistakes do occur. I know professional authors make that mistake as it has happened with my copy. I can't think of any article that I have submitted that hasn't been altered in one way or another and I have never been consulted nor informed of it. It's just not done.
Please keep the articles coming. However, my job is editing the magazine. I understand the need to have constructive criticism of your work but I am not qualified to do that. Do it your way. If it then gets published, try and work out why. When I first started writing I got one item in four accepted. Some years, and some experience, later I had 26 articles pulished without a refusal (including commissioned work) then lost the next three on the trot.
I still get a kick out of seeing my work in print and i hope that those of you who do get published enjoy it also.
Joolz, you will have mail.
Derek
I have never had feedback from an editor on the quality of my submissions. It is accepted that if it gets published it is good enough. I've had guidelines but that is only with commissioned work, all the rest has been left up to me.
The reason is, I've been told, that to be prescriptive is to limit a writer. It's best to let them run. It will then reflect their personality rather than the editors'. If an editor says, "It would be better if you . . . " then any writer, certainly including me, would do it that way from then on. Writers are pathetic. Including me.
It is commonly accepted that editors are failed writers, the joke being they are failed editors as well. It is also an unfortunate fact that most writers are failed writers as well so, if it gets published, it's got to be in the top 10%.
I've just followed what my experience of professional editors has been. Also, you should bear in mind that I've got a life to lead as well. I get so many emails each day that it would by physically impossible for me to reply to them all and service the magazine as well.
If you want to know if I have recieved an email, put an auto reply on it. That is what I do as most people do not acknowledge emails. Do you acknowledge all the letters that you receive? I actually would prefer auto reply on submissions as emails do go amiss, and more often than you would think.
The workload of the magazine is greater than I anticipated (not a moan, just an observation) and, when my wife retires in the summer, she has promised to be my secretary. Up 'til then, it's a rush for me. Remember, it's all voluntary.
Last week I got 17 items of surface mail in two days, and I get much more through the internet. I just haven't got time to give feedback regarding submissions I'm happy with.
As regards editing submitted copy, that's what an editor does. I have to fit it to the available space, I have to chop 200 words in 10 minutes. With my own copy it is easy as I salt it with paragraphs that can be cut without loss of continuity. It's not so easy with submitted copy and mistakes do occur. I know professional authors make that mistake as it has happened with my copy. I can't think of any article that I have submitted that hasn't been altered in one way or another and I have never been consulted nor informed of it. It's just not done.
Please keep the articles coming. However, my job is editing the magazine. I understand the need to have constructive criticism of your work but I am not qualified to do that. Do it your way. If it then gets published, try and work out why. When I first started writing I got one item in four accepted. Some years, and some experience, later I had 26 articles pulished without a refusal (including commissioned work) then lost the next three on the trot.
I still get a kick out of seeing my work in print and i hope that those of you who do get published enjoy it also.
Joolz, you will have mail.
Derek
Derek Smith said:
I still get a kick out of seeing my work in print and i hope that those of you who do get published enjoy it also.
Derek
Indeed I do. Pity you chopped the co-author's names off the Speed Championship article this month, so the only people who knew were the people themselves.
sgrimshaw said:
I know the feeling.
I was very annoyed at the way my article was edited (Griff Growl and TVR Gathering, January 2005).
I can fully understand why changes may be required for editorial reasons but in that case, firstly the author should be consulted and secondly the changes should at least be grammatically correct.
I spent a long time writing my article, making sure it flowed well, was generally interesting and above all was grammatically correct. The article that was printed was a long way from that.
I for one will not bother again.
Simon
Same experience here. Spent a long time writing a couple of articles. The editing was gramatically incorrect and rendered some of what remained nonsense (i.e what was left still referred to something which had been deleted). I also understood the articles wouldn't be printed without photos, which I have been slow in sending, but one got published anyway. Without an introduction or crediting. To be honest I was a embarassed about the article when it was published because of the errors in it. Perhaps it was as well it wasn't credited to me.
I wrote back saying I understood that things needed to be edited and offering to give the edited article a quick once over, as I understood Derek could not possibly devote the same time as me to it.
Unfortunately not heard anything back, so feel very much like Joo and others.
If Derek is under this much pressure surely the club should be looking to provide him with some help - paid if necessary?
Personally I think Sprint has come on in leaps and bounds. More technical focus without being too techy (if you know what I mean. See Practical Performance Car for examples).
The recent model reviews have been great. I'm looking forwards to the models that I aspire too being covered soon.
I was reading my copy on the Tube this morning and I have to agree with some of the other comments though. Take Jools article. 4 paragraphs of text covering 1/5 the page. Personally I'd prefer 1/2 text to 1/2 page. The Clockwatching one wirks better in that respect.
However, I can appreciate that to fully DTP an edition is a time consuming exercise and for Jools' article to integrate the text neatly with the picture would take probably more time that is available.
Sprint has definitely improved, but can it improve again without Derek getting more help?
Keep up the good work
Rob
The recent model reviews have been great. I'm looking forwards to the models that I aspire too being covered soon.
I was reading my copy on the Tube this morning and I have to agree with some of the other comments though. Take Jools article. 4 paragraphs of text covering 1/5 the page. Personally I'd prefer 1/2 text to 1/2 page. The Clockwatching one wirks better in that respect.
However, I can appreciate that to fully DTP an edition is a time consuming exercise and for Jools' article to integrate the text neatly with the picture would take probably more time that is available.
Sprint has definitely improved, but can it improve again without Derek getting more help?
Keep up the good work
Rob
Derek Smith said:
As regards editing submitted copy, that's what an editor does. I have to fit it to the available space, I have to chop 200 words in 10 minutes. With my own copy it is easy as I salt it with paragraphs that can be cut without loss of continuity. It's not so easy with submitted copy and mistakes do occur. I know professional authors make that mistake as it has happened with my copy. I can't think of any article that I have submitted that hasn't been altered in one way or another and I have never been consulted nor informed of it. It's just not done.
Derek,
Original article - 1333 words (using word's word count)
Published article - 818 words (give or take, manually counted)
Hardly cutting 200 words was it?
If my original article wasn't suitable at 1333 words, why didn't you say so. I could have cut it down with a lot more success than you, as you point out yourself.
I can't speak for anyone else, but I did not submit my article for publication because I wanted to see my work in print, the whole point was to share our experience with other members of the TVRCC. "Written by a member, for other members" if you like.
Simon
sgrimshaw said:
I know the feeling.
I was very annoyed at the way my article was edited (Griff Growl and TVR Gathering, January 2005).
I can fully understand why changes may be required for editorial reasons but in that case, firstly the author should be consulted and secondly the changes should at least be grammatically correct.
I spent a long time writing my article, making sure it flowed well, was generally interesting and above all was grammatically correct. The article that was printed was a long way from that.
I for one will not bother again.
Simon
I agree. Not only was my article (From Spa to Spa by TVR, December 2004) chopped in the same way but none of the 35mm photos I sent in were even forwarded to the publisher. Then, despite original promises to return them and many unanswered emails since, I have never received back the prints.
I for a second (or third or ....) will not bother again either.
Sounds to me like a magazine image problem.
We how have a 'picture' format - big pictures but need minimum words so as not to spoil the picture effect.
Back in the old A5 days - we had a much more 'word' focused mag with less editorial cutting needed.
In fact - they were just happy to have it at all.
I had plenty of articles published way back then but can't see the point now .. unless the two of us decide to take a TVR trip around Europe
We how have a 'picture' format - big pictures but need minimum words so as not to spoil the picture effect.
Back in the old A5 days - we had a much more 'word' focused mag with less editorial cutting needed.
In fact - they were just happy to have it at all.
I had plenty of articles published way back then but can't see the point now .. unless the two of us decide to take a TVR trip around Europe
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