Writing Articles

The past is the present trend and your photographs could form the basis for marketable articles, fillers and readers’ letters.

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NOSTALGIA

The over 50s market loves to remember old times. There are plenty of
opportunities here for publication. Magazines like THE PEOPLE’S FRIEND want
first person memories of childhood, special events, people and places. Accompanied
by relevant photographs from your family album, your work has an excellent
chance of acceptance.

Fillers and readers’ letters are also a good bet. YOURS magazine has a regular slot,
“The clothes we wore,” and invites readers to send in illustrations of fashion through
the decades. Sometimes readers are asked to contribute recollections and pictures on
specific subjects such as holidays or Christmas.

SOCIAL HISTORY

Genealogy is big business and the wealth of family tree magazines offers many
openings. Magazines like FAMILY HISTORY MONTHLY are looking for
interesting stories about readers’ families that can be backed up by photographs.
Pictures can also form the basis for less personal articles covering aspects of social
history such as wartime, transport or housing.

THE LADY will consider articles on social history, especially when tied in to
timely anniversaries. If you can provide suitable photographs with your piece,
your income will be enhanced significantly.

Don’t forget the trade press as technological advances can sometimes be best
illustrated by comparison with the past. Old pictures can also emphasise the illustrious
history of a product or company. A picture of granny sipping tea from a vacuum flask
on a picnic in 1920 might be of interest to Thermos or to a specialist catering
publication. Check out WILLINGS PRESS GUIDE at your local library for the
definitive list of trade papers.

LOCAL INTEREST

County magazines constitute another market for your old pictures. How about a
picture of your local High Street in the 1940s? Compare it with a recent picture and
write a feature about how things have changed. Take another look at your family
portraits - the background scenery might prove just as valuable as the human subjects.
If your ancestors lived in several different places or took adventurous holidays you
might find you have enough material to approach several different publications
outside your usual locality.

HERITAGE

The heritage market is expanding, with much of the readership coming from a new
generation of loyal expats. Articles about Britain’s rich history of people, places,
traditions and folklore will be welcomed by magazines like THIS ENGLAND and
EVERGREEN. Can you remember a regular event that took place in your childhood
town or a now famous person that lived nearby? The editor emphasises in his
submission guidelines that “illustrations improve the chances of having your material
accepted.”

Wartime memories are also popular with the older generation. Pictures of men and
women in military uniform go down well with BEST OF BRITISH magazine,
particularly when accompanied by some lively memories or an authoritative article.

INSPIRATION

Thumbing through old photos can be an enjoyable way of stimulating new ideas. Who
was that lady and why did she look so sad? Could this be the starting point for a short
story? Looking at ourselves as children, or at loved ones who may no longer with us,
may evoke emotions and thoughts that can be integrated into our writing.

Perhaps you are working on a non-contemporary novel. Use your photographs to get
the historical details, such as dress and location, just right.

If you have a comprehensive collection of photographs of real historic interest, you
might consider writing a non-fiction book. Do some further research to see whether
your idea has real potential and remember that your chances of finding a publisher for
non-fiction are higher than for fiction. If you are moved to write your personal
memoirs - be warned. Unless you are famous or your life has been truly remarkable,
you will hold little interest for publishers. However, as a legacy for future generations
of the family, some find this a worthwhile project.

PRESENTATION

All submitted photographs should be clearly labelled with a caption, your name,
address and title of your article. Write these details on an adhesive label and attached
it to the back of the picture. Never write directly onto the print.

If you are wary about sending original photographs with your article query, enclose
scanned copies in the first instance. If you are contributing readers’ letters or fillers it
is probably better to provide the original print. Editors may not feel motivated to
correspond with you for this type of submission but they usually do send your pictures
back.

CONTACTS

BEST OF BRITISH
Ian Beacham Publishing
Bank Chambers
27a Market Place
Market Deeping PE6 8EA
www.bestofbritishmag.co.uk

FAMILY HISTORY MONTHLY
Editor – Simon Fowler
Unit 101, 140 Wales Farm Road
London W3 6UG
fhm@metropolis.co.uk

THE LADY
Editor – Arline Usden
39-40 Bedford St
London WC2E 9ER
www.lady.co.uk

THE PEOPLE’S FRIEND
80 Kingsway East
Dundee DD4 8SL
peoplesfriend@dcthomson.co.uk

THIS ENGLAND/EVERGREEN
Editor – Roy Faiers
PO Box 52
Cheltenham GL50 1YQ
www.thisengland.co.uk

YOURS
Emap Esprit
Bretton Court
Bretton
Peterborough PE3 8DZ