SiteWhat 5 magazines can’t you do without?
MSNBC blogger Gael Fashingbauer Cooper just posted the five magazines she can’t do without. As a freelance magazine writer, I, too, get dozens of magazines in the mail each month — and still manage to pick up a few at checkout counters. And like Cooper, I adore Cook’s Illustrated, although I don’t read the editor’s letter (I grew up in Vermont and have my own homespun and folksy memories, thank you).
Other magazines I enjoy reading for fun include Martha Stewart Living, Fine Cooking, Hello! (my guilty pleasure. I can’t get enough of Jordan), and Threads. I hold no aspirations of ever writing for any off these magazines, so maybe that’s why I still like curling up on the couch with them at night. When I read Real Simple or Parenting or even The New Yorker, I can’t turn off the little voice in my head wondering, “Now why did they start this piece with an anecdote? It would have been so much stronger leading with research!” or “Wow, the writer did a great job structuring this!”
What about you? What five magazines do you like to read for fun? Add your comments below. [db]
13 Responses to “What 5 magazines can’t you do without?”
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Amy
Said this on August 7th, 2008 at 7:15pm:The New Yorker tops my list (as much for the cartoons as the content), followed by O, Vogue Knitting, One Story, and Bon Appetit.
stephanerd
Said this on August 7th, 2008 at 8:17pm:This is the toughie, as I’m a mag fanatic. My first read is always this week’s Time Out NY, so I know if there are any nifty events to drag my hubby to, or any new books or movies I should be checking out.
After that, Marie Claire and Glamour are a guilty pleasure, Domino gives me great ideas for my products blogging and, as for Bitch, it comes less frequently, so I always await it with bated breath.
June
Said this on August 7th, 2008 at 9:18pm:My guilty pleasure is People magazine read surreptiously in the check-out line. Love to see if I can recognize the candid photos of stars in the first section without having to read the captions! Have subscriptions to Cottage Living, Better Homes & Gardens & Cooking Light. Also like to check out Writer’s Digest, usually at the library.
--Deb
Said this on August 8th, 2008 at 9:05am:Cook’s Illustrated is on my list, too. Also, Smithsonian, Vogue Knitting, Interweave Knits, Whole Dog Journal, and Eating Well.
Oops, that’s 6!
Nadine
Said this on August 8th, 2008 at 9:34am:Great blog! I’m pretty new to this freelancing world, but I’m hooked!
As for my magazine addiction, InStyle is my must-read. But People, EW, Country Living, Macleans, Canadian Living and Women’s Fitness all find their way into my living room somehow.
Nicole LaMarco
Said this on August 9th, 2008 at 1:53pm:My must-haves are The Writer, Writer’s Digest, Reader’s Digest, and various tabloids. Yes, I read tabloids. I also read various health magazines. Those are good!
diane
Said this on August 10th, 2008 at 6:53am:All my faves make my heart ache a little, because I’d love to write for them all… but they are: O, Writer’s Digest, Glamour, Wired and G2 (the supplement that comes with The Guardian - the woman’s pages are especially great). I guess I have to keep pitching!
sheila
Said this on August 10th, 2008 at 10:27pm:For me, it would be Yes: A Journal of Positive Futures, The Writer, Smithsonian, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, and the U.S. Dressage Federation’s magazine (which, incidentally, has recently printed a great article on pain and chafing in the pelvic area). I don’t read any of them cover-to-cover but will pick and choose articles to read.
I am afraid to pick up The New Yorker or The Economist, as I can see myself losing too many hours of my life.
stephanerd
Said this on August 11th, 2008 at 7:20am:I hear you, Diane. I feel the same way. I ache to write for every single magazine I subscribe to.
Beth Morrissey
Said this on August 11th, 2008 at 11:27am:I love The Writer, Self, National Geographic, Easy Living (UK) and The Gloss (Ireland). And of course whatever catches my eye while I’m standing in the grocery line!
DianaBurrell
Said this on August 11th, 2008 at 11:59pm:Amy, I used to get the NYorker. Love it, but I don’t always get to each week and it piles up - guilt, guilt! So I buy it from the newsstand when it looks good.
stephanerd, *love* Domino. I guess I should subscribe one of these days.
I think it’s funny how many times Writer’s Digest and the Writer appeared on lists — those are WORK magazines, folks.
Stephanie
Said this on August 13th, 2008 at 12:28am:HOW do you find time to read so many magazines? I get so busy that I just don’t have time. I’d love to have that question answered on the blog.
Web Design
Said this on September 1st, 2008 at 6:01am:For me its instyle, bell, inside out, vougue entertaininng, guomey traveller