tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post8586235239744172293..comments2024-03-27T15:56:17.348+00:00Comments on Womag and other writing: Do you (still) enjoy reading fiction in magazines?Patsyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-73905106693158557932022-05-19T15:39:47.653+01:002022-05-19T15:39:47.653+01:00Thanks everyone for your interesting replies! Thanks everyone for your interesting replies! Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-16513799656138881202022-05-14T21:49:57.219+01:002022-05-14T21:49:57.219+01:00Love reading whether it is a novel or a short stor...Love reading whether it is a novel or a short story I don't mind, I usually have a novel on the go but still read women's fiction & love the lighter short stories as they are great to read in bed or with a cuppa for relaxation. I too grew up with Twinkle, Bunty,Jackie etc but even then my mother always got the Women's Weekly and I use to love the robin family & remember my Sheelaghnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-65667270075742381002022-05-14T04:08:54.807+01:002022-05-14T04:08:54.807+01:00I agree with Eirin about the demise of girls' ...I agree with Eirin about the demise of girls' comics and magazines having a flow-on effect to the current women's magazine market.<br /><br />Like Eirin, I grew up with comics and magazines, and went from reading Bunty to Jackie to Cosmo. Later on I read a variety of mags. But those comics and magazines largely disappeared in the 1990s, so anyone aged around 40 and under won't have Lizhttps://worthabrowse.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-31610383232442405432022-05-14T01:04:21.871+01:002022-05-14T01:04:21.871+01:00Bendywriter - I really love your comment about the...Bendywriter - I really love your comment about the difference in the feeling you’re left with after reading fiction vs reading celeb gossip. It describes exactly the value in it for me. <br />CamAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-7474541103984748812022-05-13T18:40:44.421+01:002022-05-13T18:40:44.421+01:00I’ve been reading short fiction since the late 90’...I’ve been reading short fiction since the late 90’s, and even tried writing a few at the time but without success. I used to think I wasn’t good enough and didn’t write anything for quite a few years, but I still continued to read them. My first published work in 2020 was actually the rewrite of a story I wrote in the late 80’s! I find short fiction is uplifting, satisfying and sometimes funny. IAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-89047169115536317812022-05-13T16:48:06.354+01:002022-05-13T16:48:06.354+01:00I too can remember reading the stories in my mum&#...I too can remember reading the stories in my mum's magazines when I was I child and I've never stopped! I agree with Sharon that in these current times they provide a much-needed break, so I'm not at all surprised to see an increase in fiction content in some magazines. I've got subscriptions for magazines that run include fiction and not only the ones I submit to.Mariannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-76588017285339513722022-05-13T15:15:34.358+01:002022-05-13T15:15:34.358+01:00I only read paper mags at the hairdresser's bu...I only read paper mags at the hairdresser's but they are full of ads and celebrity gossip (who cares what their house interiors look like?) and read the rest on line, as I read most novels. I know that many people still like to curl up with their favourite mag or book but I do like a clever short story but just not on paper.<br />Linda CASPERhttp://thirdageblogger.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-57758750025709296142022-05-13T14:44:01.553+01:002022-05-13T14:44:01.553+01:00I suspect the celeb gossip is aimed at a younger r...I suspect the celeb gossip is aimed at a younger readership because like others, I've never heard of most of the reality tv stars they feature.<br />Fiction is the best part of the mags, and I enjoy reading the stories in them.<br />I find short stories inspiring and uplifting, and they act as an escape from everyday life <br />(We all need that, with all the grim news at the moment). <br />Sharon boothroydnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-68672864755415990142022-05-13T12:38:21.173+01:002022-05-13T12:38:21.173+01:00Clare Cooper
To my knowledge, WW never paid for a...Clare Cooper <br />To my knowledge, WW never paid for any celebrity interviews. They were always geared around the person wanting to plug or tie in with something. They wanted the publicity. Weeklies generally don't have the budgets of the glossies. Perhaps the latter pay, but I have no idea. Possibly not, if they can help it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-90252618883750815332022-05-13T12:28:00.493+01:002022-05-13T12:28:00.493+01:00What an enthusiastic response! You're onto som...What an enthusiastic response! You're onto something, Patsy. Like many of those posting above, I have zero interest in celebrity gossip and much prefer quality fiction, as well as human interest features. I have subscriptions to the magazines to which I submit, and regard these as excellent value for money. I enjoy the mix of trusted favourite authors and also new voices. I was lucky enough Eirin Thompsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-61100519633206607642022-05-13T12:03:55.349+01:002022-05-13T12:03:55.349+01:00Before I was a writer I was a reader and I used to...Before I was a writer I was a reader and I used to really enjoy reading magazine fiction. Then the short story magazines started to disappear and were replaced with the celebrity gossip-led red-top variety, which I didn't like as much. I'd still read the single story that some of these still carried, until eventually they stopped, and so I stopped buying the magazine. <br /><br />Every Diane Wordsworthhttp://www.dianewordsworth.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-16093963650031692962022-05-13T11:43:40.294+01:002022-05-13T11:43:40.294+01:00I did try to writing for womags but got rejected. ...I did try to writing for womags but got rejected. I now realise that my writing isn't for them but other type of magazines. I only read one womag that a neighbour buys and passes onto me, and I subscribe to a small press one.Julie Dayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10370540030678282595noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-22448131929886174872022-05-13T11:09:30.637+01:002022-05-13T11:09:30.637+01:00I don't actually read magazines (other than fo...I don't actually read magazines (other than for research for writing my own stories), although I love the challenge of writing for them. I also much prefer to read a novel.New girl on the blocknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-46812475635882060802022-05-13T10:52:07.996+01:002022-05-13T10:52:07.996+01:00I buy and read My Weekly, Woman's Weekly and P...I buy and read My Weekly, Woman's Weekly and People's Friend specifically for the fiction! I do find the articles in those magazines interesting, but it is the fiction l enjoy most! I probably would not buy them were it not for the fiction. The individual stories are very enjoyable and are just the right length for a tea/coffee break read, whilst the serials keep one hooked andcoming backLol Barnesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-6180644687225958042022-05-13T10:45:06.948+01:002022-05-13T10:45:06.948+01:00No, is the simple answer. I don't read much sh...No, is the simple answer. I don't read much short fiction at all, though, never have. Even in the days when I used to buy magazines, it was rare that I read a story I enjoyed. I think it's better now - there are some really fab writers out there. But I think the content of magazines has been going downhill for years - I stopped buying BBC goodfood mag maybe 20, 30 years ago when they Bubblehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08423292373896654352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-66079376590340579162022-05-13T10:26:47.708+01:002022-05-13T10:26:47.708+01:00I can just about remember Woman's Realm and th...I can just about remember Woman's Realm and the Susan King recipes :) Recipes, well written articles and those short stories, as ados123, 'I wish I'd written that' as well as 'Where do they get all these original ideas from? I would never have thought of that.' ANYTHING (can't shout loud enough) with 'celebrity' in gets short shrift.Margueritenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-39634866737763899792022-05-13T10:14:15.772+01:002022-05-13T10:14:15.772+01:00It's the celebrity gossip and ads that put me ...It's the celebrity gossip and ads that put me off magazines in general.<br />And time. During lockdown I subscribed to the Friend, but I struggled to read all the stories and still write my own. (And I do like the immersive experience of picking up a good novel when I have time to relax.)<br />However, the Friend is publishing my first successful submission next week, so I need to take some Cathy Cadehttps://cathy-cade.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-63400279457703503652022-05-13T10:07:36.635+01:002022-05-13T10:07:36.635+01:00Sorry about the messy comment above, was trying to...Sorry about the messy comment above, was trying to add it using my phone and it didn't work very well!Kath Dewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-35529968200795973612022-05-13T10:06:09.767+01:002022-05-13T10:06:09.767+01:00I too have enjoyed magazine fiction since I was ab...I too have enjoyed magazine fiction since I was about 10 and read my mum's Woman and Woman's Own. It would be interesting to know how the costs of fiction and celebrity interviews compare. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /> compares with the cost of<br /><br /><br />celebrity interviews. <br /><br /><br /><br /> publishing celebrity interviews - presumably the celebrities aren't Kath Dewsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-23004418332059748092022-05-13T10:00:26.614+01:002022-05-13T10:00:26.614+01:00I read so many stories in my time on WW, I think t...I read so many stories in my time on WW, I think that's put me off reading them elsewhere. I know I'm going to spot errors, because there are always errors, and I also know I'll have read them before, in a manner of speaking! I don't read women's magazines any more, in any case. They are so repetitive! I can remember the days when just about every weekly, and some monthlies, Clare Coopernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-10737993487720240292022-05-13T09:59:00.751+01:002022-05-13T09:59:00.751+01:00The current Rooney/Vardy trial highlights the nast...The current Rooney/Vardy trial highlights the nasty aspects of celebrity gossip, the insincerities and the acquisition. Like Liz, I prefer magazines that feature satisfying stories, whatever length - stories that can leave you feeling that you've spent quality time with a friend rather than as some satellite in an unreal world.Bendywriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06739940138320658331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-88068275419776960382022-05-13T09:50:40.220+01:002022-05-13T09:50:40.220+01:00I enjoy reading fiction stories and cookery slots ...I enjoy reading fiction stories and cookery slots but wouldn't entertain buying any celeb Goss mags. Half the time I've never heard of them. I like to be transported in a fiction story. So pleased TPF and MW are increasing the amount of fiction.ChrisCnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-77901415494763684072022-05-13T09:50:37.372+01:002022-05-13T09:50:37.372+01:00Hi Patsy, I have to say I enjoy reading short stor...Hi Patsy, I have to say I enjoy reading short stories in magazines, I also enjoy interesting articles, but loathe celebrity gossip or non-stories as I call them.<br /><br />Good news that DC Thomson are increasing the amount of short stories in TPF and MW.<br /><br />I also think it should be noted how many short story writers, particularly TPF writers comment on how they read the magazine as a Elizabeth McGintynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-43904262670991023752022-05-13T09:35:35.786+01:002022-05-13T09:35:35.786+01:00I would avoid a magazine on the shelves that screa...I would avoid a magazine on the shelves that screamed celebrity interviews and stories on the front cover - for a start I've no idea who most of these people are. Much prefer a magazine that carries fiction and carefully worded articles about travel or issues. I don't even mind a bit of cookery (@Liz!) and have been known occasionally to pull out a recipe and try it out. <br />As a shortados123https://www.blogger.com/profile/03136537623648724586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6539691603325793063.post-76353407090005356702022-05-13T09:35:09.613+01:002022-05-13T09:35:09.613+01:00I loved reading the short stories long before I ev...I loved reading the short stories long before I ever considered writing one myself. Back then I particularly enjoyed the twist in the tale types, published in Take A Break and That's Life. They were, for me, the best part of the magazines and I've not bought either of them since they dropped the fiction slot.<br /><br />I enjoy reading the stories in all the magazines I submit to. If I Patsyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12263765378083045973noreply@blogger.com