Another MR (August); another article by Pelle. Not that I don't enjoy them, because I do believe that he is one of the best "published" HO scale modelers around these days. It's just that I don't see much of a variety of authors per se, and I am wondering if the talent pool is a bit shallow these days- or are there many articles being submitted that are not in "publish- ready" format, and- as a result- we are not seeing them from these "other authors"?
I have come across various blogs and personal model railroad websites of individuals who, based on what they have presented on line, could easily be successful if some of their project materials and write-ups were submitted for publication.
Cedarwoodron
Only the editorial staff could tell us for sure. My personal belief is that the pool of people who can write and suitably illustrate an article is very limited. It's expensive to send a photographer out to get photos if the author can't provide them. It's also very time consuming to clean up the prose of a lousy writer.
For myself, I suck at photography. Really. I can screw up a point and pray camera. I can write well enough -- in fact, I have been published in other periodicals -- but there is no way I could do the photos. Also, my layout is not nearly impressive enough to be the subject of a feature.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
cedarwoodronI have come across various blogs and personal model railroad websites of individuals who, based on what they have presented on line, could easily be successful if some of their project materials and write-ups were submitted for publication.
I don't think its a lack of talent as this forum and other forums weekly photo topic will show
MR has high photo and modeling standards and your article can and will be rejected on those standards..Your article can be rejected for a number of reasons from poor grammar to lack of interest of the readers.
Modelers may be reluctant to go public with their modeling because fear of rejection or being raked over the coals publicly because of a modeling or historical mistake-check "To The Editor" in back issues of MR for examples.Then there will be those that don't like your modeling style,photos etc only because its either below their "standards" or in some rare cases above their modeling style..
And time..It takes time to research and write a article and today folks just doesn't want to give up their TV time,golf clubs or let go of their wife's hand long enough to research and write a article.
And if one becomes MR's next "Golden Boy" author then there will be the need to commit to more articles as we seen in the past years from the greats that stood in the limelight for several years then faded into the sunset never to be heard from again..
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
Why bother submiting articles for publication?
The article you submit will be "edited" and not what you wanted. Plus the odds of it being published is nil.
If you want to be "published" start your own website. That is what I did. The only reason my first article was in Railroad Model Craftsman is the editor saw the information on the web and asked me to submit a version for publication.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/fur_grass/
The web article was "edited" and information that was incorrect was published. It was fun being published but wasn't worth having your technique described wrong in a way that didn't work.
Plus your article will be lost forever in back issues of Model Railroader while web articles continue on forever.
http://www.pacificcoastairlinerr.com/
Thank you if you visit
Harold
Its always an adventure. I had one article that was "lost' for a couple years. I've had articles heavily edited so they made less sense. I had one article where a requirement was that I provide a list of suggested buildings and industries for the track plan (by manufacturer and part number). I had one magazine keep all my slides submitted, published and unpublished. These were various magazines, over a couple decades (none of them MR). I've even had comments I've made on forums lifted and published in "hints" columns in magazines I don't subscribe to, then a year later the magzine says oh by the way are you this person, we want to pay you for your hint you "submitted". Grrrr.
If you read the fine print on a lot of the forums, you will find that posting on the forum allows the owner to publish your comments. If the terms say that fine, but I've found a forum or two that didin't say that explicitly.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
LION thinks it is about time that someone submitted an article about modeling the subway.
Him also thinks that an article built around modeling on the cheap would be interesting.
So would articles about more amaturish projects of the type most modlers actually build.
Where is my pen?
ROAR
The Route of the Broadway Lion The Largest Subway Layout in North Dakota.
Here there be cats. LIONS with CAMERAS
A few months back, Neil Besougloff's editorial was basically a plea for more people to submit pictures to Trackside Photos. I think they're aware of the problem, and that's a good way for a would-be author to get a foot in the door. Perhaps Garry (Heartland Division) could give us some more information, as he's had a couple of photos grace their pages. The Lion had an article a few months back, too.
If you look at the articles, though, you'll realize that the authors planned their projects for publication. They took photos along the way, something which most of us probably don't do. Even their "under construction" pictures are carefully staged, with parts on clean cutting boards without the usual workbench clutter.
The talent pool in this hobby is very, very deep. It's just that not enough of us are jumping up out of the water to be recognized.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
It's simple for me. I have no desire to be a world class author, and I am afraid of being raked over the coals so I confine my pictures and videos to you tube and Facebook where all my real world friends (the ones I. See face to face) can admire my work. I post here for advise and give it as well sometimes. Plus I enjoy reading the forum.
Joe Staten Island West
I have been in model RR for over 60 years & think I may have some things to offer newcomers. What discourages me is the size of the pictures they require. I have a 12 pixel camera that takes images suitable for 16x20 enlargements, but when I checked last, they want more pixels. So I decided to post text & pictures on a modeler's web site. I have many "How To" articles on there, but it's probably against the rules to post the site here. jerry
Perhaps it is regressive evolution, where each generation looses a little because the weak minded outbreed the inteligent.
Charlie
MisterBeasleyEven their "under construction" pictures are carefully staged, with parts on clean cutting boards without the usual workbench clutter.
Yup. LION looked at all of thsoe photos very carefully, there was not one coffee cup, not one pop can visible in any of them. He might have built his railroad in a surgical operating room. I did see one wire clipper, and I am surprised that is was not resting on a fenistrated drape.
jerryl What discourages me is the size of the pictures they require. I have a 12 pixel camera that takes images suitable for 16x20 enlargements, but when I checked last, they want more pixels.
What discourages me is the size of the pictures they require. I have a 12 pixel camera that takes images suitable for 16x20 enlargements, but when I checked last, they want more pixels.
Assuming that you mean 12 Megapixels, you may have missed this page:http://mrr.trains.com/magazine/about-us/contributor-guidelines/2010/03/submission-guidelines---model-railroader
It requests 300 dpi in an 8X10 size, which is 7.4 Megapixels. So your camera should be OK. Resolution is of course only part of making a photograph useful for high quality print publication. Lighting, depth of field, etc. all matter.
Here's MR's guide to submitting photoshttp://mrr.trains.com/-/media/import/files/pdf/d/c/5/digital-image-submission.pdf
And a large download of how to take better model photoshttp://mrr.trains.com/-/media/Files/PDF/2013/MODELERSGUIDETODIGITALPHOTOGRAPHY1.pdf
Layout Design GalleryLayout Design Special Interest Group
MR does seem to rely on its staff for articles more than it did years back, plus many of them now have Video Plus duties; that also means their time for laboriously editing a submitted article is ever more precious.
A long time member of the staff once told me that they receive many nearly unpublishable articles (and photos) and often noted that when the article would appear elsewhere after they rejected it, either it reflected laborious rewrites for which MR lacked the time, or was published as is and was nearly incomprehensible.
Writing for publication is a challenge; writing what amounts to a technical manual so that the reader can construct or build per instructions is an art in itself. It takes practice. It is also not easy to edit an article to make it more clear, to fill in missing concepts or edit out repetition to meet a page count without losing something important. I do not mean to single anybody out, and I have no idea whether it was in the original writing or the editing or perhaps my own feeble brain, but I had a devil of a time figuring out Jerry Dziedzic's article in the May issue about the access gate that would lift and then pivot. It seemed that either a crucial photo or crucial paragraph or both was missing; I note a letter was published in the August issue that tries to fill the gap, albeit with a dark photo that shows little detail, but at least the prose was helpful.
I offer that up just as an example of an article about a really good idea that many of us are interested in, but it needed more work by somebody for me to readily grasp the idea.
I also have to wonder if some bridges weren't burned during the era when so many second and third tier (in size I mean; many were excellent quality) model railroad magazines were being published and lured away some longtime MR authors. Maybe the authors didn't burn the bridges, but the publishers of those magazines might have done it for them by being more than happy to brag that they, unlike MR, were aimed at "real modelers." And no I do not intend to resurrect that topic.
I hope the many modelers who are busily posting good stuff on various websites, YouTube, and other internet based mediums are mindful of just how transient that can be. Witness the fallen flags website and others. Remember the web published article where the guy had laboriously researched the prototypes for virtually all commercially available plastic model passenger cars, including the IHC stuff that I had thought was largely made up? It was a huge research job. It's long gone, posted on a website he did not control. A pity.
As for Pelle, he is listed as one of three Contributing Editors so it is logical to expect pretty regular contributions from him, as well as Tony Koester and Andy Sperandeo. We should be thankful he is still going strong with good articles, as I can remember some other contributing authors who started out strong but rather quickly ran out of things to say -- Lionel Strang comes to mind.
Dave Nelson
BRAKIEAnd time..It takes time to research and write a article and today folks just doesn't want to give up their TV time,golf clubs or ...
OMG You got that right!
I have had two articles published (neither of them in MR), and I can't begin to calculate the time I spent shooting photos at various agles and light settings, condensing material [my articles always tend to be way too 'wordy'], and clearing areas where I could shoot photos without some type of unwanted clutter in the background. For the money I was paid, the effort just didn't seem worth it.
-Ken in Maryland (B&O modeler, former CSX modeler)
BroadwayLion LION thinks it is about time that someone submitted an article about modeling the subway. Him also thinks that an article built around modeling on the cheap would be interesting. So would articles about more amaturish projects of the type most modlers actually build. Where is my pen? ROAR
I agree with the Lion not enough is published about Subways
Let me first state that I don't have MR's current contract, but it used to state that all things submitted became theirs. I laughed many years ago when they said they couldn't reprint something because of copyrights, the authers gave them up when they submitted them. I have no problem writing instructions or photography but going to all that work only to have them sit on it is a problem.
Yes, I meant MEGA pixels,Thought that would be obvious....sorry. I checked out the requirements for submitted photos, & you almost have to be a professional photographer. I consider myself"semi pro" Did some weddings & had pictures published. It seems with all the editors on staff, they could "tweek" some pictures. I would MUCH rather post pictures & text on the web. They care more for content than pretty pictures. you also get instant comments & suggestions. I've never had a picture turned down, or my phrasiology challenged. I have gotten many good ideas for projects from the older issues that contained pictures that woukd never be published today.In my opinion MR is gettind to be a "coffee Table Magazine".
joe323 BroadwayLion LION thinks it is about time that someone submitted an article about modeling the subway. I agree with the Lion not enough is published about Subways
Hi guys,
CTvalleyRR pretty much hit the nail on the head: there are not a lot of people who have all the traits needed for a story in MR. Someone needs to be a talented model railroader, a talented photographer, a reasonably good instructional writer, and be willing to take the time needed to photograph and write about a project.
Honestly, it's a lot of work, and I greatly appreciate those of you who have pulled it off.
We are always looking for new contributors, so if you have a story in mind just contact us.
Sincerely,
Neil B.
editor, MR
Neil Besougloff
editor, Model Railroader magazine
I have the right to remain silent. By posting here I have given up that right and accept that anything I say can and will be used as evidence to critique me.
I would submit this one to trackside photos as soon as ballast is put down.
(My Model Railroad, My Rules)
These are the opinions of an under 35 , from the east end of, and modeling, the same section of the Wheeling and Lake Erie railway. As well as a freelanced road (Austinville and Dynamite City railroad).
The photography issue is the one that's actually kept me from doing it. I'm a technical writer, by trade, and versed in plain language writing and all that stuff. Researching and writing an article would be pretty straightforward. Even got a few ideas. Supporting pictures, though, are a different story. Even stuff I have taken myself wouldn't be up to snuff. I'm no photographer.
Many hints and tips on model railroad photography in ny website, see my signature.
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
Thanks for this thread eveyone. I was recently published in the NMRA Magazine. What a confidence builder!! Now I'm awaiting a response on a different article from an editor from one of the "newstand" publications.
So, with a little comfort from you all, I see that this "happens all the time". So, I'll just get in line - hurry up and wait - film at eleven.
Chico Chip
chicochip Thanks for this thread eveyone. I was recently published in the NMRA Magazine. What a confidence builder!! Now I'm awaiting a response on a different article from an editor from one of the "newstand" publications. So, with a little comfort from you all, I see that this "happens all the time". So, I'll just get in line - hurry up and wait - film at eleven. Chico Chip
Kind of the way I started. 1st I was published in the NMRA magazine after I was shot down by MR and RMC. (Ironically Andy Sperendeo published an article VERY similar to mine in MR a few short months later.) My next few articles were published by RMC over the next few years, then I was able to get one accepted to MR, then another, and now a 3rd is soon to be published in MR. (C'mon Neil, we're not getting any younger!).
Yes, its a lot of work, and you wont get rich doing it, but if you can build a better moustrap, or found a better way to build that moustrap, and have a desire to share you talent, then being published has its own rewards. Not to mention the "were not worthy" salute when you walk into a club meeting!
Instead of complaining about the shallow pool, grab a bucket and help us start filling it. YOU may have the "next great idea" already between your ears, just waiting to be let out.
Karl
NCE über alles!
My hobby list includes model railroading (at the top) and woodworking. Now that I'm retired, I'm looking to revive an interest in photography and coin collecting.
It does NOT include writing magazine articles.
Thanks Neil for chiming in. I suspected as much. I too greatly appreciate all those who do produce the articles whether MR staff or outsiders.
Enjoy
Paul
Neil, thank you so much for responding. Perhaps this thread can be a conversation starter on how to get published. But may I ask if you have considered that perhaps MR has set the bar too high? When you consider that someone must be exceptional as a writer, photographer, model railroader, have the time, and oh, by the way, also have an exceptionally well done model railroad, does that send the message to 99% of the people to not bother, even though they might have valuable information to contribute? While 99.999% of people will never play in the World Cup, there is a local league just their speed to play in.
Would Linn Wescott's first article, or perhaps Bruce Chubb's original SV, be good enough for today's standards? I often spend hours going back into the MR CD and reading those long ago issues. They may not meet modern editorial style, but there were, and are, relatable.
Again, thank you for responding. It says a lot when the editors are willing to jump into the discussion with us.
jim
Question to everyone here. WHEN ballast is put down on the club layout, should I retry the shot I previously posted in this thread and submit it to the magazine?
Jimmy_Braum I would submit this one to trackside photos as soon as ballast is put down.
Just as I said before...MR is getting to be a "cofffee table"magazine. Seems much more emphasis is placed on museum quality pictures & entertaining writing than the content of the article. Also I stated, with so many editors & associate editors, pictures & writing could be tweaked.
Maybe too much emphasis is placed on other than magazine content, like DVDs Video plus etc. I know there has to be standards, but if you can understand what is being said & the picture adds to the text, print it.