Bring Back Fiction to Women’s Magazines!
June 17, 2011 at 9:02 am 9 comments
I write short stories as well as novels, and I’m unhappy about the trend in women’s magazines to drop the regular fiction slot in favour of more celebrity or real-life news. As a writer, of course I’m concerned to see the available markets dwindling, but as a reader too I’m disappointed. I well remember the days before I began writing: I would flick through all the celebrity stuff which has never appealed to me except in the most cursory way, to find the fiction, then I’d settle down to enjoy a few minutes escape. I loved it. My concern is that many women’s magazine readers will never have this option.
I wonder, do magazines really know what their readers want, or do they just assume that what they want is more and more celeb pages?
Here in Australia, Woman’s Day is the latest magazine to drop fiction, and this is such a shame as they always published high quality short stories. Over in the UK, Woman is the most recent revamp and, you guessed it, there in no place for fiction in the magazine. The same thing has happened at Best.
This is a really disturbing trend for writers and readers alike. Please, if you’re a writer or reader of short stories, especially if you’re a reader, please go to the Facebook pages of the above magazines and others that you read, and leave a comment to let them know that fiction is important and we want it to stay.
I’ve joined a Facebook group which aims to get the word out that women want fiction in their magazines. If you’d like to join, message me and I’ll add you to the group, or search for the group yourself – its name is the title of this post.
We need to be heard before it’s too late!
Claire
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1. Diane Fordham | June 17, 2011 at 9:22 am
Great post Claire – well done! I’ve noticed the members list on facebook is growing. Diane Fordham
2. Julie Louise Phillips | June 17, 2011 at 6:01 pm
Great post, Claire
Yes, if anyone here wants to see a return of fiction in magazines, then let your voice be heard!
Julie xx
3. Trish Morey | June 17, 2011 at 9:12 pm
I wonder what is their problem? Why is there no room for fiction? Or are there too many cameras up people’s noses, bottoms and thighs these days and there’s no room to fit in a decent story for a change?
Funny thing, the stories about celebrities aren’t about real people anyway. I’d rather read fiction.
4. Claire Baxter | June 17, 2011 at 9:36 pm
It is hard to understand, isn’t it, Trish? Surely most readers are like us and would prefer some fiction to break up the monotony of celeb stuff?
5. Virginia Taylor | June 19, 2011 at 11:13 am
I stopped reading women’s mags years ago, mainly because I am totally uninterested in Tomcat or Kenick (that might be Nikeith) or royalty or where they brunch. I’m bored witless by ‘stars.’ Anyone is a star if they have appeared on TV for more than a minutes, it seems, and most have nothing to contribute to society other than their never-ending seeking after ‘fame.’
As a contributor to magazine short stories myself, I was always an avid reader of them. I noticed some years ago that fewer and fewer short stories were being published. I think the editors of mags have their fingers as firmly on the pulse of public opinion as the TV moguls. Not. The latter have only recently discovered that ‘most’ viewers are watching their alternate channels. So the big new move is to disinter tired old programs with the same tired old ‘stars’ that were dropped for reasons they never bothered to discover. Ask me why, I say?
Now mags want to drop the fiction fiction so that they can use more true fiction. I bet they’ll be surprised when their circulations drop even more. I suspect they survey their readers to get opinions. Bad idea. They need to survey those who don’t buy their mags. Again, ask me, I say.
Virginia Taylor
6. Claire Baxter | June 19, 2011 at 1:12 pm
Well said, Virginia. Thanks for dropping by to comment.
Claire
7. Eleni Konstantine | June 21, 2011 at 4:29 pm
I hardly get any of these magazines anymore because they just don’t publish fiction, or give an opportunity to new writers to publish fiction. It’s such a shame.
The short story market is sure shrinking. Again, a shame.
8. Claire Baxter | June 21, 2011 at 6:05 pm
You’re right, Eleni, it is a shame. And writers are readers too.
Dlaire
9. Claire Baxter | June 21, 2011 at 6:07 pm
Oops, that was supposed to say Claire. I haven’t changed my name!