Introduction to Magazine Writing

Magazine writing is a distinct genre of nonfiction writing and can be useful to learn for both craft and monetary reasons. Magazine writing often pays more than other kinds of writing and can be an avenue for earning some income while working on longer form and longer term creative work. Although magazines are not as abundant as they used to be, there are still markets for them and it remains a good option for people who want to make money from their writing. In addition to the potential financial opportunities in magazine writing, the genre can help you continue to hone your craft. Magazine writing requires attention to detail, interview and research skills, scene writing, and the ability to distill a lot of information into an accessible summary or overview.  This workshop will take place for one hour a week for 8 consecutive weeks. Participants will read a wide variety of magazine articles, learn how to craft insightful interview questions, identify various structures, experiment with tone and style, and more. By the end of the workshop, participants will have at least one pitch idea for an article as well as several magazine names they plan to approach for stories. 

Emily Withnall is an award winning writer and the editor of El Palacio, a magazine dedicated to the art, culture, and history of New Mexico. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Al Jazeera, High Country News, Gay Magazine, The Kenyon Review, River Teeth, The Indiana Review, Fourth River, The Rumpus, Orion, Ms. Magazine, and Huffington Post, among other publications. Her essay “Creating Art in a Burning World” was named notable in the 2025 Best American Essays anthology. Her work can be read at emilywithnall.com. Emily lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Is the registration fee an obstacle for you to attend this workshop? Fishtrap offers a limited number of scholarships to help with the cost. Contact Program Director Mike Midlo for more information. mike@fishtrap.org