edit beautiful

In an interview with Mediabistro, House Beautiful EIC Stephen Drucker talks about the shelter category, rising to the top and the art of editing. Here's what he has to say...

On over-intellectualizing

"Editors feel the need to make it really important, and they make it important by over-intellectualizing it. It's really about pleasure. It doesn't need a big intellectual justification. It doesn't have to be puffed up into something big and important. What often happens is that while everyone is intellectualizing, all the reader just wants to know is, "What's that great color blue on the wall?"

On getting to the top

"When I started, it was really very simple. You started as an editorial assistant. You hoped your boss left, retired, or died, and you stayed, stayed, and stayed, and the last person standing, with luck, got to be editor-in-chief in their 40s or 50s. ... Now, there is much more respect for people at every level of a magazine, because the staff is smaller. It's recognized that a 24-year-old editorial assistant may have a lot to contribute with voice, their knowledge of the Internet, and what they like, because it's an indicator of what's to come."

On writing fashion copy

"It's a great art to write fashion copy. It is a really specialized and under-appreciated skill to write those haikus that go into fashion magazines. To write captions for magazines like ours, they have to sound really musical. It's all in the ear."

On knowing your reader

"When you come to a magazine, it's a mistake to think you can just walk in and succeed. No matter how much experience you have, you have to come in and get to know the reader of your particular magazine, even if you've worked at five other magazines in your category. The reader of your particular magazine has very particular likes and dislikes, and it takes an ear to learn what they are, no matter how astute an editor you are."

Read the entire interview here.

the information meeting

I was recently reminded by a veteran in the biz about the information meeting. If you're just getting started in your career, it's worth asking an editor or HR person if they would be willing to meet with you just to chat about the biz, critique your resume, talk about what positions you may be qualified for, what skills you need to get to where you want to be, and, in the case of editors, how they got where they are.

the value of a mentor

I've had a rash of emails recently from people who are feeling defeated in their hunt for a job – who are becoming disenchanted with the magazine biz. At times like these, it helps to have a mentor to turn to. It was one of my own mentors who reminded me of this when I asked him whether he had advice I could pass on to these editor/writer hopefuls. Having someone who understands the business and knows your history, talents and goals, someone who can provide you with tailor-made advice and encouragement, who can guide you through your career – this is invaluable.

So where do you find one? Look around you. Perhaps there's already a more senior person you've worked with, with whom you've clicked. If not, keep an eye out for people who are especially kind or interested in what you're working on. Developing this type of relationship takes time and should develop naturally – you'll pick them up in school and through your early career. To nurture this type of connection, ask advice when you need it – people are generally flattered to be asked and are usually happy to help out. Be sure to always thank them for their advice and let them know if it helped you land that job or primo assignment. Put them on your Christmas card list and email them articles you think they might be interested in. However you do it, stay in touch. Weekly updates aren't necessary, but a kind hello a few times a year is good.

your online presence

In one of Folio:'s new blogs, Matt Kinsman comments on the connection between Facebook and jobhunting.

recommended reading

This book, The Magazine From Cover to Cover by Sammye Johnson, offers a great overview of the industry. I believe some magazine programs use it as a textbook.