Let's Make This a Q&A Day
Ordinarily, I'm the one in this blog-relationship who gets to ask all the questions.
Today, to celebrate the official last day of winter (BIG CHEER!!!), I'm reversing the tables--YOU get to ask ME the questions.
About horse stuff. About magazine stuff. About personal stuff. Or about any other subject of your choosing, as long as it's not politics or religion.
So. We're seated across the table from one another at a social function, and you decide to ask me about......
posted by Juli Thorson @ 11:28 AM
31 comments
31 Comments:
Hi Juli,
I've always wondered how you go about deciding what to put in the magazines?
Lynette:
Every successful magazine has a sort of "recipe" created by the editorial team, using knowledge of audience interest as the gauge.
The basic format of Horse & Rider covers western training, how-to, and advice. Those keywords appear on the cover, telling the reader what to expect. This approach also pretty much rules OUT such topics as rodeo, ranching, English training, racing, draft horses, and other things. Since there are ALWAYS more article ideas than resources for getting them into print, knowing what to leave out is just as important as knowing what to put in.
When we plan issues, we ask such questions as:
* What are horse people talking about these days?
* What areas of knowledge do we see people lacking?
* What trends are on the horizon?
* How can we help people make smart buying choices?
* What hands-on skills can we teach?
* Which article topic will yield the best photos?
* How can we help readers save money or time?
Short answer to a very BIG subject!
when's your birthday?
My birthday is August 2.
"Sometime" during the 1950s!
Juli,
How did you get your job at the magazine?
I started freelancing to Horse & Rider back in the 1970s. In 1991, while still a long-distance independent contractor, I took on the jobs of being editor in chief, and later, editor-at-large. That was through the end of the 90s.
Then I took an offer to switch my contract-time work over to a different magazine company, which I did until summer 06--when I got lured back to my old home at H&R.
I started my career with a $1.85/hour assistant editor's job at the Appaloosa News (now Appaloosa Journal). That was in 1975. To make extra money to support my horse (yes, I had a horse on $1.85/hour), I started writing freelance articles.
Which pretty much loops us back to my very earliest contact with Horse & Rider.
Hi Juli,
Do you have any tips on how to get a young horse more balanced?
What is your favorite subject(s) to write about?
Joy:
One thing I am not is a horse trainer--I only write about horse trainers!
Two questions:
What is your biggest fear today for our horse life?
What is your greatest hope today for our horse life?
Suzi V
Further reply to Joy:
Since I DO write about horse trainers, perhaps I can find one to address your balance question.
Can you provide a bit more detail about the balance issue? You do mean balance when under sadde, right?
Suzi,
My greatest fear for our horse world is that horse people will continue to sleep through the revolution--that we'll wake up one day to find that the NON horse world has legislated, regulated, taxed, and licensed us to a point of non-sustainability.
My greatest hope is that the anti-apathy genie will somehow force his way out of the bottle, and make "our gang" realize that the price of fuel isn't the only thing worth fussing over!
Hi Julie,
I just found your blog and I am so glad I did. I love reading your articles. You are a fantastic writer. Thank you for all you do for us horse people.
My question is this,
You said that H&R covers western training but rules out rodeo. Barrel racing uses western training, we need good how-to and advice!!! The articles that H&R has done on barrel racing have been great! I really, really, wish H&R would do more for us barrel racers. I know many barrel racers that subscribe to H&R, myself included.
Okay, the real question.
If you were not a "show" person, what would you be?
I am a barrel racer with a cutting horse background. I want to do working cow horse...BAD!!! haha
Hi, Imaointexas:
I should have clarified that H&R DOES cover barrel racing--just not rodeo in general.
Although I have shown horses for about 50 years--starting at age 5--I don't do a great deal of that these days. Just the occasional event. I like all kinds of trail riding, whether it's a ride right around our ranch property, or a multi-day horse camping sort of thing.
If I were to pick a new horse endeavor, it would be driving. I've done some of that, but would like to do more.
Juli,
I really enjoy your article last June about Liz Bentley and Second Tsultan. I might be a little biased.
Did you hear the won this year's Scottsdale Western Pleasure Open Championship again? We are trying to verify it but we believe this is the first time a rider and horse won it two years in a row. It was a tough class. The show organizers scratched the prelim and had 29 horses in the championship. We won the WP Stallions class earlier in the week so we thought we had a chance.
Liz had a great show winning other championships with other horses.
How about another Western Pleasure article with Liz Bentley and Second Tsultan?
Steve
Hi, Steve,
I know why you're biased, and I would be too if I owned such a fabulous horse! Congratulations on win #2!
Got photos? That's often the decided factor on articles that get published.
Juli,
We have a wonderfull victory gallop picture. I'll email you a small copy of it.
Steve
Juli - Your column "Just Between Us" is always one of the first items I read when I get a new issue of H&R. My question is how long, on average, does it take you to put together one of those columns, including research as well as writing?
Dear Muzzles:
I generally set aside a whole day to write the magazine column, but various potential topics are on my mind all the time.
Writing the column is exacting, in that it has to be an specific number of lines in order to fit the space. Some topics can end up being too long, and some can end up running too short. No such problem with the blog!
I have been writing personal columns for publication since I was in high school. I've written a horse-related column, for one magazine or another, every single month for the last 26 years.
Thank you for being such a loyal reader!
Juli, how's that grandson of your's doing? Any sign of the horse gene surfacing yet? I've just had my first eight months ago. I've managed to restrain myself, and only given one stuffed "horsie", but, next time he visits, I may have to pop him up on a horse to check him out! My luck, he'll probably turn out to be a big horsepower kid, like his dad. vbg
Nancy,
My grandson, Jacob, is 16 months old and a real charmer. He's met some horses at his other grandparents' home, but unfortunately lives too far away for me to seduce him with horses regularly. He likes TRACTORS, because Daddy is a farmer!
So far I have managed to restrain myself from running out and getting him a pony. However, I confess to reading the pony ads daily!
Juli-
What advice would you have for someone interested in pursuing equine free lance writing in today's market?
Many thanks!
Mrs. Mom:
My suggestions for pursuing equine freelance writing in today's market:
1. Become a regular reader of the magazines you wish to submit to, and STUDY them very closely, so you can learn to pick up on what they publish, and in what format. An article that one mag would buy is not what another one would want, and vice versa.
2. Make attempts to develop some kind of relationship with the editor(s). They need to get to know you, even if it's just via regular responses to material that's been published.
3. Realize that you will be hired/paid for your ability to write to the MAGAZINE's voice and format--not yours. Freelance writing is like being a carpenter for hire. You seldom get to build your own dreamhouse while on someone else's payroll. You get paid to help the customer build his.
4. Develop an area of expertise, with contacts and good sources to match. Example: Let's say I give you an assignment to produce a 1,500-word article on the latest in show-grooming techniques. Would you have winning, credible sources to go to for that?
5. Deliver the product on time, and don't take it personally if you're asked to do a rewrite, or if someone on the staff does a rewrite for you. (See #3.) Freelance writing and creative writing are two different things, and people often don't realize nor accept that when trying to break in to the freelance field.
Hi Juli,
I saw Steve's comment about Liz Bentley and Second Tsultan AGAIN winning the Western Pleasure at Scottsdale. That is incredible, and as a friend of Steve's, I am very happy for him. But, it may be even more impressive that Liz also won the Open Hunter Pleasure in Scottsdale. Those two classes are probably the toughest and deepest. It is an amazing feat for one trainer to have won both of them. I also am biased as I own "American Idol", the Hunter Champion. And yes, pictures are available. Thank you, Diane Athey.
YEAH LIZ!
Hi, Diane,
Equal congrats to you for your horse's victory at Scottsdale!
It sounds like the lovely Liz is the "real story" here. We don't have 08 Scottsdale coverage planned for the magazine, but perhaps we can figure on doing something with Liz in the future.
She's obviously got a knack!
Thank you Ms. Thorson. Liz is definitely lovely and definitely the story. You may recall"Cody's" story. He is the product of a very small, one or two foals ever, breeding program, and is still owned by his breeder. "Idol", my hunter, was a very miserable Western Pleasure horse whom I would have given away 1.5 years ago. Liz transformed him into a Scottsdale Champion in three months. Liz is not only a fantastic trainer, but, more importantly, she's a fantastic person. I can't think of a person more deserving of accolade.
Diane--
Could you or Steve G. put me in touch with Liz Bentley, please?
Absolutely!!! Liz's website is http://www.iibfarms.com/
All of her contact information can be found there. I am so thrilled at the prospect of Liz getting some press. Thank you!
Juli:
A question I've wanted to and forgotten a time or two to ask you...where did you begin college classes in journalism? Which college..you mentioned "California"..any other universities in other states??
roanhorse--
I got my journalism degree from the University of North Dakota. That is the state I'm from.
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