BCM Community

Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: writingchef on July 07, 2008, 05:15:33 PM

Title: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: writingchef on July 07, 2008, 05:15:33 PM
Bus Conversion Magazine is always looking for good copy to put in our monthly magazine. Conversions (successful or unsuccessful), special projects, surprises, technical subjects, even stories about bus nuts that are special. Contact me directly through the magazine or the message board if you have an idea or want to become a writer. (Pay is lousy!)

Dennis Myers, Editor BCM
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: bubbaqgal on July 07, 2008, 05:18:29 PM
Dennis is easy to work with and very polite with his corrections.  Pay is one free magazine. LOL
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: chazwood on July 07, 2008, 05:45:01 PM


;D
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: HB of CJ on July 08, 2008, 02:14:44 PM
If we submit an USM (unsolicited manuscript) to the magazine and if they print it, does that give us the bragging rights that we are "professionally published writers" or something like that?  Sounds good to me.  The stories we could tell.  He he he.  :) :) :)
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: HighTechRedneck on July 08, 2008, 03:14:28 PM
Quote from: HB of CJ on July 08, 2008, 02:14:44 PM
If we submit an USM (unsolicited manuscript) to the magazine and if they print it, does that give us the bragging rights that we are "professionally published writers" or something like that?  Sounds good to me.  The stories we could tell.  He he he.  :) :) :)

Yup.  You wrote it, that makes you a writer.  It got published that makes you a published writer.  You received compensation for it (the free magazine) that makes you a professional published writer.
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: JackConrad on July 08, 2008, 03:32:07 PM
And you will be listed in that magazine as a Contributing Editor.  Jack
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: Sam 4106 on July 08, 2008, 07:27:53 PM
Hi HB of CJ,
I'm not sure that would be anything to brag about. In the July 2008 issue of BCM on page 34 the centerfold Prevost is an '87, on page 37 it's an '89, and on page 43 it's an '86. I'm not sure if the errors are the author's or the editor's. In either case it doesn't reflect well. It leaves me wondering if it really is a Prevost.
On another note, I am sure glad that Doreen Orion's bus year is over. It seemed to me that all she was interested in on the trip was how many painted nails she had, where the best wine was, and where the best resturant was. With all the natural beauty there is in Alaska and Canada that she could have photographed, why did we have to see so many pictures of her bus month after month? Oh yes, I forgot, you get what you pay for at BCM.
Oh well, Sam 4106
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: Ray D on July 08, 2008, 08:38:28 PM
I thought Doreen's articles were well written, I for one enjoyed them, everyone knows Alaska and Canada are beautiful, but for the newbee, where do you stay, eat, and get that adult beverage?  And who can resist looking at a picture of a Prevost!!!!!!Oh my!!!!

Ray D
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: kyle4501 on July 09, 2008, 05:14:54 AM
Tough crowd!  ;D
Personally, I think they should focus on 4501's  ;)  ;D  :o  8)

It is tougher still to write a couple of articles & almost impossible for me to continue after that.  :(

I have a few started, when I find the time, I'll finish them & send them in.
BUT- If I'm gonna be micro critiqued for punctuation & grammar, I may not look for the time.  :o

Yes, there is room for improvement, but you need to understand that the market for this type of magazine is quite limited, & like with everything else, we do the best we can with limited resources.
Would I do things differently? You bet I would! - BUT WAIT, I don't have a magazine, so maybe If I was running things there wouldn't be a magazine . . . . . Something to think about.  ;)
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: DrivingMissLazy on July 09, 2008, 07:07:38 AM
Post Deleted.

Richard
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: JohnEd on July 09, 2008, 11:10:38 AM
I wuz tld bi a sycologie maygor specializing in developement psyc that any owrds you miss spell in the 5th grade you will probably missspelll for the rest of your life.  Don't ask me how I verified the validity of that information.  I have yet to be able to get the "E" in "somEthing" even most of the time.  I am at the point in my life where I am starting to deny having a Masters.

You should have your hands full on this editing scorre.

John
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: chazwood on July 09, 2008, 11:44:02 AM
I tell ya what's tough for me as a writer....besides the spelling....( when I hit spell check it doesn't even know what I was trying to say... >:() what's tough, is the total lack of feedback.

When I wrote on this board, people would write in and comment. Instant feedback.

When I write for the magazine.......... Silence. Zip. Nada.

Gee....wait a second... I just thought of something.... maybe silence is a good thing....maybe it would hurt my feelings to know what you think. :)

No. really.... I wouldn't mind any kind of feedback ......Good or bad.

And to be really honest with you, I'm not even sure what issues my stuff is in....so, how's that for flying blind?

Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: JackConrad on July 10, 2008, 05:21:47 AM
Chaz,
    I have written over 25 articles for Bus Conversions and Coach Builders Bulletin.  Rarely any feedback except an occasional in person "Jack, I liked your article". Only a couple emails asking for additional information, photos, sources, etc.  Jack
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: kyle4501 on July 10, 2008, 05:51:19 AM
I bought a bunch of extra copies when I got published  ;D
That's how I keep up with the time & how it does fly!
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: Hi yo silver on July 10, 2008, 02:50:35 PM
Jack and Chaz,
I for one, have enjoyed your articles.  Well written and good pics.  Thanks for all your efforts!  Without guys like you, who will make an effort, look what the rest of us would miss.  Good going.
Dennis
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: bobofthenorth on July 10, 2008, 03:35:48 PM
I've written maybe a dozen articles for a couple of farm publications over the years.  You never know what is going to generate calls.  Some of the articles that I thought I would get calls on I got nothing and then there'd be one that kept the phone ringing for a month.  And once in a while you get a call where you wonder what planet the guy is calling from and how the H you are going to ever get him off the other end of the phone.  So its not always bad when you get no calls.

And FTR I kind of liked Doreen's streams of consciousness.  Its a whole different ballgame when you have to write to a deadline.  Its no big deal to write a guest article that is scheduled to run "sometime".  Its another cat altogether when you have to churn out a new piece of prose every month.

Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: chazwood on July 10, 2008, 04:58:51 PM
Quote from: Hi yo silver on July 10, 2008, 02:50:35 PM
Jack and Chaz,
I for one, have enjoyed your articles.  Well written and good pics.  Thanks for all your efforts!  Without guys like you, who will make an effort, look what the rest of us would miss.  Good going.
Dennis

Thank you Dennis :D
That $20 I promised you for saying that, is gone....my fish ate it. sorry.
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: rv_safetyman on July 10, 2008, 09:06:12 PM
I have published three articles and feel good about contributing.  I have a fourth in the works. 

Many years ago, I wrote an SAE technical pager on the subject of the statics of belt fatigue failures based on laboratory testing.  I got a call from a heart valve manufacturer asking how they could go about establishing a test program to determine their product life expectancy!!  I wish I had recorded the name of the company so that when my aging ticker needs a rebuild, I could avoid that supplier  ;D

Jim
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: ktmossman on July 11, 2008, 06:02:48 AM
Chazwood, your articles are the only thing in the magazine my wife reads.  Of course, I'm not sure what that means...on several levels... ??? ;D
Title: Re: Stories for Bus Conversion Magazine
Post by: chazwood on July 11, 2008, 08:19:51 AM
Quote from: ktmossman on July 11, 2008, 06:02:48 AM
Chazwood, your articles are the only thing in the magazine my wife reads.  Of course, I'm not sure what that means...on several levels... ??? ;D

Whatever that "means"...... You have my permission to tell her...... she just made my day. ;D