Intended as a practical guide for persons interested in the field of free lance writing, this book provides information on the following topics: the individual's response to the magazine publishing market; magazines and the types of articles that are marketable; methods for locating story material; ways of questioning and interpreting an editor's reaction to articles; research sources for the writer; interviewing techniques; ways of organizing material; various types of leads; grammar, usage, and style; the endings for articles; avoiding writing mistakes; getting started in the magazine market; and using photography. The book contains appendixes on the history of magazines in the United States, proofreading symbols, and writers' rights. The informal style of the book mixes guidelines and suggestions with the author's personal experiences in writing. Some of the author's own stories are presented along with marginal notes on the procedure followed in researching and writing each story. (MAI)