Make News No. 2
October 4, 2004
==============
Welcome to the second issue of the Make magazine newsletter. A couple of
weeks ago, I asked you to suggest a name for this newsletter. Dozens of
people replied -- thanks!
Here are some of the suggestions that came in:
Makefile
Modifications
make /usr/share/hack
Create It
Done Deal
DoItNow
Make it Mine
Makers
Make-up-date
The Make a Cake NL
MAKE: The News
Re:Make
We had a lot of good submissions to choose from, but our favorite was
"Make News." Matthew Morrisson was the first to submit it, so he wins the
prize -- a title of his choice from O'Reilly's Hacks Series.
Congratulations, Matthew!
***
In the first issue of Make News, I also asked you to send in your ideas
for Make. A bunch of you wrote back asking for writers' guidelines. Here
they are:
Make Submission Guidelines
Make is a do-it-yourself technology magazine written by makers. When you
write something for Make, use your voice. Tell us the story behind your
project.
There are four types of content in Make: Projects, Features, Reviews, and
Everything Else. (If you have an idea for something that doesn't fit in
one of the first three areas but is still related to do-it-yourself
technology, we'd like to hear about it, too -- hence the Everything Else
category.)
We pay $100 for a review. Payment for other types of content will be
negotiated.
To pitch an idea, email it to Mark Frauenfelder (markf@oreilly.com).
1. Projects
If you've made something cool (or have come up with a cool hack or tweak
for something) and want to show other people how to make one, we'd like to
publish it in our projects section. (Note: We're interested in hearing
about things you've already made, not things you are just thinking about
making.)
Remember this when you are writing for Make: you're the readers' coach.
Think of your reader as a smart person who doesn't necessarily know what
you know. Imagine the questions he or she might have about your project.
Explain everything they need to know to recreate the thing you're writing
about.
We have two kinds of projects. One is called "DIY." This section is for
shorter projects (like swapping a battery out of an iPod, or installing
open source software on your TiVo.) DIY pieces run between 200 and 750
words. When writing a DIY, keep it conversational. These are very much
like explaining to a friend how you did something. Describe difficulties
you encountered, and suggest workarounds. Take digital photos of each step
along the way. Photos should be at least 2 Megapixels.
The second kind of project is a "Major Project." These are more complex
projects that would require a reader at least several hours, if not days,
to complete. If we accept your proposal for a Major Project, you will need
to submit the article in a format that fits our template. We'll provide
you with further instructions.
2. Features
We have several sections with articles about interesting things made by
people or groups of people. "Made on Earth" is a section with large photos
of projects and their makers, along with 200-word stories about them.
"Maker" is a longer profile of a dedicated maker-of-cool-things. And we
also have 600- to 1,000-word articles about groups, companies, clubs, and
technologies relating to DIY projects.
3. Reviews
Is there some gadget, tool, web site, newsletter, instructional video,
book, magazine, CD-ROM, or instrument you already own and love? Then send
your review to "Toolbox," Make's recommendation section.
Reviews should be approximately 300 words, and be written in the first
person. Think more "recommendation" and "experience" when you write these
than "review." We want to hear about your involvement with it.
The old Wired guidelines for reviews went like this: "Write your review.
Then write us a letter explaining why we should devote space to your item.
Throw away your review and send us the letter." That's the way to do it.
4. Everything Else
Do you have an idea involving DIY technology, but doesn't fit in any of
the above categories? Is it interesting? Let us know about it. Tell us
about the time your dad made a homebrew computer based on the Apple II
schematic. Tell us the funny story about the motorized surfboard you made.
What's the strangest experience you've had making something? If it's
surprising or funny, we'll run it.
***
Remember, the first issue of Make is coming in January, so start clearing
off your workbench!
Best regards,
Mark Frauenfelder
Editor in Chief
Make
markf@oreilly.com
