WRITERS’ NEWS
http://www.writers-online.co.uk APRIL 2020^77FlyPast magazine explores aviation history, vintage aircraft
restoration, the latest news on museum activity and
airshow reports.
‘You’ll see plenty of wartime legends such as the
Supermarine Spitfire and P-51 Mustang, but we also
focus on classic civil machines and airliners,’ said editor
Chris Clifford. ‘Superlative air-to-air photography is
guaranteed.’
Topics are wide and varied. ‘Our focus sometimes
centres on a classic aircraft in detail, but other articles
describe famous aviators or aircraft designers, record-
breaking pilots, “aces”, prototypes and pivotal air battles,’
said Chris. ‘A FlyPast team member or contributor
may also get to fly in a classic aircraft and impart the
experience to the readers – and delve into the machine’s
history. And our popular Women in Aviation series continues to highlight famous and
lesser-known female flyers, civilian and military.’
A typical reader of FlyPast would be someone who regularly visits airshows and
museums. ‘The readers vary in age and aviation tastes; the “average” purchaser is in
their forties or fifties (but the age span runs from teens to people into their eighties and
nineties). Most will be died-in-the wool enthusiasts, but we also have many former and
current service personnel reading FlyPast – and some have made the leap into writing
for us.’
As editor, Chris always bears in mind that FlyPast aims to be the first port of call for
anyone wanting the latest news in the heritage aviation world. ‘We are proud of the
fact that many restorers/aircraft owners come to FlyPast first to seek coverage for their
latest project. With histories, we strive to write and source features that make readers
get out of their comfort zone and want to learn about something new – whether it’s
about an aircraft type, pilot or squadron.’
Chris and his team have recently relaunched FlyPast. ‘Part of our mission is to
report in depth on professional and grass-roots restorations in every edition, getting
the engineering and operator perspectives. I do like to have some form of air combat
history each month, and as many Cold War aircrew are still with us, it’s great to have
their personal accounts too. A fascinating feature recently explored the role of the
Portuguese Air Force during its operations in Africa in the 1960s-70s, so there’s plenty
of variety.’
Keeping knowledgeable readers entertained and accurately informed is paramount.
‘Above all, it needs to be an interesting read – not some dry account cribbed word for
word from a squadron Operational Record Book, or overly technical that it baffles the
readers,’ said Chris. ‘We usually take a reverent tone with veterans and known aircrew
members, but some stories demand that we highlight someone’s full character. Pilots,
such as “Dambuster” Guy Gibson, had flaws or could be hard taskmasters, but that’s
all grist to the storytelling mill. Quality imagery is vital too; we need high-resolution
photos (scans of originals) or decent archive shots. We do have our own large photo
collection though, so can often fill in the gaps. We don’t accept photos ripped from the
internet.
Above all, potential freelances need to bear in mind the need for accuracy. ‘There are
some very knowledgeable readers out there, especially ex-service people, and they are
certainly not shy of telling us if something’s incorrect. Any author should contact me
first to pitch an idea and be keen enough to write in accordance with our house style
guide. Reliability, and keeping to a deadline, are also vital.’
Chris is happy to hear from prospective freelances.
‘Do your homework. As I mentioned, accuracy is
key but then again, so are the journalistic basics. And
do try to unearth stories that are seldom told, which
always heightens reader interest.’ Send a brief stating
the proposed story and its components, and sources of
imagery.
Payment is £60 per 1,000 words, £20 for a colour
photo and £10 for black and white.
Details: email: [email protected];
website: https://flypast.keypublishing.com/
Fly high with FlyPast
UK MAGAZINE MARKET
Tina JacksonWrite till times are done
Silver Apples Magazine is a lively American
magazine which bridges literary and genre work
with themes and a quirky attitude to what makes
good writing. Currently accepting subs for issue
thirteen with the theme of ‘Very Superstitious’,
the editorial team want genre fiction and poetry,
particularly SF, ‘crime, horror, westerns, trashy
romance... you name it, we want it!’ The team
always publish ‘stories and art across all genres and
mediums.’
The team always accept submissions in all
genres, including children’s and graphic novels.
Submit two short stories or creative non-fiction
pieces, or a one-act play, up to 3,000 words. For
poetry submit three poems.
Submit doc or docx attachments with a short
bio (max 50 words).
Response ‘might take us a few weeks’. There is
only a token payment for first publication righrs.
Details: Silver Apples Magazine, email:
[email protected] or
[email protected]; website: https://
silver-apples.squarespace.comBig win for
unsung hero
Jack Fairweather’s The Volunteer
wins Costa Book of the Year.
The £30,000 prize was
awarded for a biography of Polish
resistance hero Witold Pilecki.
In The Volunteer, former war
reporter and Washington Post
correspondent Jack uncovered the
story of one of WW2’s greatest
unsung heroes. Witold Pilecki
was an underground resistance
operative who volunteered to be imprisoned in
Auschwitz, where his activities included sabotaging
facilities, murdering Nazi officers, gathering
evidence of the mass murder of Jews and getting
information to the Allied forces.
Sian Williams, chair of the final judges, said:
‘The judges were unanimous in choosing The
Volunteer by Jack Fairweather. It’s an incredible
story; pacy like a thriller, it reads like fiction and
yet it’s not, it is fact. It is a story none of us have
read before – this is an extraordinary and important
book that people need to read.’
Jack was awarded the £30,000 Costa Book of
the Year Award at ceremony that took place one
day after the 75th anniversary of the liberation of
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