The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group DIY Publishing - For the Bookshelf Major Keary majkeary@netscape.com.au

An excellent Australian publication, How to Start and :Produce A Magazine or Newsletter, is now in its third edition. Gordon Woolf writes from experience - lots of it - in publishing and training others in various aspects of publishing in general and self-publishing in particular.

This is not a large book, but it contains a remarkably detailed account of all the things that have to be taken into account when planning and executing the publication of a newsletter or magazine.

If you want detailed advice on design and layout, particularly in respect of artistic issues, this is not the text to use. The author devotes a chapter to layout and design, but focuses on practical matters. I suspect that Gordon Woolf shares my views on design: there are some fundamental typographic rules that should be observed (but not treated as holy writ), and a clean, simple layout works better than garish design.

Regardless of whether you decide to be conservative or avante-garde, the steps in planning, proofing, production, and distribution remain the same. And it is that field the book covers so well. There is no assumption of special knowledge or experience, and the advice spans the small newsletter that is photocopied rather than printed, through to a 10,000 print run magazine.

Topics covered include small offset printing runs, large scale runs, using a service bureau, producing the pages, illustrations, layout, pasteup, computer production, e-tines, economic considerations (getting ads, and so on), distribution, and legal considerations.

I like the way in which marginal notes manage to distill the essence of the text. It is a technique, well applied, for reinforcing the message and for finding information at a later date. The book is not just a read-once title; it should be read through and then revisited as a reference.

Anyone involved in considering whether to publish a newsletter/magazine-such as members of a club committee-should read this before making any decision. The language is not overly technical and, even if you will not have a direct role in production, what Gordon Woolf says will enable you to appreciate what is involved. The way is littered with skeletons of magazines that seemed like a good idea, but perished before having travelled very far because the fundamental issues were not properly considered.

The focus is on practical advice; essential reading for anyone with magazine or newsletter publishing aspirations, it contains all the information needed whether for a commercial venture or a non-profit publication.

How to Start ... a Magazine ... is available by mail order from

The Worsley Press
11 Lintel Court
Hastings Vic 3915
Phone/Fax 1800 622 805
email: info@worsleypress.com

A 10% discount, as well as free postage, is available to Melb PC members.

Reprinted from the August 2000 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia

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