How to Utilize Magazines

As a writer, I do a lot of research. The one way I research is through magazines. I tear my magazines apart from cover to cover. This article will show you how to utilize your magazines and get your money's worth.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Magazines
• Scissors

1. The first thing you want to do is read your magazine. Take your time, read the stories, and enjoy the reading.
2. When you are done, go back and look over it again. Look at the pictures, stories, quotations, quotes, recipes, and everything a magazine has to offer. What can you use for future stories of your own? Are there any quotes that you may want to use?
3. Something as simple as a "Dear Abby" type of column might be useful information for your next article. A simple picture of the ocean or lake might be a great piece for your scrapbook! I found an entire page of Ernest Hemingway's Writer's Desk. I framed it in an 8X11 frame! You can start a personal journal with magazines. Find pictures that identifies your dreams and goals, career, and dream home. Make a collage with magazine pictures. I cut out every rose I came across from magazines. I glued them to a cardboard piece that comes with the picture frame, and added the glass. I found different kind of roses, different colors, and styles. I cut them small, uneven, big, large, and made this awesome collage.
4. Magazines offer so many recipes. We say that we will cut them out, but then we forget. Get into the habit of ripping apart your magazines. As writers and educators, a lot of valuable information is provided within these magazines.
5. Although, magazines can be expensive, it is cheaper to order them through mail. Some libraries carry magazines. Just mention to your librarian that you are a writer or educator, I guarantee that they will let you have the magazine for free. When sitting in the doctor's office, read the magazines on the tables. I cannot tell you how many articles I've found in doctors offices alone. And the best part, its free!
6. Go to your local used bookstore, flea market, and other stores that specializes in books. You can get used magazines dirt cheap. The best part of this is that you will be able to find old articles that will show your story is needed. If a 1995 magazine has an article about Anorexia Nervosa, you can prove that this disorder is in need of help by comparing statistics from 1995 until 2008.
7. Need space? Invest in a cheap file cabinet. Buy some of those file folders with handles. Categorize your articles, quotes, recipes and so on. Have fun. You'd be surprised what you will end up doing with magazine cut-outs.

Tips & Warnings

• Magazine cut-outs are great for scrapbooking and journaling
• Some pages are great to display in picture frames. Example: Flowers, Tea cups, herbs, spices, grapes, bottle of wine, etc.