Reading and Writing: Monday Market: Best of British

A little change from short stories this week, but Best of British magazine is one that any writer might approach. And even if you don't want to contribute work to it, this is one of the best publications of nostalgia, although it also partly covers the present. It's an excellent resource for writers researching little details about the past as each issue contains a wealth of information about people, places, and all the everyday things that were part of British life.

Best of British does accept unsolicited articles up to 1,200 words, and is very photograph led. Payment for this is at their (undisclosed) normal rates. They also have a Postbag section for letters and photos, but they seem to have stopped paying for these contributions. I did send a full article recently about childhood summer holidays, along with a couple of photos, and they ended up using just one photo and a very short piece from the article for their Snap Happy section. Fare enough - I did send the article on spec, and they did pay me a little when it was published in the July 2011 issue.

Apart from reading the magazine with a view to submitting material, this is certainly one that I buy now and then just for the pleasure of wallowing in nostlagia for a while! Full details are on the Best of British website.

Rosemary

13 comments:

Paula Martin said...: Thanks for recommending this, I wasn't aware of it but will look out for it now. Not to contribute but simply for the sake of nostalgia!; 22 August 2011 at 12:09
Teresa Ashby said...: It is a great magazine isn't it, Rosemary - I love a bit of nostalgia!; 23 August 2011 at 00:13
Rosemary Gemmell said...: Hi Paula - it's also good for photos of the past!

Hello Teresa - me too!; 23 August 2011 at 00:53
Deborah Carr (Debs) said...: I don't think I've ever read this magazine, but it sounds great. I'll have to take a trip to the newsagents tomorrow.; 23 August 2011 at 10:50
K.C. Woolf said...: The 'Nostalgic Seaside Special' looks promising. :-); 23 August 2011 at 16:51
Talli Roland said...: I haven't head of this one. Thanks, Rosemary.; 24 August 2011 at 05:23
Talli Roland said...: Oops - 'heard'! :); 24 August 2011 at 05:24
Rosemary Gemmell said...: Hi Debs - glad it's new to you!

Hi K.C. - such nostalgia and great memories!

Hello Talli - it's a good one for background detail!; 24 August 2011 at 05:38
Frances Garrood said...: Of course, some of us are much too young for that kind of nostalgia.

Sadly, I'm not one of them. Sigh. Tho' I was taken for my grandson's mother yesterday (by a very elderly and probably half-blind woman in a shop, but it made my day. How pathetic is that?).; 24 August 2011 at 06:43
Angela Barton said...: I love those old pictures. They remind me of Enid Blyton's Famous Five and flared trousers!

I'll definitely take a peek when I'm next in WH Smith!; 24 August 2011 at 13:41
Rosemary Gemmell said...: Of course, Frances - that goes without saying! We should enjoy any compliments we get before they dry up completely (sadly).

Hi Ange - I love the photos too and I've just been looking at the old Bunty and Mandy annuals I still have. Must blog about them!; 25 August 2011 at 03:10
Melanie said...: I pick up Best of British in Chapters here in Canada periodically. I love it! The old pictures and snippets of bygone days are wonderful!; 25 August 2011 at 05:25
Rosemary Gemmell said...: Hi Melanie - glad you can get it there!; 25 August 2011 at 06:43