Dogs featured in a Pet Magazine or Newspaper
When My Dog Peso was featured in a Magazine
One thing led to another story
My very first break in writing came when I wrote about my dog and his ailment and submitted it to Animal Scene Magazine. Prior to that, friends have been convincing me to write more and submit my article but no one can tell where in specific. Then a fellow dog lover gave me a copy of the Magazine, I noticed their advertisement, calling all writers to contribute stories about Pets, Pet owners and Animal Welfare groups. I took that as a chance but writing my first story was not easy, as a starter, I wrote about my two dogs Peso and Pissy, but I realized, narrowing my story will be easier, and this just popped from my mind "Why not write about Peso and his Perineal Hernia", that will also propagate information about the ailment, and many pet owners may benefit from it.
At that time I was already calling veterinary clinics, canvassing for the most reasonable surgery cost for Peso's ailment, I wrote the managing editor, wishing her to accept my article because payment I will receive from it, I will add to my savings for Peso's surgery. And as I said, one thing led to another...through the magazine and their connections to animal welfare groups, concerned animal lovers got in touch me and offered help. When my story was finally published, I gained more friends mostly animal lovers, they all helped me with Peso's surgery, and those really overwhelmed me because I just wanted my article to be published and I have no Idea that it can be a way for a support that I did not know I needed. Because as I mentioned in "My dog's Experience with Perineal Hernia hub", Peso had undergone six surgeries, and without the help of those friends plus a veterinary clinic that did not demand for immediate payment, I don't think Peso can survive.
Aside from gaining friends and my dog's survival, my first article boasted my writing career. I was expected to write more to update Peso's condition, until I wrote about other topic concerning Pets, Owners and even a Veterinary clinic.
Follow up stories to update Peso's condition
Click thumbnail to view full-sizeMore articles....
I guess readers of the magazine, familiar with Peso's story really looked forward to an update of Peso's improvement...though writing about Peso is what I call my "Writing break", there are still so many things to write about especially if you know people who are animal lovers too, you will not run out of possible stories to tell.
Animal Scene Magazine is published by one of the leading Newspaper Publishing in the Philippines, The Manila Bulletin.
Simple Tips on how to get your pets featured in a Magazine
Look for Animal or pet magazines that encourage readers to write about their pets, or wanted to feature dog owners sharing their unique ways of taking care of pets, and what to support and feature animal welfare groups.
Make your story more informative and yet heartwarming... Get to know people in the animal welfare group for broader inputs on Animal Care... and make your story unique and ask the Editorial staff of the magazine about the particular format that they expect from the write up.
Don't think of how much they will pay you for your article, just to see your pets in a magazine is already very rewarding, payments are just Icing on the cake..
Peso reading his story
More Featured Articles
From year 2008 to 2013, I have 35 published articles mostly dog related. Few of my favorites were published in September 2012 issue of Animal Scene Magazine. My first story is " Amid heavy rains, how are you? your dogs?", and the second is "Peso turns 12 years old, a time to look at the factors that helped him reached his age".
I love those articles because they were unplanned articles. Peso's birthday article should be combined with tributes to other senior dogs but i decided to make the tribute as another article, and Peso's birthday to be associated instead with the factors that helped him reached his age which was supposed to be included in another article about dog age and life expectancy.
My Heavy rains article was just a spur of the moment article, in fact I submitted it beyond deadline but still luckily got included in the september issue.
Publishing articles for 4 years
I have 35 published articles, and believe it or not, whenever I've submitted an article, I am still excited to know if the Animal Scene chose to include it in their monthly issue and in case they did, I am always excited to see the magazine. I also realized that I am happier if my topic revolves around my dogs and I am always happier to see Peso's photo in it. I never lost that magical feeling when my first article was published.
© 2010 Maria Cecilia
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