By Cherrilynn Bisbano @bisbanowrites

I desire to submit articles to magazines. I almost didn’t when I read the term, “Kill Fee.” Is that legal?  Other terms boggled my mind. What is a nut graf anyway? Is sounds like a surgical term. I need to learn magazine article jargon before I get myself in trouble.

Here are thirty important terms we can learn together so we are equipped to submit.

Advertorial: a newspaper or magazine advertisement in the form of editorial content. The term is a blend of the words “advertisement” and “editorial.”

Byline: a printed line of text accompanying a news story, article, or the like, giving the author’s name.

Charticle: A graphic image that includes information.

Clip: Examples of your work.  Place them in your portfolio.

Consumer publication: These are the magazines and newspapers sold to the public.

Copywriting: Writing business and promotional copy for clients.

Creative brief: A short document that provides the creative team with an overview and important points to consider in the development of an advertising campaign.

Custom publication: This is created specifically for a company.

Dek: The second half of a headline, which often runs in italics just below the headline in newspapers.

Deliverable: This is the final project you will be providing.

Dummy copy: A representation of the final copy in which a different text is used.  The different text is called Lorem ipsum and is there just for layout purposes.

FOB: Front of the book pieces. These short articles and blurbs usually appear in the front of a magazine.

FPO: For position only. This abbreviation is used when artwork or other materials are inserted as placeholders in an article or brochure to give all stakeholders a general idea of how the final piece will lay out.

Hed: An abbreviation for the headline.

Infographic: Information graphics is a visual image such as a chart or diagram used to represent information.

Kicker: The conclusion of an article designed to leave the reader with something to think on.

“Kill” fee: A negotiated payment the writer gets if the assigned article is canceled.

Lede: The lede, or lead, is an abbreviation for the opening sentences of your article.

Letter of introduction (LOI): This is a pitch letter or email to a potential client informing them of your talents.

Native ads: These are the online version of advertorials.

Nut graf: The paragraph that goes from the lede into the body of the article. The nut graf summarizes the article to entice readers to keep reading. You may also see “graf” used as an abbreviation for a paragraph.

Op-Ed: An opinion or editorial piece, in which the writer states their point of view on an issue. Letters to the editor are a prime example.

Query: An article pitch. Check out last month’s article for in-depth information. http://www.almostanauthor.com/query-letter-basics/

Red ink: A term used for the editor’s changes to your article.

Sidebar: A related short addition to an article.

Subhed: A journalistic abbreviation for a subhead.

Tagline: Author information that appears at the end of an article.

TK: An abbreviation for “to come.” You’ll see this used for photos, captions, sidebars — anything that is expected but hasn’t arrived yet

Trade publication: These regional or national publications target people in a specific field.

Work for hire: It means that you are giving the client or publication all of the rights to the piece you are writing.

Which definitions stand out to you? Join the conversation.

Cherrilynn Bisbano is an award-winning writer, coach, editor, and speaker. As former managing editor of Almost an Author, she helped the website earn the #6 spot on the Top 100 best writing websites for 2018 by The Write Life and Top 101 Websites for writers with Writers Digest. Cherrilynn is a speaker with Women Speakers. Her topics include leadership, book proposals, and the Bible.

She is a two-time winner of Flash Fiction Weekly. Her work in progress, Accidental Findings, won the first 10 pages award with, When Words Count Retreat. You can find her published in Blue Ridge Writers Blog, Southern Writers, More to Life (MTL), Christian Rep, Christian Voice, Refresh, and other online magazines. Cherrilynn is a contributor to award-winning, Get to the Margins-Author Anthology; Breaking the Chains; Heart Reno, Kiss Guilt Goodbye; and Chicken Soup for the Soul-Miracles books. Her latest book, Shine Don’t Whine, released October 2020. Cherrilynn proudly served in the Navy and Air National Guard, earning the John Levitow Military leadership award.  She lives with her eighteen-year-old son, Michael, Jr., and husband of 22 years. Cherrilynn loves Christ, Chocolate, coffee, and Cats. You will often find her on the beach sea glass hunting.