some of the current issues of the leading magazines. See what civilian professionals have written on the subject. The sea, sailors and ships have fascinated readers for centuries. The modern saga of the sea and the men and women of the U.S. Navy is as thrilling as anything found in fiction. In many cases, the factual accounts of the modem Navy far surpass fiction material. Atomic- powered   ships,   supersonic   aircraft,   intercontinental ballistic missiles, earth satellites, probes into space and similar  topics  have  stimulated  the  imagination  of hundreds  of  writers.  Yet,  countless  story  ideas  about those subjects are still available to you. Opportunities  in  the  magazine  field  for  Navy journalists, or for that matter, any Navy manor woman with  writing  talent,  are  almost  limitless.  And  to  get started, one needs only to begin thinking. Any  magazine  article,  whether  for  a  glamorous nationwide consumer magazine or for one of the Navy’s internal  publications,  should  begin  with  a  good  idea supported by a statement of purpose. An author without a purpose for an article easily loses sight of the intended goal.  If  an  article  would  serve  no  purpose,  the  likely result   would   be   wasted   time   and   an   unintelligible product. Many beginning writers fail to narrow the subject to a workable idea.  A sharp focus on a story idea is extremely   important.   The   focus   could   be   on   an individual, an episode or theme, but it must be clearly defined. The  next  step  should  take  you,  the  writer,  to  the Reader’s  Guide to Periodical Literature. This guide is a cumulative index of published authors, subjects and titles  that  is  current  to  within  two  weeks  of  its publication. When you use this reference, pay particular attention   to   the   most   recent   coverage   (by   all publications) of your selected subject. ‘Ibis will help you determine if your idea is still fresh. Also, take notes to help you when you research information for the article. You may also need to use some specific indexes for research. The Air University Library Index to Military Periodicals, for example, references all items that have appeared  in  service-oriented  publications.  Other  special indexes,   including   the   library   card   catalogue,   the Cumulative  Book  Index  and the  Book  Review  Index, address   subjects   covered   in   a   variety   of   other periodicals.   You   can   also   consult   biographical dictionaries, encyclopedias, newspapers and pamphlets to learn about a particular subject. It is not uncommon for  a  writer  to  spend  days,  weeks  or  even  months collecting information before an interview or visit. One writer, preparing to write a personality sketch on a famous composer, spent six months doing research before  he  felt  ready  to  interview  his  subject.  During those six months, the writer spent three months reading about  symphonies.  He  spent  another  two  months month talking to people who knew the composer. studying that particular composer’s works and a final Obviously,   you   will   not   spend   six   months researching  every  magazine  article  you  write.  However, in  most  cases,  you  will  need  to  do  some  extensive research. The in-depth  nature of most magazine articles requires   that   the   writer   thoroughly   understand   the subject he or she is presenting. Unless you are writing from  personal  experience,  you  must  be  prepared  to conduct  whatever  research  is  necessary  to  give  your article the degree of authority it requires. Studying Magazine Styles Knowing   the   markets   for   magazine   articles   is almost  as  important  as  knowing  your  subject.  The best-written manuscript serves no purpose tucked away in a file cabinet or desk drawer. And the best-conceived idea for an article is of no value unless it is presented in an  acceptable  manuscript. Studying   magazines   can   solve   both   of   these problems. Your research will tell you which magazine publishers are interested in your subject and the style in which they want articles to be written. As you examine the magazines, you should be alert to  the  literary  style  or  approach  a  magazine  takes  in presenting  a  subject.  For  instance,  several  magazines might handle a piece dealing with the DMI, but each would  present  it  in  an  entirely  different  way.  The Educational Review  would probably want to know the concepts  and  techniques  of  instruction,  the  R CA Electronic Age  might be interested in the use of radio and television equipment,  All Hands would  likely  prefer a story about the faculty and students, and  Parade might want emphasis on the educational angle and benefits to the  individual. Several  publications  dealing  with  the  needs  and requirements  of  magazines  are  available  to  assist  you  in your  research.  One  such  book  is   Writer’s   Market, published   annually   by   Writer’s   Digest   Books   of Cincinnati, Ohio.  Wtiter’s Market  contains a listing of nearly  all  consumer  magazines  and  business  journals published in the United States and Canada. Along with those  listings  is  the  following  information: Mailing  address  of  publication. 4-9