Writing for Young Readers -
by Eugie Foster
February 2007
An Interview with Johnny D. Boggs of Boys' Life
An Interview with Johnny D. Boggs of Boys' Life
Johnny D. Boggs is the Fiction Editor of Boys' Life, the monthly official magazine for the Boy Scouts of America. Boys' Life first began publication March 1, 1911, has earned numerous publication industry awards, and currently reaches 1.3 million subscribers with an estimated 6 million readers.
What makes a manuscript really stand out for you? What do you look for that makes a story really right for Boys' Life?
I want to see a professionally produced manuscript, neat, double-spaced, free of spelling and grammatical errors. Then I'm looking for content, a fast-moving story that promotes Boy Scout values without being preachy. Strong characters. Good action. Something that will get boys to read, and entertain perhaps even their parents. Writing short stories is the toughest form of fiction there is. You can't miss with a single word. Writing for young adults is even harder, and writing for boys even more difficult. It's a tough market. Not everyone can do it, and we're a demanding bunch at the magazine. It often takes several revisions before a manuscript is ready for publication in Boys' Life.
Is there any specific content that Boys' Life is actively looking for in fiction? What's really "hot" right now?
It needs a boy protagonist, in the 8- to 17-year-old range. I'm open to all forms, all genres. In the past, we've been heavy on World Word II, Civil War, Revolutionary War, and contemporary adventures, plus some science fiction. Surprisingly, I don't see many mysteries come across my desk. I don't judge by genre. I judge by the quality of the story, and if it's suitable for our audience.
In a similar vein, what's the most common thing you encounter that will result in a speedy rejection?
Poor grammar.
Boys' Life's submission guidelines state that manuscripts should entertain boys 6 to 18. Do you think that your target audience has changed with regard to inherent sensibilities and sophistication over the years? Or are there universal elements that 6 to 18-year-old boys find entertaining that have remained essentially the same?
The best of YA fiction entertains and educates. Sure, boys have changed, but Boy Scout values haven't. And I think a great Jack London piece reads just as well as it did back in 1912 or so.
Since Boys' Life publishes material for such a broad age group, do you tend to prefer material which targets an audience toward the middle, say 12- to 13-year-olds?
Not necessarily. We can zone out stories, which we do in some issues, publishing a story that might appeal to younger Scouts in an edition sent to younger readers and another story more appropriate for older Scouts for the magazine that reaches those boys. 1
Can you provide an overview of the consideration process a typical manuscript goes through when it is submitted to Boys' Life?
We get around 100 unsolicited manuscripts a month. If a story doesn't grab an editor in a hurry, it's likely headed for the rejection pile. Plus, we also solicit stories from a stable of writers who have developed a relationship with Boys' Life. That makes it tougher to crack into the magazine. If the manuscript gets to me, I'll read it once. If I see something I like, I'll sleep on it and read it again. I read a lot of stories that are pretty good, just not right for us. And I don't care how good the story is—it can be the reincarnation of Shakespeare, Twain and Stevenson—if it comes in over 1500 words, I can't publish it.
Your fiction guidelines specify only the genres of humor, mystery, science fiction, and adventure. Would you consider a fantasy story as being appropriate for Boys' Life, especially considering the popularity of the Harry Potter series?
Sure. As I mentioned before, I don't judge a story based on the genre. Fantasy or Western, I'm just looking for the right story for us.
What do you think is the most important thing beginning writers need to focus on when writing for children?
Don't write down or underestimate a child's intelligence. And don't forget humor.
Notes:
1 Boys' Life publishes three demographic editions for specific age ranges:
- 6 to 8 - Began in 1999, goes to Tiger Cub and Cub Scout subscribers through age 8.
- 9 to 10 - Began in 1995, goes to Cub Scout and Webelos subscribers 9 and older as well as to Cub Scout leaders.
- 11+ - Goes to all Boy Scout subscribers and non-Scout subscribers.
Approximately 70 to 75% of content is shared among all three editions
Eugie Foster is a short-fiction writer specializing in genre and children's literature. She has sold more than a dozen stories to the Cricket Magazine Group, including Spider, Cricket and Cicada, as well as to an assortment of other children's magazines including Dragonfly Spirit and Story Station. She holds an M.A. in developmental psychology, has co-authored a textbook on child development, and is a frequent speaker at Dragon*Con's Young Adult Literature Track. She is a member of the SFWA and managing editor of Tangent (http://www.tangentonline.com). Foster maintains a list of children's SF/F magazine markets at her website, http://www.eugiefoster.com.
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