What Does "Slant" Mean in Publishing - Publishing as a Second Language

by Linda Gilden @LindaGilden

“Slant” is a commonly used, every day word. You can slant things to the left or the right or walk up a steep slant in the terrain.

Being aware of slant in the writing world means that you write your article or book to a specific audience. You have done your homework by reading the guidelines and several issues of the magazine or several books by the same publishing house. You have an understanding of what they are looking for, what their worldview is, whether or not the perspective is more conservative or liberal. Determining your slant also involves understanding the readers of the particular publication or publishing house.

For example, if you wanted to write an article on some aspect of finances you might start out with a serious slant such as “Why It is Important to Invest Your Money.”

A different slant might be “The Importance of Saving for Retirement.”

You could use a variation on that slant such as “Fifteen Ways to Make Sure Your Nest Egg Will Grow.”

Consider a humorous slant.

A humorous slant might be “Hot Dogs and Pork and Beans for Penny-Pinchin’ Times.”

“Planning for those You Will Leave Behind” could be a good slant for men.

A women’s slant could be instructions on “Finding a Trustworthy Financial Advisor.”

You might consider a children’s slant like “The Saving Habit: Make Sure You Start Early.”

Each of these could be targeted to a different magazine, giving you multiple opportunities for publication.

The same process could apply to books. In fact, for books, this is a good way to brainstorm your subject and find the focus that works best for you. You might find that as you list possible slants, you may be creating an outline for your book.

Another word you might hear used interchangeably with slant is the word angle. The slant, or angle, of your article or book could affect your chances of having your article or book accepted. Knowing the way information is presented to an editor’s specific audience is sure to catch his or her eye.

Why not give it a try? Pick a subject and see how many slants you can come up with. You may find you have lots of articles to write from one subject you are familiar with. Or perhaps thoughts of book slants will yield chapter focus and clarity.

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Linda Gilden is a wife, mother, and grandmother. She finds great joy (and excellent writing material) in time spent with her family. Helping writers understand PSL is one of the things she also loves to do through her newest book, Called to Write. This month she is excited about having a chance to set new goals for the new year and maybe even do a few more rewrites!

To find out more about Linda, her writing, and her ministry, visit www.lindagilden.com. You can also connect with her on Twitter @LindaGilden and Facebook at Author Linda Gilden.