WOW! Women on Writing Success Story

How Angela Mackintosh Launched a Successful Online Magazine

Jan 1, 2009

Wow! Women on Writing went from a start up e-zine with no readers to a Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers in a little over two years. Here's how they did it.

Since its launch in September 2006, Wow! Women on Writing magazine has won numerous awards and a coveted spot on Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. In this interview, founder and CEO Angela Mackintosh shares her secrets to success:

Suite 101: How was WOW! Women on Writing conceived? Describe the process of going from concept to launch.

I'm happy to say that the idea for the WOW! website was conceived at a writer's group--The Orange County Writers' Meetup Group -- a group dedicated to the craft of fiction writing. At the time, I was working on a novel and devouring any writing advice I could get. The group met twice a month for a critique session, which was great, but like anything I decide to pursue, I wanted to dive head first into the craft and surround myself with my passion.

I explored all the writing websites online and found them very useful, but also found there were a couple of things missing: a writing website for women only, and an e-zine with a positive an encouraging voice. In 2006, there seemed to be a lot of websites focusing on writers' rants, what not to do, and how tough the writing world was. It was downright discouraging!

I knew I wanted to focus only on women and yes, I'd be missing half the population; but there was something I'd learned from working in marketing and owning my own graphic design business: the more specific, the more universal. Plus, you should do what comes naturally. If you truly love something, follow that passion and the success will follow as well.

Shortly thereafter, I came up with the name and concept, purchased the domain name and hosting, designed the WOW! Women on Writing website in Adobe Illustrator, hired a Webmaster, and started working on content. I had recently attended the Literary Guild of Orange County's thirteenth annual "Festival of Women Authors" and had secured several interviews from bestselling authors who graciously agreed to an interview, even thought a website didn't exist yet. Whenever I introduced someone to the website's name (WOW!) the same reaction followed.

The first issue launched in September 2006. It was an amazing first issue. The interviews included the Editor-In-Chief of Writer's Market, Kathryn Brogan; Newbery Award Winner, Cynthia Kadohata; and popular memoirist and writing instructor, Maralys wills. We also had great contributor articles, such as Annette Fix's How to Capture a Literary Agent. The only problem was we didn't have any readers! That's where the learning curve started.

Suite 101: What is your background as a writer and editor?

Angela: I'm more of an artist and entrepreneur. I had my first short fiction story published over twelve years ago in a now defunct magazine Amazing Authors. Around the same time, I was avidly pursuing a career as a graphic storyteller -- which is like being a comic book artist, but without the superheroes, only real-life stories and art.

I also owned an art gallery in Long Beach, CA, where I was active in the community and received grants for public art. Soon thereafter, I started a freelance graphic design business where I did magazine layouts, trade show booths, catalogues, logos, ad copy, brochures, etc. That business helped launch me into freelance magazine writing and hone my editorial eye for layout, design, and content.

Suite 101: Tell me about your editorial staff. What roles do they play in the publishing process?

Angela: WOW!'s senior editor Annette Fix line edits all of the website's articles. We work together on editorial themes, content editing, and securing freelance writers. We also have various columnists that we hand out assignments to, as well as channel editors, such as Marcia Peterson, who schedules WOW!'s blog, The Muffin.

There are roughly 14 interns who help with various aspects of the website -- judging contest entries, marketing, sales, social networking, blogging, blog tours, market research, proofreading and emailing. Each one of them plays an integral part in keeping the website healthy. Our wonderful readers and industry contacts do as well. It's truly a group effort, and a great community.

Suite 101: Your e-zine has grown tremendously since its launch in September 2006. In fact, you've won numerous awards including a listing in Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. To what do you attribute your rapid growth and rise to the top?

Angela: That's a tough one! I think it's due to persistence, dedication, and a need for the market. In our first year, we received a tremendous amount of growth in traffic. As I mentioned earlier, when we first launched, we were surprised that readers didn't show up in droves. But it wasn't too long afterward that they did. In our first year, we'd surpassed the traffic of other writing websites that had been online for ten years. And honestly, I didn't plan on it! I should have planned for success. That's one of the things I like to tell anyone who is interested in starting a website. Plan on being successful, because if you don't, you're going to suddenly be overwhelmed.

Most of all, I attribute our growth to the connections we've made with other women writers, authors, editors, agents, publishers, and readers. Some call it a niche, but I don't. I think women are the majority, not the minority. I'm proud to serve such talented women and help in any way I can.

Thank you, Angela, for sharing your success story with the readers of Suite 101.

The copyright of the article WOW! Women on Writing Success Story in Magazine Publishing is owned by Mary Yerkes. Permission to republish WOW! Women on Writing Success Story in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.