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Magazine Articles - Roman Numeral Query

Janine Bouyssounouse
janinecb@safe-mail.net

February 26, 2006

Shannon Hunt, Editor
YES MAG
Peter Piper Publishing, Inc.
editor@yesmag.ca

Dear Ms. Hunt,

What does MMIV mean at the end of a movie? Is it a code? Does it say something about the movie? Is it a foreign language? Actually, it is a math foreign language. These are Roman Numerals.

I would like to write an article for your magazine called “Doing it the Roman Way.” This article will be educational and fun with accompanying Roman Numeral activities. These activities will include a matching game and some simple math problems.

I have a math teaching credential and have won third place in a middle grade mystery contest. I have also written business processes for software systems as well as training materials for corporate training.

Thank you for your time and consideration of my article proposal.

Janine Bouyssounouse




Janine,



OK, you’ve got me at a disadvantage, since I’m not an avid reader of
magazines for kids/young adults, so I’m not absolutely certain what their
editors expect. But I can make a few educated assumptions. They want a piece
that sounds like kids will have fun reading it, while their parents like
that it will teach their child something. With that in mind, let’s tale a
look at your query and see where it’s going.



I was thrown for a moment when you said “at the end of a movie,” because, in
fact, the Roman numerals come usually after the movie’s title and Copyright
notice. In older films, that was at the end of the title credits, just
BEFORE the action begins. Nowadays, it’s more likely to come at the end of
the credits, which usually ARE at the end of the movie, but several minutes
after the action ends (those credits keep getting longer and longer). So
probably it’s best to add the word “credits” just to be clear. But what
about other places where they show up—say, on old clocks and fancy
wristwatches, or after the name of the Pope? In other words, make it sound
like fun.



Then I think you need to be more specific about what kinds of “accompanying
RN activities” you have in mind. Simply to say your piece will be
educational and fun would be like writing to Vanity Fair and saying your
proposed interview with Dick Cheney will be “revealing.” What exactly would
you be revealing--his favorite hunting drink recipes? I’m sure your game
will be fun, but let us know exactly why.



And about that middle grade mystery contest…was that when YOU were in the
middle grades? I think you get my point. It helps to spell things out for
editors just enough to leave no doubts. You can intrigue them, and you
certainly don’t have to give away all your secrets, but enough to leave them
wanting more, OK?



Peter

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