What a day in the life of a car magazine editor really looks like

David S.
By David S. Wallens
May 13, 2025 | Grassroots Motorsports, Column, Blog | Posted in Columns | Never miss an article

Sadly, despite what was promised by my youthful dreams, working at a car magazine does not mean playing with cars all day. At least I don’t.

What do we do? We make content: magazines, web, video and the like. Might as well add in events, too, as we do those as well.

What’s that really like?

Sarah and I just made a promo cover for the August issue. This is a mock-up that will be used by the ad and circ departments. The goal is to get something close and sellable. While doing this, I’m also fielding questions from the rest of the staff. Office sounds today provided by They Might Be Giants (Asbury Park live from August 8, 2013).

  • 9:55 a.m.: Start selecting potential cover photos.
  • 10:16 a.m.: Photos delivered to Sarah. Time to write the copy.
  • 10:26 a.m.: Sarah, any ideas for text for the main blurb? Not happy with what I have. Insert back-and-forth as we work on something that’ll get us going. I’m here at the Florida home base. She’s about 17 hours away. Thanks to technology, it’s like we’re seated beside each other.
  • 10:40 a.m.: Word doc containing potential cover blurbs delivered.
  • 10:44 a.m.: First proof delivered while I’m waiting on our photo server so I can grab an image for the top of the cover. Sometimes the server’s a little slow to wake up.
  • 10:48 a.m.: The photo and blurb I had planned for the cover’s lower spot looks lame once we see it. Revisions don’t help.
  • 10:49 a.m.: How about Plan B for the lower spot? I’ll pull new photos to see if that idea holds water. More back-and-forth proofs follow.
  • 10:54 a.m.: Finally got that photo for the upper spot from our server and delivered it to Sarah.
  • 11:01 a.m.: Yup, the revised idea for the lower corner works. Now to adjust the rest of the text.
  • 11:07: What if we rotate the main photo a bit? Would that add a little excitement? More proofs fly.
  • 11:11 a.m.: Okay, we’re getting happier. Sarah needs to cut out the top photo and do her Photoshop magic. While she does that, I get back to editing and the general stuff that I do. We’ll have a sharable proof by lunchtime.
  • 11:19 a.m.: Start writing a blog about making the cover. It’s more content, right?
  • 11:41 a.m.: Deliver a blog about making a cover to Sarah so she can copyedit.
  • 11:45 a.m.: Promo cover delivered from Sarah to relevant departments.
Join Free Join our community to easily find more Grassroots Motorsports, Column and Blog articles.
Comments
Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/13/25 12:53 p.m.

TL;DR: We need to be spending more time jumping Challengers.

1988RedT2
1988RedT2 MegaDork
5/13/25 1:03 p.m.

I just assumed it was all champagne and caviar and canoodling with attractive young women. 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
5/13/25 1:04 p.m.

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

How about PB&J and cuddling with our dog during lunchtime? 

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
5/13/25 1:04 p.m.
Colin Wood said:

TL;DR: We need to be spending more time jumping Challengers.

Colin, we’re in Florida. Where are there hills to jump? :) 

californiamilleghia
californiamilleghia PowerDork
5/13/25 1:13 p.m.

........... 11:45 a.m.: Promo cover delivered from Sarah to relevant departments.......

Noon , Lunch and a nap.........

Tom1200
Tom1200 UltimaDork
5/13/25 1:31 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

How about PB&J and cuddling with our dog during lunchtime? 

I really liked you guys until right now..............

Gee thanks for rubbing it in and lording your doggie cuddling lunch over us.

And I suppose PB&J has strawberry jam...............you media elites are all alike.

 

Colin Wood
Colin Wood Associate Editor
5/13/25 1:53 p.m.
David S. Wallens said:
Colin Wood said:

TL;DR: We need to be spending more time jumping Challengers.

Colin, we’re in Florida. Where are there hills to jump? :) 

Ah. That explains the ramp that's getting built at the FIRM. wink

Datsun240ZGuy
Datsun240ZGuy MegaDork
5/13/25 3:08 p.m.

This is how I see you guys......

 

Nred
Nred New Reader
5/13/25 3:16 p.m.

In reply to Datsun240ZGuy :

Brilliant, I do (did?) too!

David S. Wallens
David S. Wallens Editorial Director
5/13/25 3:27 p.m.
californiamilleghia said:

........... 11:45 a.m.: Promo cover delivered from Sarah to relevant departments.......

Noon , Lunch and a nap.........

A nap sounds awesome. We just finished a two-week GRM production cycle because we needed to steal a little time to finish an issue of Classic. Mentally, it’s rather demanding. This afternoon, I’m basically cycling between editing for web, magazine and video. 

You'll need to log in to post.

Our Preferred Partners
ZIzQHjQGp7B0wdEIi0GkPrwb2cHeGRnUico6NXZFPhAqLPqqI6JRQ7sRzrdzltN4