35 – A Visit To Fine Woodworking

Video - December 30, 2007

A few months ago we paid a visit to the offices of Fine Woodworking Magazine and The Taunton Press. It was a great experience and incredibly cool seeing how an initial idea becomes an article. This video gives you a behind the scenes look into that exact process. You’ll also get to see the Fine Woodworking shop and we’ll hear from numerous key staff members as they explain their roles in the process.

And by the way, most of the interviews were significantly longer than what appeared in the video. If there is any interest, I would be more than happy to release the full interviews at a later date. Just let me know.

Discussion

Vic December 30, 2007 4:34 pm

Brilliant, Marc and Nicole. Great editing and great storyline! I think this was your best e-mag article, so far. Just think how Fine WoodWorking started. A couple crazy, in love, kids (from Jersey maybe) started a little magazine that grew into a dynasty. Don’t forget I loved yous guys before yous was big!

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Austin Dienner December 30, 2007 4:47 pm

awesome video. Not many of us get to see inside places like this so thanks for taking the time to do this video for us.
p.s. whats the word on the broken camera?

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Germain December 30, 2007 4:53 pm

Gee, those Connecticut people seem awfully mild-mannered. Clark Kent would fit right in with those folks. Seriously, I know they are hard-working professionals who manage to succeed in a very competitive business.

The information about how to get published in FWW was especially interesting. It makes me want to go create some new, amazing process in my shop just so I can get a visit and a free dinner from the FWW staff.

Another great episode, but I must ask again, “Why no Nicole cameo?”

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Roger (rjack) December 30, 2007 5:50 pm

I loved the bloopers at the end! You are at your best when Nicole is behind the camera.

Just out of curiosity, do authors get paid for articles? If so, how much do they typically get paid?

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thewoodwhisperer December 30, 2007 7:06 pm

Thanks for the kind words everyone. We had a great time with the “mild mannered” folks in CT. :)

The camera is still being fixed and I really really hope it comes back this week.

And Germain, there was a short Nicole Cameo. You just weren’t paying enough attention. ;) Let me know when you find it. (it wasnt a speaking part).

Rjack- There should definitely be compensation, but I dont know how much. Maybe if we get enough questions going I might be able to get a representative from the magazine to stop by and answer them all.

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thewoodwhisperer December 30, 2007 7:09 pm

I just added something to the post so I will repeat it here. All of the interviews were significantly longer than what appeared in the final version. let me know if there is any interest and I would be more than happy to release them in their entirety at a later date.

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Mattias in Durham, NC December 30, 2007 9:23 pm

That was great. I love the bloopers.

Very interesting view into Taunton. I haven’t subscribed for a couple of years – maybe it’s time to start it up again.

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Jeff K. December 30, 2007 9:26 pm

Great job once again Marc and Nicole!

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Tomcat1066 December 31, 2007 3:38 am

Cool episode. I had a hard time hearing some of the folks, but that’s probably on my end. Very interesting. I’d be interested in seeing more of the interviews myself.

Unfortunately though, I doubt they’d ever want to come to my shop to photograph me. It’s just to small for me and anyone else :D

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Steve December 31, 2007 6:57 am

If you and Nichole keep this up you are going to loose your amateur status! The videography and editing are excellent. And the interviews are professional. You guys are good! Keep up the good work.

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RJ December 31, 2007 7:01 am

I must say this was an awesome change of pace!! Thanks guys! I too give a thumbs up on the bloopers!!

Rjack- They do compensate based on the contribution. I believe the compensation can be as little as $50 for a tip, technique or method of work or possibly a couple hundred for a full blown article based on a project.
Here’s a link to their requirements and additional info: http://www.taunton.com/finewoo.....x?id=28379

I have made a couple of submissions and only one was accepted and even that one is still pending. So it appears I still have a chance:)

RJ

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Pat Boyd In Monroe, CT December 31, 2007 7:41 am

Marc, I forgot you were coming to CT! I live 15 minutes from Taunton Press. Next time let me know when you r in the area.

Great piece! Bloopers were funny (“The weather is sh#tty”) and yes the weather is STILL that way. Information was good!

OK, back to work on the Ass’y table!

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Victor December 31, 2007 8:00 am

Really great video material. The folks at Taunton were quite gracious on camera. I never really gave much thought to actually submitting any articles to FW but now, hey, you never know. Submit without much hope of really publishing. Nice job Mac, thanks for the effort!

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Germain December 31, 2007 9:32 am

FYI, if you want to know how much any magazine pays for an article, you cand find this information in “The Writer’s Market”. It’s published annually and available on CDROM. The Writer’s Market will tell you how to submit articles for publishing in magazines and periodicals as well as how to submit both fiction and non-fiction books to publishers.

The Writer’s Market lists all US publishers. Sadly, every year more and more of the entries say “No Unsolicited Manuscripts”. Thus, you can’t even try unless you’re a friend of Oprah. If you send them something, they’ll just shred it. I was very to glad to learn FWW accepts unsolicited manuscripts.

Marc, I can’t believe I missed Nicole! I’ll keep looking..

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Scottish Iain December 31, 2007 9:46 am

Nice work again. Good to see where the magazine comes from.
I have some great ideas – wonder if it would be easier for them to fly me to New England…………………………………….!
Have a great new year everyone.

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William December 31, 2007 10:09 am

Great behind the scenes look at my favorite woodworking magazine. You are making a terrific contribution to the craft with these videos. It was great to see and hear the people behind the names of FWW.

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Mike December 31, 2007 10:52 am

Marc,

I found this to be very enlightening and I too would be interested in the extended interviews. Is it just me, or did anyone else notice how many Rigid tools they had in their shop? I also long for the day when I have enough space (& $’s) for a Sawstop.

As for this discounts you found at the end of the video — I hope you brought enough for all of us! : )

Mike

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Pat Boyd In Monroe, CT December 31, 2007 11:44 am

Germain, Nicole is there in the background in segment! I don’t want to spoil your fun looking for it, so I won’t say exactly where. I’ll just confirm that she is there!

Lucky Marc and Nicole aren’t here now! The weather is worse than it was…. It’s a mud fest now.

Back to my assembly base! Cabinet shells are done and now its time to build the drawers!

Pat

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Vic December 31, 2007 11:56 am

Ah but Mike, did you hear how many times they have set off the Sawstop safety device. That’s a lot of money. On another note, I just heard the husband of one of my wife’s friends just paid over 6 grand for a Laguna saw. I think it’s a panel saw, which would be nice. But, you’d have to be in the cabinet business to warrant a purchase like that. Gotta love your crazy friends! Don’t get me wrong, I believe in buying the best tool you can up front(costs less in the long run), but it has to make financial sense in light of your woodworking goals.

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Ron December 31, 2007 5:31 pm

Mark; this is something I’d like to see more of when you get the time. Nice job.

Tips; $50 if you don’t provide visuals $100 if you do. I provided a couple digital shots with my entry and they ran with that. Their artist makes you look like a master.

May I suggest Christopher Schwarz at Popular Woodworking for a future interview?

thanks again!

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Roger (rjack) December 31, 2007 6:20 pm

I second the Christopher Schwarz interview. I really enjoy his books and articles. If you can’t do a face to face interview, could you bring him on a Wood Talk Online episode and discuss workbenches?

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Mattias in Durham, NC December 31, 2007 7:11 pm

Yeah – I would want to see a Chris Schwarz interview too! Marc, it’s really neat that you have access to all these people.

And a Happy New Year to everyone –

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WiZeR January 1, 2008 2:22 am

Thanks for this Marc, great insite into a great publishing company. I really like FWW’s approach. They are not shy to embrace the web and yet keep their standards higher than anyone else. I really wish that publishers here in the UK would learn something from FWW. UK Wood mags are declining rapidly and it is a great shame. It’s great that FWW are supporting what your doing and not in anyway nervous about what is essentially competition. Keep up the great work and I hope that 2008 brings even more fab content.

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alexander January 1, 2008 11:23 am

Yeah gimme the whole video!

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Frederick January 8, 2008 7:19 pm

Never knew these guys are in CT
I’m in CT myself.

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Dennis July 29, 2011 12:33 pm

Very cool video, Thanks for the effort you put into it!!

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35 – A Visit To Fine Woodworking

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