Chelsea Moody isn’t your average teenager or your average publisher. At 17 years old, Chelsea started her first publication, Etc. Art & Surf Magazine in January of 2007. In only a few months, she’s made waves in magazine publishing, no pun intended. She’s an inspiration for anyone starting – or anyone who already has – a publication. With her second issue out on April 4th, Chelsea’s proved that hard work and belief in your publication is the key to success.
Chelsea recently talked with MagazineLaunch.com about her experiences starting a new magazine, handling the growth after the first issue, and her grassroots marketing techniques. Did we mention she also designed the entire publication, too?
I started the magazine because I am constantly around the surf scene, since I live in Virginia Beach, and love the surf industry. I love the surf contests, and the magazines and everything to do with it. In Virginia Beach, it seems that art and surf fit hand in hand and that this idea, for an art & surf magazine, was totally overdue. I just started the magazine and I love it!
What made you want to enter the publishing world?I love graphic design. I knew that what I wanted to do was magazine layout, but had got rejected (for info on internships) by many magazines in the field. I sat down and thought about it and wanted to make a magazine that fit, but was not limited to, Virginia Beach. A lot of people may think print is dead, but for me, there is nothing compared to having a hard copy in your hand.
Please find the articles below to help you start your magazine.
