The most common problem that Art Carey, associate editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer Magazine, finds with long stories is poor organization. "So many writers, it seems, sit down with no plan, no idea of how to arrange the mass of information they've assembled in an understandable and engaging way."

He says that over the years the magazine has developed "a reliable magazine-story formula." This is it:

• A scene-setter lead that introduces the story's protagonist in a colorful situation that seems to epitomize his or her character or the quest, adventure or trend in which the protagonist is involved.
• A "nut" section or "hoohah" that explicitly states the premise of the story, outlines the major points and sells the story by tempting readers with some of the most engaging quotes, tidbits of information and previews of coming attractions.
  
  This section should also tell readers why the story is so important, or new or different. There should be enough fanfare about the story's significance to convince readers that it's well worth the investment of the next 20 minutes of their lives.
  
  
• A background section that explains how the main character go to be the way he or she is or how a certain situation or controversy evolved.
• Several sections dealing in detail, and in an orderly progression, with the meat of the story and the themes heralded earlier.
• A concluding "kicker" section that packs some dramatic wallop, wraps everything up in a neat bow, tells the reader what it means and perhaps leaves the reader with something profound to ponder.