 |
|
[ ] What's
New?
[ ] CAREER GUIDES
[ ] Articles
[ ] Blog
[ ] Podcasts
[ ] Writing Contests
[ ] Writing Events
[ ] Freelance Jobs
[ ] Career Help
[ ] Resources
[ ] Freebies
[ ]
ABOUT
o
About
Us
o
Contact
Us
o
Help
o
Site
Map
o
Home
FREE EBOOK
(
Click
Here )
NEW EBOOK
(
Click
Here )
FREE EBOOK
(
Click
Here )
|
|
Book Clubs Directory - A complete directory of book clubs that offer memberships to discounted books, best-seller lists, and new book releases.
|
|
Find thousands
of freelance writing and editing jobs...fresh jobs daily. Kickstart your
writing career for just $2.95. Daily Freelance
Jobs
|
|
|
<< [ BACK TO
FREE ARTICLES
]
|
WHAT IS FREELANCE MAGAZINE WRITING?
by Brian Scott
Freelance
magazine writing can be one of the most rewarding careers available to a
freelance writer. Successful magazine writers are articulate, have a wide
variety of interests, and know how to research a topic. Many freelance magazine
writers write for various magazines, not just one, and like to write on diverse
topics and sell their articles to a variety of magazines and media outlets.
The key to writing for magazines and selling what you write is knowing
your market. Most magazines focus on a fairly narrow range of content. One
magazine might deal with the finer points of horse grooming. Another magazine
might focus on the ins and outs of toy robot collection. And yet another might
cover the beauties and travel opportunities available in Bali.
This
degree of specialization means that magazine editors usually have a specific
idea of what articles they're seeking, sometimes even down to a specific
writing style or voice. Since magazines typically cater to a "niche" audience
of educated readers, you'll need to write well-written and interesting
articles; your articles will have to feel new to an established audience. If
you're writing for a parasailing magazine, then submitting a 500-word article
about the basics of parasailing just won't do.
You have two options to
write salable articles. The first is to become deeply involved with the
activities or topics which the magazine covers. If you're planning to write and
sell travel articles about Germany, take at least one trip to Germany. If
you're planning to write and sell articles about cat care, spend a few days
with a cat yourself (or find a knowledgeable, cat-owning friend who's willing
to give you some good, real-life information).
Writing magazine
articles is a form of journalism, and often adheres to the same standards of
quality and truthfulness. Would you trust a news article about declining air
and water standards in a nearby town if you could tell the writer had never set
foot in that town? Of course not.
Unfortunately, most of us don't have
time to take on an entirely new hobby. That's why the second way is usually the
best option: write about what you know. We're all complicated people. We all
have stories to tell. We enjoy hobbies and activities that fascinate us. We can
easily uncover material for a hundred or more articles. So think about what you
can write about, and what interests you. It seems hard at first, but once you
sit down and start thinking about it, the article ideas will flow. Once you
have your article ideas and have written articles about what you know, start
looking around for magazines that might be willing to buy them. Chances are
good there's a magazine covering your interests or hobbies.
How do you
find suitable magazines, and how do you ask if editors are interested? There
are many ways to find appropriate publishing venues for your articles. For one,
you could go to your local bookstore and search the magazine racks. If you have
an independent bookstore in your area, so much the better: you may find some
titles that don't circulate at the larger chains. You can also take advantage
of Writer's Market, which list pertinent information about hundreds of
magazines, including typical rates and what editors seek.
Once you've
picked your magazine, send the editor a query letter about your article. This
should be short and sweet, briefly stating who you are, your previous
publication history (editors like to work with proven successes--wouldn't
you?), and your article topic. The length, topic and addressee of your query
letter will depend on the magazine; you can usually find information on
submissions policies in the "credits" section or on the magazine's website.
Send off your query letter and wait. Be prepared, as well, for
rejection. There are many reasons editors won't take an article, and few of
them have to do with your skills as a writer. If you get a rejection letter,
just take a few minutes to mourn before starting on your next article. The
hardest sale to make is always your first sale; keep up a steady stream of
good, well-marketed work, and the sale will come. When it does, pat yourself on
the back; you're on your way to freelancing as a magazine writer!
© B.
Scott
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Brian Scott has been
a professional freelance writer for more than a decade. He is an active forum moderator at Writing Answers, a vibrant community of writers helping writers.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
1)
BHow to Write Articles for Newspapers and Magazines (Step By
Step (Thomson Learning (Firm)) by Dawn B. Sova
2)
Writer's Digest Handbook Of Magazine Article Writing
3)
The Renegade Writer: A Totally Unconventional Guide to
Freelance Writing Success by Linda Formichelli
[ VIEW ALL
BOOKS ] |
|
|
|
