How to Write for Magazines

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Introduction

Magazines (Creative Commons photo by Manoj Jacob)

• If you are a writer or have always had the ambition to become one, freelance writing for magazines is a rewarding way to express yourself, earn a living, and work independently. There is a magazine for practically every aspect of life and since periodicals are now published in print and online, you can go after assignments in a multitude of places.

• You need self-discipline, commitment, and patience. But if you keep yourself organized and don't give up, you can follow these steps to a successful freelance writing career.

Step 1: Learn Your Market

• Study the magazines you would like to write for. You are trying to determine the kind of magazine you will target by the style, the subject matter, and the demographics, which is your intended audience.

• Magazines fall into different categories.

1. National magazines - Newsweek | Vanity Fair
2. Regional magazines - LA Magazine | Washington Life
3. Specialty magazines - Food and Wine | Motortrend
4. Trade magazines - Advertising Age | Engineering & Mining Journal
5. Academic journals - The New England Journal of Medicine | Journal of Religion and Popular Culture

• You should read articles in both current and back issues and look at the submission guidelines or writer's guidelines. This is the magazine's list of Dos and Donts on how to submit an idea for an article you would write and the style of writing. Many magazines will post their submission guidelines on their website.

• Example of submission guidelines: AARP - American Association of Retired Persons

• Because of the large volume of magazines being published online and in print, it can be overwhelming to try and narrow in on the few that appeal to you. Not everything will be available at your local library, bookstore or newsstand.

• Some good sources for market research, submission guidelines, and freelance job listings are:

1. Writer's Market - A book and a website that gives extensive listings of consumer and trade magazines.
2. FreelanceWriting.com - A database of magazine guidelines.
3. Funds for Writers - Freelance job listings and contests.
4. Freelance Writing Jobs - Freelance job listings and blog community.
5. Writer's Write - Writer's Guidelines Database

• By spending some time to understand what is being published, you will be far more successful in shaping your ideas and making yourself accessible to your intended market.

The new writer versus the veteran

• Assessing your own experience level will help you make a better decision about which magazines you should go after in the beginning of your career. Magazines with a larger readership will favor more experienced writers. A writer who has been published in a popular publication, such as Time Magazine, will have an edge over a new writer when going after assignments. He has proven experience meeting deadlines and he has published pieces.

• A new writer needs to build up a body of work. Clips or samples show potential clients that you have talent and writing skills. Magazines that are still growing and gaining audience may pay less and be more open to discovering new talent. Consider posting articles and promoting yourself with your own blog at Blogger or WordPress. Blogging on a regular basis will get you into the habit of writing, make you a stronger writer, and give you the pieces you will need to submit when you go after assignments.

Step 2: Write What You Know

• You have a list of the magazines you'd like to write for and what they are looking for. Now you must choose a topic that will get your creative brain flowing. And a subject you are familiar with is one of the best places to start.

1. Personal experience. The ups and downs of your own life, the moments that have changed you or shaped you in some way, the tragedy and the comedy—your stories (and those of your friends and family) can be interesting tales to tell.
2. Work experience. A profession you have trained and worked in will lend that subject matter your expert insight. And you might consider writing a piece for a trade magazine or an academic journal.
3. Topics you are enthusiastic about. If you are keen on knitting or running or immersing yourself into the hottest video games, your fascination with a particular subject will shine through in your work.
4. Current affairs. From pop culture to the American political process, write about the stories that get people buzzing.

• The key is to tap into a subject you feel passionate about and then make it compelling, approach it from a unique or different perspective, and shape it into the style of the magazine.

Step 3: The Query

Read and research. (Creative Commons photo by Ian MacKenzie)

• Once you have determined what you will write and who you will write for, you will send out a query letter. This is when you propose your article idea to magazine editors to see if they have any interest in it. Your query letter is your opportunity to pitch your idea and dazzle the editor.

Query Letter

1. Keep it to one page and three to four paragraphs.
2. Begin with a professional business header.
3. Write an opening paragraph that is catchy and intriguing.
   1. Interesting facts about your topic.
   2. Interesting quotes.
   3. A personal connection. If you happen to have a credible link to the editor, either through a mutual third-party or a common interest, you can create an instant bond.
   4. Impress the editor with your knowledge of the magazine. Read up as much as you can and show that you know the magazine well by referencing a past article.
4. Next paragraph or two, summarize your topic.
   1. What you are writing about and what angle you will take.
   2. Why the topic would be good for the magazine.
   3. A brief list of the major points.
5. Closing paragraph, summarize about yourself.
   1. Why you are qualified to write on the subject.
   2. What relevant experience you may have.
6. Conclude with a pleasant and professional ending such as, "Thank you for your time and consideration and I look forward to hearing from you. Sincerely, Your-name-here".
7. Include a sample or two of your best writing.
8. Address your query to a specific person. Get a specific name and/or email. You can find this information in the masthead, the list of current editors and staff members. Address your query to the actual person who will hire you. A query with a general header such as, "To the Editor", will most likely be overlooked because of the volume of mail most publications receive. Remember you are competing with other writers and you want to stand out.
9. Be certain there are no spelling or grammatical errors. One typo or improper use of grammar will disqualify you immediately.
10. If sending your query letter by mail, include a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). This will ensure a quicker response from the editor.
11. Keep track of your submissions.
    1. A list of what you have sent out will help you stay organized.
    2. You won't go crazy wondering how much time has passed while you're waiting for an answer which can typically take four to six weeks.
    3. You won't submit your query to the same magazine twice.

Step 4: Contracts and Payment

You've hooked a magazine with your bright idea and you've been offered your first assignment. Look over the magazine's acceptance letter and contract. It's a good idea to have a signed contract because it protects you, it shows that both sides are professional, and it defines the terms of what can be expected. The contract will break down a few major items.

1. Length of the article. How many words are required.
2. Deadline. When the the article is due.
3. Number of revisions the magazine may ask for.
4. Format of the article for submission.
   1. If by email, it will define which kind of file format to save your article in.
   2. If by post, it will define spacing and font.
5. A disclaimer about rights. In most cases, your article will be the property of the magazine since they commissioned it from you.
6. Payment. The amount you will receive for your article. There should be a stipulation for a kill fee. This is payment to compensate for the time and work you put into your article even if it doesn't get published.
7. A signature page.

• Your letter may also have some suggestions from the editor about how to approach your article. Be a good communicator and ask questions if something is unclear or not covered in the writer's guidelines.

• A sample contract: Freelance Contract

Step 5: Researching

Writing and research. (Creative Commons photo by Desi Zavatta Musolino)

1. Look for resources, either through the library or the Internet, that will give you all the pertinent information about your subject.
   1. Newspapers
   2. Magazines
   3. Encyclopedias
   4. Reference books
2. Interview an expert or any person that will lend credibility to your topic.
3. Keep detailed notes and files to organize and keep track of all your sources.
4. Tape record your interviews so you have accurate documentation.

Step 6: Writing Your Article

• You've done the research, compiled the data, and made your notes. Time to write!

Outlining

• An outline, whether it is complex or simple, will create structure for your article and help your writing flow. There are three main parts to consider.

1. The opening or the lead. The beginning of your article is where you can draw your reader in and keep him interested.
2. Main body. The meat of your article is where you can describe and detail the key points of your topic.
3. Conclusion. A strong finish will bring together your entire piece and leave an impression in the mind of the reader.

The Article

1. Keep each paragraph down to one thought or topic. This will narrow the chance of confusing or boring your reader.
2. Make each paragraph transition smoothly into the next.
3. Be concise and straightforward. Style will vary between different publications, but if stating something in a simpler way will convey your ideas to your intended audience, keep it simple.
4. Writing is about revising your work. Write a first draft, take a break, and come back to rewrite and shape up these central parts.
   1. Spelling.
   2. Grammar.
   3. Length. Is it too long or too little?
   4. Style. Does your article fit the tone of the magazine? Is the language full of pop culture references and slang, or is it more technical?
   5. Authenticity. Are your facts or quotes accurate?
   6. Through-line. Does the article make sense to someone who doesn't know the subject matter?

Step 7: Submitting Your Article

Browsing magazines. (Creative Commons photo by Anthony Easton)

• Check one last time for misspelled words or typos and then, based on the magazine's guidelines, you will either send your article by email or through the post.

1. Find out if the editor prefers attachments or the article copied and pasted into the body of your email.
2. Your article should be double-spaced.
3. Print on standard letter size (8½ × 11 inches) plain white paper and use paper clips, not staples, to keep pages together if you are sending it by post.
4. Use an easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman or Arial and in font size 10 or 12.
5. Include your name, phone number, address, and email in the upper left corner.
6. Include the word length in the upper right corner.
7. Number the pages.
8. Send your article in on-time.

Resources for How to Write for Magazines

• AARP Magazine: Writer's Guidelines
• About.com: Kill Fees  
• Angela Booth's Writing Blog: Five Secret Benefits of Blogs for Writers
• Official Site: American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE)
• Boston College: Career Center Writing Samples
• Everything2.com: Everything2.com  
• FreelanceFolder.com: Do You Need A Contract For Freelance Work?
• Freelance Writing Jobs: Blog Community and Job Listings
• FreelanceWriting.com: Helping Freelance Writers | Magazine Guidelines Database
• FundsforWriters.com: FundsforWriters
• Right-Writing.com: The Top Ten Mistakes Magazine Writers Make
• Suite101.com: Magazine Writing - Free Online Course
• Wikipedia: Query letter
• WritingWorld.com: How to Write a Successful Query
• Freelance Switch - The Freelance Blog: The 10 Biggest Mistakes Freelancers Make
• Howstuffworks.com: How Freelance Magazine Writing Works
• Writer's Market: Where & How To Sell What You Write  
• Writer's Resource Center: How to Write a Query Letter
• WritersWrite.com: Tracking Your Submissions

Suggestions for Further Research

• Official Site: American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)  
• BBC Online: Get Writing
• Freelance Writing Blog: Freelance Writing | Missing the Deadline
• MediaBistro: Resources for Media Professionals
• The New York Observer: Freelance Fizzle!
• Official Site: National Writers Union (NWA)  
• Purdue University: The OWL Writing Lab
• Writer’s Digest: 101 Best Sites for Writers
• The Writers Manifesto Blog: Freelance Writing
• Writer's Resource Center: How to Write a Query Letter
• You Tube: How to Write a Query Letter for Writing Jobs (Time: 2:12)

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