Author: Mariam Noronha
Freelance writing for magazines is one great way of earning a good paycheck for wannabe writers. It is also an ideal place for you to showcase your writing skills with a variety of articles like cover stories, ‘how to’ articles, interviews and the like.
Here’s a ready reckoner to help you get started with this endeavor.
- Before you begin writing it would be a good idea for you to check on the submission guidelines for the magazine that you aspire to write for. Thanks to the internet this is no longer an uphill task and you can simply type “submission guidelines” followed by the name of the magazine that you would like to write for to come up with some illuminating search results. Writers Market Online is just one of those places where publishers regularly post listings and submission guidelines and you could subscribe to such resources which will put not one but several options before you.
- Determine which type of publication you want to write for: offline magazines or online ones. Since offline magazines far out number online ones and are more popular among people who like the touch and feel factor in their reading experience, the competition here is tougher and your work will have to be of superior quality so that it can stand out in the crowd.
- Buy a copy of the magazine that you would like to write for and go through the articles to get an idea about the type of writing that would be suited to it. Better still, visit the magazine’s website to view their editorial calendar and recently published articles to gain an insight into what the editors want.
- If you choose to write for a print publication then remember to support your work with interviews, surveys, photographs, statistical information if any. This adds to the credibility and quality of the work that you submit and increases your chances of getting published.
- The market for magazines is crowded with newbie editors who are jumping on to the publishing bandwagon. However, it would be better to choose stable publications which have been around for a long time instead of trying new ones to begin with. A better pay check and good readership are just some of the perks that you will enjoy apart from your name being associated with a renowned publication.
- Before you begin writing come up with a basic plan as to how you will put things across and pay attention to what may seem like minor details like word limit, strong openings and interesting conclusions.
- Sending a short topic specific article to magazines for certain sections is one way of getting your foot in the door. Also do remember that if you are testing waters its best to do it with an article that does not have a seasonal tone. For instance writing about the Indian elections with regard to people’s expectations is a seasonal topic that will generate reader interest during elections. Editors will find little use for it once the elections are over and chances are yours will be just one among the many articles on the subject written by other seasoned writers.
- Get a feel of what readers of that particular genre are looking for. For instance lifestyle magazines that give the common man a peek in to a celebrity home or lifestyle and readers would welcome an article on that reclusive film celebrity you have been able to wriggle an interview out of.
Once your article is written send it out but not without a well written proposal or query letter and voila you could be well on your way to becoming the flavor of the month for that magazine you always wanted to write for!
Please Note: Chillibreeze does not endorse techniques or views mentioned in the articles here. The articles listed here are provided as reference material for writers as a support service.
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Comments:
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Well-written but if names of a few popular magazines and the genres of articles they accept, together with a sample query letter would have completed the article.
Without that, it sounds like any other article on the subject.
Anand
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