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CHAPTER 1
WHY WRITE FOR MAGAZINES?
Why write for magazines? I guess the bigger question is, why not? There are thousands of print and digital magazines, and they all have one thing in common. They need writers. And the fact that these publications continue to put out new issues monthly, quarterly, and some weekly, means they need a continuous stream of quality content from good writers.
In this age of digital media, there is a misconception that magazines, like newspapers, are dying a slow death, especially with young readers. A recent report from The Association of Magazine Media dispels this myth and illustrates the growth and vibrancy of this market. Currently there are more than seven thousand print magazines in the United States. Ninety-one percent of U.S. adults read print magazines with the biggest readership in the thirty-five and under crowd. The net audience for both print and digital editions has grown to more than 215 million and continues to grow.
EDITORS NEED WRITERS
This is good news! With the popularity of magazines, more content is going to be needed from writers who understand the industry. Editors look for writers who know how to write an effective query, who take the time to research their publication, who can expand on a good idea, who are capable of writing a great piece, and who respect word count and deadlines. Editors seek writers who will make their jobs easier by being professional and easy to work with. Of the more than seven thousand print magazines in the United States, many are niche and trade publications you may not have heard of before. These magazines focus on a narrowly defined topic or specialty. You won't find these at Barnes & Noble or at your local newsstand. But there are magazines on every topic you can imagine. The Concrete Producer, Bee Culture, The American Window Cleaner Magazine, Balloons and Parties Magazine, Military Vehicles Magazine, Sky & Telescope, and Sand Sports Magazine are just a few of these unique publications. Unlike the well-known magazines you see in the grocery store, like Family Circle or Prevention, these smaller publications aren't inundated with freelance writers knocking down the door. This makes them more open to working with new writers, especially ones who take the time to understand their readership and their magazine. If you have a hobby or special interest, chances are there are magazines published on the topic, and you're ideally suited to write for them.
"Niches are great because they're much less competitive than larger markets," says Megan Hill, freelance writer from Seattle. "You can more easily differentiate yourself among the competition and be a big fish in a small pond."
QUICK TURNAROUND
If you are someone who likes short-term projects and quick turn-arounds, then you will enjoy this line of work. Unlike publishing a book, which can take years, writing for magazines is a shorter process from start to finish. From writing the initial query to seeing your article in print can take as little as a few months. With digital magazines, this can be even shorter. If you like to get things done and move on to the next project, this is appealing. Plus you don't have to worry about investing a lot of time in an idea that doesn't pan out.
Magazines have different lead times. This refers to how far in advance they are working on an issue. Some work four to six months out and for others it may be a month. For publications with longer lead times, it's possible you will have two to three months to work on the piece before turning it in. For those with a shorter lead time, you may be given a couple of weeks to turn around the article. Regardless of the lead time, the process from query to publication is still relatively short.
NEW EXPERIENCES AND NEW PEOPLE
Writing for magazines can open up a new world for you. Over the years I have had the privilege of interviewing some wonderful people who have inspired and encouraged me, and some have even become my friends. I have met celebrities, business owners, artists, authors, and everyday people with extraordinary stories. With each one I feel more connected to those around me and my worldview expands.
There's advice floating around that says, write what you know, but that should be expanded to write what you want to know. In my local paper, years ago, was an article about Colorado wineries. After reading it, I wanted to know more about this topic. After all, I enjoyed a good glass of wine after work or with dinner. Having wineries nearby meant I could learn more without having to travel far. I researched the industry, wrote a query and received an assignment. I learned so much doing the article. Did you know that Colorado vineyards are the highest in terms of altitude in the northern hemisphere? And that the climate on the western slopes of Colorado near Grand Junction is ideal for grape growing? Winery owners took me on private tours, and sampling a Viognier right out of the barrel is an experience I'll never forget.
Through my articles I have learned about the Alaska Marine Highway, how to write for the children's app market, interesting facts about the Tongass National Forest, RV safety, and so much more. Getting paid to write the articles is great, but it goes beyond the money. I love the experiences afforded to me because of my magazine writing. With each new assignment comes the chance to expand my knowledge and learn more about the world and the people who live here.
YOU DON'T NEED A JOURNALISM DEGREE
The good news is that to venture into this world of magazine writing, you don't need a degree in journalism. I have a bachelor's degree in social science along with a teaching certificate. Editors have never asked about my degree. They look for well-written pieces that will be of interest to their readers.
You don't need an advanced or specialized degree, or even a college diploma, but you do need solid writing skills and a curiosity about the world around you. Your degree, if you have one, along with your unique life experiences, provides you with topics and article ideas where you might be considered an expert. Maybe you have been fly-fishing since you were a kid. Or you are a video game fanatic. Or you have six children (who are polite and well-behaved). These are all areas that don't require a degree, and readers of certain magazines would be interested to learn more from you.
Using your life experiences, your knowledge, and exploring areas you want to know more about gives you unique ideas and expertise that editors will welcome.
FOR THE LOVE OF RESEARCH
There is something exciting about gathering all the necessary information for an article. For me it's the thrill of the hunt, which can involve research on the computer, talking with experts, traveling to a destination, seeking facts, or collecting materials.
Years ago, we went on a trip to Alaska. While there, I picked up brochures everywhere we went, talked with the locals, jotted down notes, took photos, and experienced as much as I could. When I returned home I had a good collection of material and information. I then took one month and focused all my energy and queries on Alaska. I organized my notes, looked through the brochures and figured out potential story angles. I ended up with a feature assignment about traveling the Alaska Marine Highway that was published in a trade magazine, Family Motor Coaching. And just recently (ten years after this trip) I received an assignment with Alaska magazine to write about the Tongass National Forest, based on an idea that surfaced during that vacation. After initially sending out queries for this idea following the trip and getting "no thank yous," I put the query away. Every now and then I would think about it and send it out again. But nothing ever surfaced. Then at a writing conference I was talking with the editor of Alaska magazine. I shared with her that I had always wanted to write an article about the Tongass rainforest since visiting there. We talked and I told her I had queried the idea but never had found anyone interested in it. She said it could be a good fit for a specific department in her magazine if I changed the slant. We talked through it and by the end of the conversation, I had the assignment.
Researching and gathering information is what keeps writing for magazines interesting. It becomes a big puzzle with many moving parts, and then the fun comes when it's time to put all those pieces together into one article readers will enjoy.
I was working on an article for a writing magazine on the topic "Does social media really work?" My goal was to explore whether it was necessary for authors to participate on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms to be successful. I knew this was a huge topic that would take some digging and end up with a lot of moving parts. One question (along with a few others) I put out to writers, agents, and editors was "Have you seen a difference in sales for your authors (or yourself, if it went to an author) who are more active on social media? Please explain." The overwhelming response to that specific question was, "no," which was what I suspected.
Subsequently the big question in my head was why do people continue to do social media? In the follow-up, "Please explain," I received other helpful information that addressed my new question. Turns out, it was more about connecting with readers (which could happen on social media, but not always) and good writing. Once I got all my answers, I had to look them over carefully, determine the commonalities and differences, and put my conclusions into an interesting article for the reader.
MONEY
Magazine writing is great, but it is work. There is nothing wrong with getting paid for your time and effort. Often writers have this idea that because it is a creative venture, they shouldn't expect to get paid. Magazines are a business and because of that you deserve compensation. This can range from ten dollars for an article up to one thousand dollars or more. You probably aren't going to get a top rate straight out of the chute, but it is something to work toward. Getting paid to have your work in the hands of readers is a definite perk. Plus this money can be a good way to supplement your income alongside a full-time job.
FLEXIBLE HOURS
The beauty of magazine writing is that you decide how much time you are putting into it. You choose how many assignments you want. Maybe you want to start with one a month or maybe you want to jump all the way in and get as many as you can. When I first started, I was a full-time teacher, wife, and mother of three; writing was something I did on the side. I worked on one article at a time. That year I had seven assignments, which was perfect. It allowed me to devote time and energy to my family and my career, while having this small job just for me.
If you are interested in being a full-time freelance writer, it will take months to gear up to this by sending out dozens of queries and making connections with editors. Debbie Hanson, a freelance writer from Florida, says, "It's important to have a high degree of patience when starting out. Don't expect a freelance writing career to take off overnight. It takes time to build credibility and editorial contacts." Whether you write for magazines part-time or full-time, you control your schedule and how much work you accept. The flip side is the work can be inconsistent, and you have to be prepared for that as well.
WORKING FROM HOME (OR ON THE ROAD)
Magazine writing is a freelance endeavor that is done from home. This provides you many freedoms and options you wouldn't have otherwise. Depending on how far your work space is from your bedroom, there isn't a long commute each morning. If you work in your pajamas, no one cares, plus it saves money on work clothes. You can structure your work space and workday in whatever way suits your personality, strengths, and your family or household commitments. When you are tired of looking at the same four walls, you can take your computer on the road to a local coffee shop or library (though you will want to change out of your pajamas). If you want to travel, then by all means, pack up your laptop and go see the world.
It will give you great material and ideas to work with, and you can still write and submit queries.
Magazine writing is an area of the publishing world that is open to all writers. More than seven thousand print magazines and all digital publications need well-written content, and editors look for professional, competent writers to provide it. Why write for magazines? Because you can. With the right knowledge (found in this book) and preparation, seeing your byline on the pages of a magazine, either print or digital, is definitely possible.
WHY I LOVE WRITING FOR MAGAZINES
INSIGHT FROM FREELANCE WRITERS
JORDAN ROSENFELD: I love generating new ideas and the "high" of a pitch that is accepted. I love interviewing people and consolidating data into a digestible outcome. I love the freedom and flexibility to set my own schedule.
DANIELLE BRAFF: I love that I can write about anything I want. For example, whenever I have a problem with my kids, I write an article about it so that I can spend time speaking with all the experts. I just finished writing an article for the Chicago Tribune about sibling rivalry because my children can't stop arguing. I got to interview a bunch of different child psychologists and other experts to get lots of different opinions on how to get this to stop.
MEGAN HILL: I like doing something different every day, and there's constantly an element of excitement that keeps me on my toes. I've got a great rotating stable of consistent projects that I love, and random new possibilities pop into my in-box every week. It's thrilling! I also love being my own boss and dictating how I spend my time. I don't ever feel my time is wasted. If I finish my work early, I can leave my office and go do something fun or relaxing, rather than feeling forced by office peer pressure to "look busy" for eight hours a day, five days a week.
TOM KEER: I think of print books, print magazines, digital magazines, blogs, and social media (among others) as pearls that become a necklace with a piece of thread. The thread that turns those individual pearls into a necklace is the creative process, and that is what I love about writing. I love moving along the path that takes me from a rough idea to a completed manuscript.
ROXANNE HAWN: The flexibility to structure my days and my life. I like not having to wear professional clothes, especially tights or hose.
MICKEY GOODMAN: Everything! I loved interviewing the dignitaries and famous visitors to campus like Malcolm X, The Kingston Trio, the prime minister of Indonesia — and seeing my byline in print. It was especially exciting when the AP and UPI (this was in the early sixties) picked up my stories for wider distribution. The most widely printed were a retrospect of Malcolm X after his murder and a series of articles I wrote about the studies underway at UNC Medical Center, including one of the first on autism.
STACEY MCKENNA: I adore the schedule — both setting my own hours and days. But I also appreciate the intellectual freedom. Freelancing lets me pursue the reaches of my curiosity. I love that each story opens new trails to be explored.
DEBBIE HANSON: Being able to share my experiences and knowledge through the written word.
AMANDA CASTLEMAN: I love the freedom to organize my day, pursue stories I'm passionate about, and travel the world.
Article Example: FOB (Front of the Book)
BASIC PROCESS OF MAGAZINE WRITING, A QUICK OVERVIEW
The number of magazines is on the rise, giving writers more opportunities for publication. It is helpful to understand the basic process of publishing an article before exploring this option. We'll explore this in depth in the chapters ahead, but here is a quick overview of the process.
IDEA: There are really no new ideas, but there are plenty of new ways to slant them. It is important to find a unique angle that makes your article stand out and one that hasn't been covered by the magazine recently.
QUERY: This is a one-page sales pitch to the editor of a magazine. It gives an initial hook, an overview of the idea, the basic direction of the article, and what qualifies you to write it.
ASSIGNMENT: If an editor likes your idea, she will offer you a contract that spells out what she wants in regard to word count, deadline, and payment. Once the contract is signed, you can move on to the article.
WRITE ARTICLE: Now it's time to put together all the information you collected. Stay within your assigned word count and send the article to the editor before the deadline.
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Excerpted from "Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing"
by .
Copyright © 2018 Kerrie Flanagan.
Excerpted by permission of F+W Media, Inc..
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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