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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you’re thinking about how to write an article for a magazine, you may already have titles in mind. That’s great – go ahead and pitch them! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It’s also fine not to have a target publication in mind. Don’t worry, they’re out there! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are household names like Cosmo, Time, and People, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For pieces that target the general public, including people with specific hobby interests, there are plenty of in-flight magazines<\/a> and corporate-sponsored online publications looking for writers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For professional audiences, trade publications are great, and there’s plenty of them. You can find one by Googling the name of a specific industry plus \u201ctrade publication,\u201d or check out TradePub.com<\/a>. Alternatively, if your topic is more general-audience oriented, think about pitching local\/regional magazines, national magazines targeted at a certain age\/income group or magazines which come as supplements with newspapers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whichever direction you decide to go, take plenty of time to choose the right magazine. The fit between an article and a magazine is a big part of whether that article succeeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The only way to pitch the right article to a publication is to know what they already publish. Before you do anything else, get a copy of the magazine or check out its website and read some digitally printed articles \u2013 you should look for ideas for how to adapt your subject treatment to their style.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read at least five articles, regardless of format, and learn as much as you can about who the magazine is targeting. Try to identify the target reader<\/a> by their:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Identify whether there are specific characteristics of the target audience that you should know. Trade publications, for example, inherently aim their content toward professionals in a particular field. Niche interest magazines\u2026 well, that one\u2019s fairly obvious.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reading articles that the magazine has published will give you an idea not only of the magazine\u2019s readership but also the story angles and tone that they tend to prefer, and therefore how to pitch them an idea which will be appealing.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep your eyes open for red or green flags (not literally, of course). Sometimes, you\u2019ll find that your idea fits perfectly within the magazine\u2019s content calendar. At other times, you\u2019ll realize it\u2019s not quite right for this publication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes, the article won’t work no matter how hard you try, and that\u2019s okay. It\u2019s not anything against your article; it just means that you\u2019ll need to pitch to a different publication.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s also fine. It might even make your life easier because you don\u2019t have to, as one writer I know delicately puts it, \u201ckill off your baby.\u201d You just have to find a baby, which is no easy task either.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As you\u2019re reading the magazine you’ve chosen, brainstorm article ideas that come to you. They won\u2019t all be winners but write them down anyway. Keep brainstorming as your mind processes what you\u2019ve read. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meanwhile, pay attention to the news. You won\u2019t necessarily pitch a hard-hitting political editorial, but current events inform almost every industry and even many hobbies. The US just elected a zombie as president? See if Good Housekeeping wants an expos\u00e9 on how the White House might redecorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An angle is your approach to the topic. It\u2019s your way of telling the audience why you care about the story and why they should too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In researching this article (every article gets researched!), I encountered a spot-on definition of angle<\/a>: \u201cIt\u2019s the lens through which the writer filters the information\u2026 and focuses it to make it meaningful.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I like this definition because it clearly distinguishes the angle from the topic. Two writers can consider the same topic but because they view it from different angles \u2013 through different lenses \u2013 they create a completely different image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, imagine two writers who are crafting articles about the recent zombie apocalypse. The first writer, who\u2019s pitching to a trade publication for contractors, focuses on techniques for repairing zombie-damaged homes. The second wants to pitch to Psychology Today, so they choose the angle of how zombie PTSD has put an increased load on therapists\u2019 private practices. How to ‘frame’ stories like this is a skill you pick up over time (and a good reason to be a generalist rather than a specialist, in many cases).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your angle is the most important part of your query. It tells the editor most of what they need to know about why your article matters, who will want to read it, and why you feel compelled to write it. This will be the first sentence or two of your pitch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also need to include a little bit about yourself as a writer<\/a>. Think of this as a mini-bio (emphasis on the mini). Open with a few compelling words about what you write and why you\u2019re qualified to write it. If you have names to drop \u2013 a degree you\u2019ve earned, a certification, or big-name magazines that have published your writing \u2013 definitely drop them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n All told, your pitch should be no more than two paragraphs. One is better. It shows you can express a complex idea succinctly. Editors love that.\u00a0Here’s a full guide on how to writing a query letter<\/a>, which you may find useful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From here on out, we\u2019re assuming that you got the gig. This may not be the case the first time around and that\u2019s normal. Don\u2019t give up if you get a few \u2013 or many \u2013 rejections before you get an article accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you do, of course, step 5.5 will be to celebrate. You\u2019ve earned it. Then it\u2019s time to dust the confetti off your shoulders, finish off your last bite of cake, and get down to business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read the message from the editor who hired you. Make sure you know what their expectations are for the piece. That includes word count, deadline, and any structural requirements the publication has given you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If they haven\u2019t given you a style guide, ask if they have one \u2013 it’ll tell you how to write in the house style and will dramatically cut down the editing you (or the subeditor) will have to do after you submit your piece. Make sure you know whether they use AP style, Chicago, or something else altogether.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Researching is one of my favorite aspects of writing. It\u2019s like brainstorming in reverse \u2013 instead of waiting to see what\u2019s going to come out of my fingers, I just have to keep my mind open for exciting facts and new ways of thinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let your research take you where it will, but always check the legitimacy of the source before you use it. Look for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look at your research and think about what sub-topics might benefit from first-hand accounts or the insights of working professionals. Interviews add a lot to an article, and editors love them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are lots of ways to find experts<\/a>, from tapping your network to cold calling an association or agency in the industry you\u2019re targeting. PR agencies can also be great resources for pointing you toward someone who has specialized expertise in a particular topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prepare, prepare, prepare. Make a list of questions beforehand and check it against your outline to be sure you\u2019re not missing anything. Make sure your list includes the basic information like name, job title, and location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hold the interview<\/a> at a time and place that\u2019s convenient for the source. Record the interview if you can get explicit permission and if the source seems comfortable with being recorded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask as many open-ended questions as possible. It\u2019s okay to follow the source\u2019s lead if they take you in an unexpected direction but don\u2019t stray too far off-topic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Outlining is another of my favorite parts of writing. There\u2019s just something about taking all of those chaotic research notes and putting them in a nice neat outline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are lots of ways of outlining, and you should feel free to use whichever technique appeals to you. Personally, I like a basic skeleton outline. It lets me line out all of the sub-topics I want to write about, in the order I want to write about them. Then I make a brief note of the supporting details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here\u2019s a sample of what it might look like (thanks to the Writing Center Workshop<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n\nStep 2: Get to know your audience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 3: Confirm or choose your topic.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nIf you already have an idea\u2026.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you need an idea\u2026.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 4: Choose an angle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 5: Write a query letter<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 6: Know the job<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nStep 7: Research the topic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nStep 8: Interview sources<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finding an expert<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Interviewing the expert<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 9: Create an outline<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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