| ly 1,000 magazines are launched every year, | | | | editor. Most writers prefer writing a query letter |
| according to Samir "Mr. Magazine" Husni, a | | | | and sending it to the editor. Follow this process: |
| magazine consultant and chair of the journalism | | | | 1) Go to the publication's website. See if the |
| department at the University of Mississippi. Nearly | | | | website posts its writer's guidelines. If not, go to |
| 20,000 consumer and trade publications exist in | | | | the Contact Us page. Contact the editor or the |
| North America, according to the National Directory | | | | editorial director. On smaller start-up publications, |
| of Magazines. These statistics don't include many | | | | contact the publisher as he usually plays dual roles. |
| of the small, independent start-up magazines. | | | | Request the publication's writer's guidelines. Make |
| New magazines can be a goldmine to dig up | | | | sure you address the editor or publisher by full |
| freelance work. Editors of new magazines are | | | | name. Do not send an e-mail with "To Editor" as |
| eager to find freelance talent to write regularly or | | | | the subject. It will get deleted. |
| to pitch articles and column ideas for at least four | | | | In addition to requesting writer's guidelines, I |
| to six issues in advance, depending on the | | | | advise you to make a short sales pitch in your |
| magazine's frequency. New magazines can offer | | | | e-mail, and include a brief bio. under your name |
| you, the freelance writer, an easier and quicker | | | | with any relevant qualifications and skills as a |
| way to break into magazine writing. | | | | writer. If you have a website, include a link to it. If |
| I use various sources to uncover new magazines. | | | | an editor sees your sales pitch, he may want to |
| My favorite is Ulrichsweb.com, an online directory | | | | know more about what you can offer. |
| of magazine serials. Before a magazine launches, | | | | 2) If the editor's response is they don't provide |
| the publisher or publishing company applies for an | | | | writer's guidelines, then you need to take a |
| ISSN # and Ulrich's records the ISSN #, along | | | | "marketing" approach. You'll need to craft a query |
| with the publication's information, such as launch | | | | letter and pitch your article idea (or your |
| date, frequency, category, and contact | | | | availability as a freelance writer). |
| information. is useful if you want to locate | | | | 3) If you can't break in, don't move on just yet! |
| publications before they launch and before they | | | | Mail (yes, snail mail!) the editor your business card |
| publicly announce their debut via the newswires. | | | | and a brief letter about yourself, your |
| If you do not want to pay for a subscription to | | | | qualifications, references, and where to find |
| Ulrichsweb.com, you can use other free | | | | samples of your work online. Explain how using |
| resources, such as and These free resources | | | | you as a freelance writer can increase readership |
| track new magazine start-ups by researching the | | | | for the publication. Explain some of the topics you |
| newswires and subscribing to press release | | | | can cover, who you can interview, and any |
| services. | | | | exclusive information you can obtain regularly. |
| Writing for new magazines has some downsides. | | | | Many writers e-mail the editor their information to |
| Firstly, circulation is usually at the low end and so | | | | keep on file; however, I also find that mailing my |
| is the magazine's exposure in the marketplace. | | | | correspondence to the editor gets results. You |
| Secondly, the pay rate usually isn't competitive | | | | force the editor to read and touch your |
| with similar magazines. Thirdly, editors usually | | | | correspondence, and this increases the chances of |
| won't pay you until after they publish your piece, | | | | him remembering who you are and what you can |
| instead of paying you on acceptance. Fourthly, | | | | provide. |
| many new magazines fail within the first year and | | | | Convincing an editor to outsource work to you or |
| it is possible the magazine could fleece you. | | | | accept your articles for publication has a lot to do |
| HOW TO BREAK IN AND SELL YOUR ARTICLES | | | | with how well you pitch and present yourself and |
| Whether the publication or website has writer's | | | | your ideas. This is why writing a near perfect |
| guidelines or not, your aim is to pitch your query | | | | query letter is vital to getting work. |
| letter, article idea, proposal, or full article to the | | | | |