Article WritingAs anyone who’s looked into article writing will have discovered, this genre is one of most prolific for writers. Unlike book publishers, who have a limited number of releases each year and are literally swamped with submissions, magazines and similar publications publish copious amounts of writings every year. And while the possibility of being noticed by the editor can still be a challenge the chances are far greater.
Increase your chances of being published; From a financial point of view, article writing will probably be more appealing to anybody looking to make money writing since the turnaround time between submitting and receiving payment is usually only months, and not the years associated with standard book publication. While there are no end of article writing tips , the secret to being successful (other than good writing skills) is predicting and providing the articles needed. To do this it is essential to know the market. This doesn’t require all new freelance article writers to instantly go out and buy every single publication, magazine and periodical published this year – thankfully. But what it does require is a good working knowledge of a selection of publications. Of course the question is then, which selection of publications? In my opinion and my experience it has always worked well to decide on specific topics to focus on. Think about what you know and are interested in. This is usually a good way to decide what topics suit you. Partially because they are of interest to you and partially because you already know a fair bit about the topic and have friends, colleagues and experts that you can readily call on for quotes, interviews, and verification. So now you have narrowed down the field, it’s necessary to find publications that cover your topics. The automatic response might be to mentally visualise the magazine stand at your local paper store and while some of these publications might be the perfect one to submit to remember that not all periodicals are sold this way. Many publications, trade journals and more niche magazine are sold through subscription. They may be harder to get hold of, but in most cases they are easier to get your work accepted into, purely for that reason. Remember the glossy mags may be obvious and pay well, but they are also usually the ones submitted to most often. To find out about the smaller publications sign up for one or more of the online databases of publishers or find a good printed publication of the same information. That way you’ll have on hand the writers guidelines saying exactly what your chosen publication is looking for and how to get hold of a copy.
Discover the secrets to article writing. Once you’ve found some magazines that you believe suit your writing skills read them from cover to cover and then back again. Learn exactly the market the editor is aiming at and then select your articles to fit. All magazine markets tend to be different from one another and it’s your job to recognise these variations, then submit the article or query that perfectly targets their audience. Return from Article Writing to Writing Information and Tips New! CommentsHave your say about what you've just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
UPCOMING ONLINE COURSES
Magazine Articles that Sell
(journalism)
9th February to 8th March
Writing from the Heart
(true-life/personal essay)
2nd March to 30th March
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What people are saying about our online courses ...
'I'm delighted and proud of my first attempt. Thank you for a wonderful course. I have been enriched.'
AK, Zimbabwe
‘You were my inspiration in actually doing something with my writing. I would like to thank you for kicking me in the butt and insisting I do something!’
Bec, Australia
‘Elizabeth, this was a terrific, confidence building, well-honed little course. I would thoroughly recommend it.’
Margot, Australia
‘Writing is a labour of love when we expose ourselves by baring our soul. I believe Elizabeth Bezant has the skill to combine respect for our feelings, with pragmatic strategies to help us publish our precious efforts.’
John, Australia
‘Elizabeth, this was a great course and though it was short it has boosted my confidence in my writing. Thank you!’
Rachael, Australia
‘A very rewarding challenge – not too difficult, not too easy. Every word was welcome and useful. I edit other people’s writing in a really similar manner, but it’s amazing how difficult it is to see those same errors in your own work.’
Margot, Australia
'Great course Elizabeth! I would not have taken the time to seriously try this genre but for your course. I made the last few changes you suggested and have sent the essay in to ............. After reviewing their requirements I see that my piece fits in every way possible.'
SM,Canada
The critiquing to me was the whole point of the course. While the general comments and writing tips were vital as a backbone to the course, the personal interaction and direction was the whole point of it all.’
Sue, Australia
‘I thoroughly enjoyed course, and it being online made it a breeze.’
Rowe, Australia
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‘A publisher asked me to send her some of my writing this year. But I never would have without this course.’
Raewyn, Australia
‘I’ve just sent off the last of the assignments for critiquing and before I go any further I must say a very big thank you to you for the joy you have given me! Not only have I learnt so much from you, but I have also so appreciated all the encouragement and your wise counsel in assisting me to do something that I wouldn’t have believed could have been nearly possible. I will miss you.’
Yvonne, Australia
'Thanks to Elizabeth I can now source markets for personal stories, competently make my writing market-ready and sell it with confidence. Your editing skills are an asset to the writing community. I recommend this course to any writer who wants to break into this market.'
JOH, Australia
'I thought the way the market information was presented was not only informative but importantly for me it was written in a friendly manner. It took away some of the awesome fear I have of confronting the real world of publishing.'
KM, Australia